When the students in Yeshiva Primary reach the milestone of bas mitzvah, the school celebrates with the girls. In keeping with the philosophy of the Dean of Yeshiva Primary, Rabbi Zalman Deutscher, of treating students as if they were your own children, this is a milestone for the teachers and principal to celebrate with the students.
Five students from Yeshiva Primary celebrated their bas mitzvah with their limudei kodesh teachers, Mrs. Yocheved Abramovitz and Miss Adira Lew, and the principal, Mrs. Klein, the Associate Principal, Dr. Anne Douglas, and the Director of Development, Rabbi Avner Yusupov, at Sushi Kingdom on Tuesday, May 2.
This was a unique way to celebrate with these girls and to share in their simchah. Mrs. Klein shared that she could give a speech telling the girls what bas mitzvah means and what it represents, but that it would be much more meaningful if each girl shared her own thoughts of what this milestone means to her.
Each one of the bas mitzvah girls then shared her thoughts on the meaning of becoming a bas mitzvah in a most eloquent and inspiring way.
Leah/Shennon Khaneghini related that it means being self-aware and accepting consequences because that builds character. She said, “We’ll learn new things as we grow up, and we have to be passionate and be honest with ourselves. If you want a job, you should do something you are passionate about.”
Next, Leorah/Larita Aminov shared that “Being bas mitzvah means being a model for others and showing people the right way to act.”
Then, Michal/Michelle Tamarov said, “It means respect and showing others how to be respectful. It means showing kindness and treating others the right way.”
Following this, Sara Shakarov noted that “Being bas mitzvah is about acquiring maturity and understanding. It’s a new starting point in life. It means learning about our heritage and starting to understand how the world works. It means learning how to present yourself to others and how to be a good role model for people of all ages.”
Finally, Abigail Khaimova shared, “It means learning how to be responsible and how to act maturely. If you are with someone younger, you have to act like you know what you are doing. Be competent and show her how to do things.”
Mrs. Klein pointed out that the girls themselves really covered what being bas mitzvah means. She shared how school philosophy is student-centered. This celebration reflected that idea.
Next, Mrs. Yocheved Abramovitz commented on the girls’ words. “They all spoke eloquently about the responsibility of becoming bas mitzvah. They feel responsible to set an example to their friends and anyone who looks up to them. They are taking the learning from this wonderful yeshivah, Yeshiva Primary, in limudei kodesh and secular studies, and putting it into practice in the world. They make a good impression on everyone they meet. They feel responsibility of bas mitzvah and what it means. Everything they do is important, and they will emulate great role models of our past. She wished them a good future, living a Torah life and wonderful continued success in Yeshiva Primary and beyond.
Morah Adira Lew then shared that each of these girls has a heart of gold. “You are genuine and friendly to everyone and you all want to be role models to others. The best way to be role models is to use these three tools that you possess.”
Dr. Anne Douglas then shared that these are five wonderful young ladies entering a new phase of life – the maturing phase of life. This is the preparation toward adulthood and becoming responsible citizens in the community and the world. She noted that they are not just preparing for working life but for life as a wife and mother. “You are preparing yourself to be the best you can be.” She said that she wished for them to be wonderful mothers to their children as their mothers were to them. “You are a thread of all the lives that came before you.”
Rabbi Yusupov concluded by focusing on developing the character trait of kindness and wished the girls a mazal tov on this very important milestone.
By Susie Garber
