More than 350 family and friends streamed into the overflowing North Shore Synagogue sanctuary in Syosset on June 13 to participate and honor 10 adult B’nai Mitzvah achievers. Each of the students underwent a rigorous two-year program of study, many of whom had no prior experience with the Hebrew language.
The B’nai Mitzvah was comprised of David Arrow, Lindsay Bogin, Donna Gelber, Jill Glatter, Pam Heath, Marcia Kimbarow, Donna Nadrich, Allison Plesur, Amanda Schlan and Deborah Shapiro. The group first led the congregation, along with Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet and Cantor Rich Pilatsky, in many traditional Sabbath prayers before reading from the Torah. Family members were invited up to the Bimah to participate in a traditional passing of the Torah from generation to generation. The participants were then separately called and stood proudly before their families and the congregation and read beautifully from their designated portion of the Torah.
Several members of the adult class elected to give thoughtful and very personal interpretations, known as D’var Torah, of the readings. The bonds of friendship forged by the 10 candidates over their shared two-year study experience were readily apparent. Their amazing renderings of prayers and Torah readings to the congregation proved how successful they were in their studies.
Following the B’nai Mitzvah ceremony was a celebration in the North Shore Synagogue Ballroom. The celebration included a rousing rendition of Hava Nagila along with other Jewish traditional music and dancing which continued into the night. Everyone agreed it was a wonderful evening of shared spiritual fellowship for the entire North Shore Synagogue community. –Submitted by North Shore Synagogue
