One of the highlights of a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony is lighting candles in honor of loved ones.
For one young girl last weekend, however, that seemed out of reach. She’d prepared for a year for this very important bat mitzvah ceremony — but candles were the only thing Temple Israel had. In the wake of the nor’easter, the power was out.
The Conservative Synagogue came to the rescue. They were hosting their own bat mitzvah. Yet they quickly agreed to share their event with the girl from Temple Israel.
“Rabbi Weiderhorn is all about community,” says Conservative Synagogue member Susie Blumenfeld, who asked “06880” to share this story.
“And I know Temple Israel would do the same for us. I’ve asked them in the past to help with a mitzvah during a potential storm.
“This is why we live in Westport,” Susie says. “This is why I love Westport. We help each other.
“I love that those 2 little bat mitzvah girls shared the bima this weekend. And the best gift they received was this lesson of community.”
Why should that be a surprise?
Nice story. But, Dan, you didn’t explain “bima”. It’s the candle-lighting ritual, yes?
Sorry. A bima is the podium or platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.
beautiful story thank you!
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