Celebrating Together

On the first Shabbat of the month we will be celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of Susie Seldon.  I’m using the phrase ‘we will be celebrating’ quite deliberately:  Of course, becoming Bat Mitzvah is a crucial milestone for Susie and her family – but we will be celebrating, too.  Over the past year, we have been fortunate to participate in many precious moments in the lives of our members and friends – including, in addition to the coming of age of three young people, an adult Bar Mitzvah, a second Bar Mitzvah, three services for those becoming Jews, four welcoming ceremonies for babies and young children, three significant birthdays and three special anniversaries.  And on June 22nd we had the opportunity to celebrate with Rabbi Charles Wallach, and our members Marliyn Wallach and Pricilla Sugarman, when Beverley Wallach and her fiancée, Simon, had an aufruf  (an aliyah to the Torah) prior to their chuppah.

On each occasion, a unique staging post in the lives of those who are part of our congregation has not only brought us all together in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving, but also enhanced the experience for the individuals and families concerned.  Belonging to a congregation encompasses many varying elements, and no doubt means different things to different people.  But there is no doubt in my mind – as I celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of my ordination as a rabbi (9th July 1989) – that the significant moments in our personal lives take on a deeper meaning when we share them with people beyond our immediate circle.  As we share with others, we make connections, strengthen bonds, and enable those we’ve touched to share with us.

Which is exactly what has happened:  In the wake of each simchah, individuals and couples have approached me and said, something like, ‘That was so lovely, I’d/we’d like to do it, too.’  And so, over the coming year, we can look forward, not only to more thirteen year olds becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah, but to more adults celebrating their Bar or Bat Mitzvah for the first or second time – and to more welcoming services for babies and young children, more special birthdays and anniversaries, more people celebrating their entry into Judaism with the congregation – even one or two couples coming to Shabbat morning service to mark their forthcoming wedding.

The synagogue calendar is filling, but there are plenty of spaces left – so if you’d like to celebrate a significant moment in your life with your congregation, just let me know!   I look forward to hearing from you…