Or Hadash will call its first adult B’not Mitzvah Cohort to the Torah on Saturday, June 15th. These seven women are all coming to the bimah with different stories to tell, but they share one thing in common. None of them had a traditional Bat Mitzvah in their youth.

They have studied with Rabbi Lauren for the past six months, learning about trope, their parsha, the shabbat service and tallitot. Each one will be called to the torah to read, some for the very first time.

Our 2024 Cohort

Lynn Epstein:

Raised in Jewish traditions around our dining room table by my Israeli father, I've long aspired to become a bat mitzvah. With R'Lauren's arrival as our spiritual leader, I knew the time was right to take this meaningful step in my spiritual journey.

Barbara Sachs:

I choose to become a bat mitzvah because I believe that the greatest satisfaction comes not from not only having a value, but actually living it.

Cyndi Levine:

I choose to become bat Mitzvah because “If not now when? No time like the present. - 

Naomi Binenfeld:

I am becoming an adult Bat Mitzvah to honor all the Jewish children who were murdered in the Holocaust, among them my mother's six year old sister, Marta Kern. In congregation Or Hadash I have found a very supportive community to make it possible. Along with, a cohort of wonderful women to study with, helpful teacher and tutor, Gene and Jeanney and  our incredible Rabbi, R'Lauren.

Heather Blank:

I choose to become a bat mitzvah because I’ve felt like something was missing in my Jewish journey. Studying with these diverse women and Rabbi Lauren has been a balm for the soul.

Lisuan Poh:

I have always wanted to be בת מיצווה  as I find a lot of spirituality to taking part of shabbat services, I wanted to really be at ease with Hebrew, Together with learning to chant the Torah, I embarked on a journey to learn modern Hebrew as well and completely loving it. I am in constantly wonder at the layered complexity of root words, which at different combinations provided past/present/future tenses, the context of the situation of the same root word. I am very glad I am doing this and would encourage anyone who is thinking of an adult בני מיצווה to do this. Coincidentally this is also the 13th year of my Jewish journey.

Lee Greenberg:

I choose to become a bat mitzvah to complete my family circle and reaffirm my Judaism.