Newspaper Page Text
When bat mitzvas began
by Carolyn Gold
The first bat mitzva in the his
tory of the Atlanta Jewish com
munity took place on Friday even
ing Dec. 19, 1941, at the Ahavath
Achim Synagogue. Forty-five years
ago, that event, a girl participating
in the synagogue service, was con
sidered by many to be a radical
innovation.
Joyce Jacobs, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Jake Jacobs, made his
tory as the first girl to take part in a
bat mitzva ceremony. She was fol
lowed in quick succession by five
other classmates: Inge Sultan, Jan.
23, 1942, Renana Epstein, Feb. 6,
1942. Rita Klein, Feb. 27, 1942,
Selma Piassick, March 20, 1942,
and Anita Schwartzman, March
27, 1942.
Rabbi Emeritus Harry H. Epstein
recalls that Ahavath Achim was
one of the first congregations in the
nation to introduce individual bat
mitzvas. He explains, “The trend
in most Reform and Conservative
congregations was to have bat
mitzvas in groups.”
The majority of the Ahavath
Achim congregation did not go
along with the prospect of girls
participating in this ceremony.
Rabbi Epstein says, “Many fathers
never heard of it. They thought
Judaism was only for boys.”
The rabbi remembers that he
struggled with this rare thing for
years, and “now it is a must.” His
papers, being collected at the At
lanta Jewish Federation, verify that
the next bat mitzva did not take
place until 1945, three years later.
Jewish tradition teaches that a
girl develops a year sooner than a
boy, so Rabbi Epstein conducted
the beginning bat mitzvas for girls
in their 12th year. The synagogue
bulletin encouraged fathers and
mothers to understand the value of
the ceremony and to witness the
first such event.
The Dec. 18, 1942 issue reads,
“This ceremony will inspire our
girls to a better understanding and
a more significant appreciation of
Jewish life.” The bulletin stressed
the importance of girls becoming
“daughters of duty”; it explained
the Hebrew reading requirement,
and the training needed.
Each girl read from the Prophets
in Hebrew and English, gave a
short oration on the significance of
bat mitzva, and then received a
charge and blessing from the rabbi.
Since the country was at war, the
first girls included prayers for their
country when they asked for bless
ings on their parents and families.
The bulletin prior to Inge Sul
tan’s bat mitzva, the second one at
Ahavath Achim, explained that
she had begun her Hebrew studies
in Germany before coming to this
country. Renana Epstein was des
cribed as having studied Hebrew
since she was 5 years old. For that
special occasion the rabbi delivered
a sermon entitled “A Father Blesses
His Child.”
Selma Piassick gave her oration
on “The Role of Women in Jewish
History.” Anita Schwartzman, the
daughter of Cantor Joseph Schwartz
man, remembers that her family
came to Atlanta in 1940, and she
joined the first bat mitzva group.
Her ceremony took place the Sab
bath before Passover for, as the
bulletin stated, she began Hebrew
studies at age 6 in Pittsburgh.
Rabbi Epstein remembers that
one girl was not encouraged by her
family to have a bat mitzva, but she
came back at age 18 or 19 to partic
ipate in the ceremony she had
missed.
In the Federation’s archives, the
collection of Rabbi Epstein’s pap
ers proves that girls got equal
treatment with boys. When they
neglected their studies, a note went
home to their parents. Diligence
was expected.
According to Jewish tradition
there are certain duties that men
are obligated to fulfill. There are
obviously certain things that women
also can and want to do.
The present numbers of bat
mitzvas prove that girls are taking
this responsibility of learning, par
ticipation, and dedication to their
faith and making it a traditional
milestone.
Creative Candid Photography
Our specialty is
great photography
HAMMOND FESTIVAL nonQ
in SANDY SPRINGS 252-0209
<
m
5? 1
t i
.inda Gold Stationery Service!
^ S Outstanding Service & Selection®
>3 18% Discount!
252-80061
invitations • stationery • announcements
r napkins • placecards • favors • embossers
calligraphy • Hebrew lettering • art work
the laws tastefully.
If only it were enough to be Atlanta’s
only hotel with a completely kosher
kitchen! After all, ours is sanctioned
by Orthodox rabbinic authority. And
a mashgiach oversees every superb
dish our chefs create.
But who knows how kosher is
kosher?
We do. We know the original laws
so well, we can follow them faithfully
and still prepare exciting dishes that
will be the envy of all your friends.
Our catering department at 659-1400,
extension 2458, can tell you all about
our kosher catering. They can also tell
you about our excellent facilities for
bar mitzvahs, bas mitzvahs, weddings,
receptions, fund raisers —whatever.
You could simply make your next
event a kosher one. Then again, you
could make it kosher and have it at
The Westin Peachtree Plaza.
TheWestin Peachtree Plaza
Atlanta
How come we’re so good
at kosher catering?
Wt know how to observe
PAGE 19 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE July 18, 1986