Sydenham batmitzvah group celebrate in style

SHIRLEY STEIN PHOTOGRAPH: TREVOR SACHS

Sydenham Shul’s second batmitzvah ceremony of 2016 took place on Sunday September 11 and was a most beautiful and meaningful occasion. This time, Tenielle Israelsohn, Netanya Mindel, Tali Pimstein, Mikayla Plitt, Gabi Sassen and Noa Sidi entered Jewish womanhood in style.

The girls delivered an outstanding choral verse presentation entitled “A Matter of Hope”, written by Amanda Porter. In it, they shared the special and unique contributions of contemporary Jewish heroines including Rachel Fraenkel, Ally Reisman, and Sheryl Sandberg among others.

 Each of these role models expressed their Jewish identity and called on their heritage to help them through their experiences, good or bad. The girls also lit a candle in memory of a girl who perished in the Holocaust and never had a batmitzvah.

Sydenham’s Rabbi Yossy Goldman delivered a powerful talk to the girls, sharing a very moving message from 9/11 and a story from the Holocaust depicting the power of hope. Yudi Cohen and the Sydenham Choir sang beautiful contemporary songs that were relevant for the occasion and the theme. The rabbi, chazzan and choir then shared a musical blessing..

Special thanks were given to Lee Unterslak for teaching the girls and Ingrid Seeff for all the arrangements.