Belated Bar and Batmitzvahs
Melbourne’s Jewish Care will host a special ceremony for its aged care residents who haven’t yet celebrated their Bar or Bat MitzvahMany residents missed out on this significant life event due to reasons such as living through times of war and communism.
It gives Jewish Care immense pleasure to be able to host this simcha for residents and their families.
To be held on the morning of the seventh day of Chanukah, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah festivities will include a call up for the men and a candle lighting ceremony for the women. The synagogue service will be followed by dancing, singing and a L’chaim.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah participants will be joined by their family, friends and fellow residents.
Montefiore Homes resident, Barbara Berlin said: “When I mentioned to Rabbi Kohn that I never had a Bat Mitzvah, straight away he offered to arrange one for me and my fellow residents. I didn’t think this throwaway comment would become a reality.”
“I missed out on a beautiful experience in the past, but I’m happy to be part of it now with the other residents,” Barbara added.
Another participant, Arkady Barilo from Montefiore Homes said: “The first time I heard about Bar Mitzvahs was in the 1980s when I immigrated to Melbourne from the USSR. Back at home, everyone was hiding their Jewish identity in fear of persecution. When Rabbi offered for me to participate in the Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony, all I said was ‘I’m ready any day, as long as I’m not too old!’”
The event will take place on Sunday 13 December 2015 at Gary Smorgon House, Caulfield.
