Georgia Dahill-Fuchel
June 9, 2013
During the process of becoming a Bat Mitzvah, there were struggles. For instance, knowing how to start a paper or finding time to work. Finding time was a very big struggle because of my dance schedule. My dancing takes up so much time I even got a shirt that says, “I can’t…I have dance.” However, doing the work and finding time to work was worth it because if I hadn’t made time to do all of this work, we would not be gathered here today.
Some things stood out when preparing for my Bat Mitzvah. Writing my role model paper was something I enjoyed. That paper stood out because I got to learn all about Bette Midler, and really came to appreciate her amazing talents. Because of the fact that I chose Bette Midler as my role model, I have been eager to see her new show called “I Will Eat You Last.” In addition to writing the role model paper, I enjoyed writing the paper for my main project. I liked this paper because something I am good at is making connections. That is a really important trait to have, especially in 2013. This is an important characteristic to have if you are 13 years old because in school it is important to be able to look at historic events, find what lessons we can learn and connect them to modern day life. In this particular paper I got to make lots of connections. I found common characteristics in women from Biblical times and women from the modern day.
Having a Bat Mitzvah is a rite of passage. I believe this passage, or transformation involves me becoming a woman who can play a more active role in my community. It is physically impossible to just become a woman after a ceremony but what isn’t impossible and what is doable is continuing to develop your mind while taking a place of greater responsibility in the community. That is what I intend to do now that I am a Bat Mitzvah.
The road to my Bat Mitzvah was not one I traveled alone. Firstly, I want to thank my mentor, Helene. Her gentle patience and her ability to settle for my mother’s terrible coffee made her very valuable to my process. Thank you, Helene. I’d like to thank Rabbi Peter. I remember being at his house one evening, feeling like I wasn’t on a path leading anywhere with my major project paper, and I left there feeling confident and excited about this research.
I’d like to thank Aram Rubenstein-Gillis, our musician today, for leading the music, and for doing a great job with the songs I chose for this ceremony. I’d also like to thank my friends for being here for me, and for keeping me laughing even when I’ve felt blue or stressed. I would like to thank Grandma Judy for helping me through this process and being patient when I was stressed, and answering as many questions as she could about her namesake, Judith. And lastly, I’d like to thank my mother and father and brother. Jake, for sharing his wisdom from when he became a Bar Mitzvah and for being there for me. And my mother and father for helping me along the path toward becoming a Bat Mitzvah, being great mentors and great editors for me while helping me journey through this rite of passage.
