Former synagogue president became a bat mitzvah 

Some may ask: “What is the value of becoming a b’nei mitzvah – a ceremony signifying your passage into Jewish adulthood – well past the typical age of 13?” For Laurie Schwartz, of Waukesha, becoming a bat mitzvah in 2021 allowed her to connect more to Judaism, and her community at Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha. 

Schwartz grew up in Waukesha and attended Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha as a young girl. When her family moved to Colorado, her brother became a bar mitzvah, but she did not. She knew many Jewish girls, attending Camp Interlaken since age 12, but she “didn’t know any girls who were getting bat mitzvahed at the time;” which would have been around 1965, according to Schwartz.  

As Schwartz continued to attend synagogue in Denver as an adult, she didn’t feel connected to the community, as “the synagogue was very big and impersonal,” Schwartz said. 

When Schwartz moved back to Waukesha in 2016, she started to become involved at Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha, where she served as the synagogue president for seven years. “We are such a strong community and we’re all there for each other. I found it gratifying to be part of such a wonderful group of people who care so much about their community,” Schwartz said.  

Growing up, services she attended were primarily conducted in English. At Emanu-El of Waukesha, she noticed that services incorporated more Hebrew than she was used to. She “felt the desire to learn more [Hebrew].” In Fall 2018, Schwartz signed up for a beginning Hebrew class, led by the shul’s spiritual leader at the time, Cantor Debbie Martin. She learned how to read many prayers, including her favorite – the T’filah. 

After a couple years, five students from the class decided to become b’nai mitzvahed. The ceremony took place in Summer 2021 – delayed because of COVID-19. Each participant from the class read their own short portion from the Torah and gave a D’var Torah. 

“[Becoming a bat mitzvah] has given me the depth of understanding and enjoyment of the services, and feeling more of a part of the community,” Schwartz said. “While 13 is the earliest you can [become a b’nai mitzvah], doing so at any time can add joy and meaning to your life.”