Adult women line up for the bat mitzvah experience they missed

The popular bat mitzvah program for adults run by the Great Synagogue is now being offered across the Sydney community. “Embracing Bat Mitzvah: Sisterhood and Tradition”, for adults who missed the opportunity when younger, is attracting women across generations and religious affiliations, and is now open to non-members.

Specifically designed for adult women, the 12-week program, which starts on September 1, features a range of experienced educators offering Sunday morning classes covering topics such as spirituality, mitzvahs, prophetesses and famous Jewish women, culminating with the group’s bat mitzvah in December.

Coinciding with The Great Synagogue’s ‘Women Of Worth’ (WOW) Weekend in 2019, and with the approval and encouragement of Chief Minister Rabbi Ben Elton, the initiative was launched by the congregation’s then Vice President Caroline Lewis.

“Call me selfish, but I’d never had a bat mitzvah and I really wanted to have one,” Lewis told The Jewish Independent.

“I wanted to know the feeling of walking up on to the bimah, surrounded by friends and family, and to experience the role of a woman in a Shule service.”

It didn’t take long to fill the spots when the program was launched as “12 Over 12” in 2019, Lewis said, as many women had been overlooked for their bat mitzvah. 

“When they were 12 it wasn’t deemed fashionable for girls to have a bat mitzvah, or it was simply seen as an opportunity only for a boy’s role. These 12 women wanted to find a way to experience it.”