Group of retirement living women celebrate their bat mitzvah

While a bar and bat mitzvah is usually celebrated when a child turns thirteen, the Jewish milestone can be experienced at any age. All one needs to do is to study hard, read from the torah, and be prepared for a celebration afterwards.


A group of retirement living women finally experienced their bat mitzvah ceremony, according to Newsday.

The ladies, who range in age from 60 to 95 years old, all live at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Commack, New York.


"When they grew up, there was no such thing as a bat mitzvah," Rabbi Zev Schostak, director of pastoral care at the center, told the news source.


The classes were taught by Judy Kahn, a retirement living senior herself. The 77 year old studied Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan.


"Some had had a little bit of Jewish education. Many have not had anything," she said.


According to MyJewishLearning.com, reasons for adults choosing to have a bar or bat mitzvah may include regret over not experiencing one during their youth, or converting from another religion.




© Copyright