Four years ago today, February 29, 2020, was such a special day for our family. EJS became a bat mitzvah, wow and mazel tov!

What an amazing accomplishment! When a young woman becomes a bat mitzvah, or a daughter of the commandments, it means that she is a woman under Jewish law. And it’s a bar mitzvah for the boys. I know EJS is a young woman, but it’s still hard to say without waxing nostalgic. I’m actually tearing up a little talking about it.

It’s tradition for girls and boys to become bat or bar mitzvah at 12 or 13, I was 13 when I became a bat mitzvah, November 4, 1984, I know, can you believe it, that’s a date that I never will forget. My sister, GES, was 13, her husband, ACS, was 13, PSM was 13, apparently it’s a club! And MGS, she became a bat mitzvah last year.

There are some people who choose to do it later in life, CWB decided a few years ago, this was not an opportunity she wanted to miss and had her adult bat mitzvah, she studied just as hard and it was such a mitzvah for me to be there to watch her on this journey.

Oh, what a site to see, my niece on the bema, or bimah, that’s the podium on the pulpit that one would stand at to lead a prayer service, or read from the torah, the holy scriptures. To become a bat or bar mitzvah is not an easy feat, it involves years of study, study of hebrew, mostly prayers, some conversation, for me, it was hebrew school class every Wednesday from the time I was 10 until at least my bat mitzvah.

Then there is Sunday school, religious studies, going to Friday night and sometimes Saturday morning services, to study the word of g-d, and some wonderful prayers, I still know them to this day and enjoy reciting them when I’m in shul or synagogue. Some of them are uplifting, some can be scary, but all make you think.

Then, as you get closer to the big day, you work one-on-one with the rabbi, who guides you on your jewish studies, and preps you for your bat or bar mitzvah. They work with you on your torah portion, what passage[s] you are going to read from the torah, it tells one story of the history of the Jewish people. If you are chanting the prayers, you my work one-on-one with the cantor, who will guide you on the proper way to chant the prayers and your torah reading.

Then…you have to write a speech! Oh my yes! Some people pick a topic from current events, some people base their speech on whatever their torah portion is. Sometimes this can be more nerve wracking than the entire ceremony!

What a wonderful time to be together, to watch our loved ones blossom into adults before our eyes, we are still sitting there, looking at them wondering where did the time go? I was just holding her in my arms, meeting her for the first time, and looking at that tiny little person and thinking, “oh wow, I’m your auntie and I am gonna love you so much!” and here she is, standing up there, leading us in prayer, reading from the torah, giving her speech, and being an all around bad ar… I shouldn’t say that here! But she was!

And when all is said and done, it’s time to celebrate, and we should celebrate, look what you just did! You impressed us all with your bravery and knowledge, your strength, and fortitude, and skills, now let’s celebrate you!

Like her mother and I, EJS had the celebration right after the service at the synagogue and the place was decked out to the hilt! Their event planner, RachelG, was amazing, everything EJS asked for and a little bit more! There was games for the kids, the dj was great, the mc was great, got everyone involved and on their feet, the food was amazing, the decor, and it all contributed to everyone feeling amazing and there was love, and wonder, and pride, and just good feelings all around. And she deserved it.

It is now four years later, and in a few weeks, EJS is going to be…o m g…seventeen! What?! I still cannot believe it! Yet, I do! That little tiny creature, who grabbed my finger and my heart, who, when she could walk would run so fast to jump into my arms for a hug, then the time when she was about 9, she and her sister put my bras on their heads, yup, they did that, when she would come into my room, crawl in bed, and want to cuddle, when she would ask for me to sit with her while she fell asleep. Yup, that girl, she’s about to be 17, wow, what an amazing human being she is!

Yea, four years ago today, we got to watch something amazing and kvell, it means to be super proud, and we did. Mazel tov EJS, you were amazing that day and it hasn’t stopped, I cannot wait to see what’s next for you!