The Bat Mitzvah of Elisheva bat Chaim

(Read about the day's activities on this page, then click each of the thumbnails below to see the larger image. 
Scroll thru those pages using the left and right arrow flamingos)
 

Joyce's best friend at Temple, Eli, had her bat Mitzvah in August. Ana sang on the worship team. Here is the team singing back-up, as Eli sings "Open Thou Mine Eyes" as she asks the L-rd to open her eyes to His message in the Torah.

It was Elisha's honor and privilege to carry the Torah during our procession for the first time in her life. Helping her with this honor was her Dad, and her Uncle Antony. You can see it's quite heavy, so Eli has a firm grip on it to keep it from falling.

We honor the Word of G-d by touching our Siddur, our Liturgy book to it, or touching with our hand, and then kissing our lips by which we pass down His Law to our children. Following Elisha is her friend Judah who is sprinkling candy in her wake, another tradition. Next Eli had to share a special message about her portion, Re'eh, which means "see" in Hebrew. 

Carol read before Elisha did, and she read her entire portion in Hebrew, then read the English translation. This was just as she had done during Joyce's Bat Mitzvah nearly two years before. What a blessing to have Carol in all our lives.
After Elisha was done reading her portion in Hebrew, she got a big round of applause from Dad!

Joyce was honored and blessed to be one of the people who was called to the bemah to read from the Torah. She read part of her portion in Hebrew! And remember, it was less than two years ago that she had her own Bat Mitzvah.
Joyce and Eli watch and listen as Dan reads in Hebrew from the Torah.

Joyce reads the English translation as Eli listens.
After Joyce, Yochanan read, first from the Torah in Hebrew, then in English.

Yochanan and Dan are consulting on a point of theology as Joyce and Charlie look on.

After Yochanan, Woody read.

After Woody, it was Kirsten's portion; here she reads from the Torah as Dan and Woody look on.

Elisha's grandmother Judis read from the Brit Chadashah, the New Testament. She flew from the East Coast to be here on her grandaughter's special day.
After all the readings are completed, we raise the Torah and bless it with the Hag ba'Ah. Uncle Chris prepares to lift it up before the congregation.

More pictures of the worship team ...
and several pictures of family and friends enjoying Eli's special day ...
Uncle Chris, Ezra, Charlie and Yosi Uncle Antony and Mom

Uncle Chris, Nicholas, John (2nd row), Dad, Ezra and Yosi Uncle Antony and Mom
Ritchard Sandy

Beverly, Marcella and Mary Claudia, Frehiwote and Gwen

Carol Veda
Evan, Woody and Joyce Eli and Diana with a lovely bouquet of roses for her special day
Dance worship Eli and her Mom
Stephanie, Miryam, Yochanan, Yochanan and Evan Mom and Dad look very happy
Kirsten sings a special version of "Sunrise, Sunset" to Elisha

Mom and Dad blessing us all with the Aaronic Benediction When we finish reading from the Torah and the Brit Chadashah, we dress the Torah and put it back in the Ark.
The last blessing before we close the Torah into the Ark.

After the 3 hour ceremony, it was time for food. Sharam provided a great spread -- fantastic Mediterranean salads, barbecued chicken, roasted potatoes -- and various congregants brought the desserts and drinks.
Ana was specially requested to provide the cake. Eli's portion was Re'eh, which is what the three Hebrew characters spell on this Torah cake.

Eli was very happy with the finished product!
Charlie says a blessing over the bread and wine as everyone looks on. After that, it's time to eat!

It is so hard to get everyone to have nice smiles when you take a large family picture. Needless to say, Ana took several, and these two (above) were the best of them. The two below were "practice."

Any activity that Kirsten hosts is going to have dancing ... here is the evidence that several joined her on this special day! Charlie doesn't dance very often, but one of his favorite songs was played, and he was compelled to join in.

We had some really little dancers participating too.
Joyce and Eli got to spend alot of time together on Eli's special day. Here they are dancing side by side in the middle of two circles moving in opposite directions.

After all the official Bat Mitzvah activities were over, the family fun began. Several of us descended on the local mini-golf-land, where we played 18 holds and had a great time! Here, Ezra smiles for the camera, while Charlie, Bo and David are right behind him, and Samuel, Evan and Yosi are in the back by the anthill.

Color Code  for Pictures:

   Yvonne's Pictures   Dan's Pictures   Ana's Pictures