Isabel Goldberg shares about her Jewish upbringing and having a Bat Mitzvah.
For as long as I can remember, I knew that I would have a Bat Mitzvah. A Bat Mitzvah is a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony that usually happens around a girl’s twelfth or thirteenth birthday. Once one becomes a Bat Mitzvah, they are a Jewish adult and responsible for their actions. When I was four years old, my oldest brother was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
I remember kicking my legs in my chair, resting my head on my mom’s shoulder while I heard my brother say words I didn’t understand. During the ceremony, I remember standing there in my fancy dress, hearing music and voices of the congregation, and seeing a blur of more faces than I could count. Although at that age, I couldn’t grasp the significance of this event. In the blink of an eye, two years passed and it was time for my second brother, to have his Bar Mitzvah.
This time accompanying him to his tutoring, I started to understand more about the history behind the meaning of Bar or Bat Mitzvahs. Realization washed over me, as I understood this was more than just some fancy dress event, but an experience that shapes who you are and how you live your life.
Six years later, it was finally my turn. By this time, I knew the importance of the lessons and culture that comprise this rich experience. My Torah portion focused on the rules that one had to follow to be a “good” Jewish person. But, one day at the dining room table, a lightbulb came on in my head. While the ancient rabbis were writing rules, they left room for error.