Nina Bonos, one of the AGJA’s talented artist members from Santa Rosa, California became a Bat Mitzvah as a way to celebrate her special milestone 60th birthday. Her daughter Lisa, an Opinion editor and freelance writer for The WASHINGTON POST, encouraged her mother to take on this unique Jewish educational challenge and experience. Following is an excerpt, with permission from the author; from an article Lisa wrote entitled, “My Little Momma’s Bat Mitzvah,” which appeared in The WASHINGTON POST on June 23, 2011.
Now that she and I have been on both sides of this ritual — as bat mitzvah and as a guiding and calming presence — it’s become obvious that l’dor v’dor flows in both directions. This concept isn’t revolutionary, and my mother’s bat mitzvah surely wasn’t the first instance of “passing up” a tradition in my family, but somehow it took a big event to make me recognize the ubiquity of such small blessings. If we continue to view religious traditions primarily as heirlooms that are passed down, we’re missing half the story. Every day, they’re watered from the grass roots as well.
To read the entire article, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/my-little-mommas-bat-mitzvah/2011/06/23/AGkauohH_blog.html
Photo caption: Lisa Bonos, left, holds the Torah with her mother, AGJA member Nina Bonos, after her adult bat mitzvah on May 21, 2011 at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa, California. Note the Torah, dressed in a beautiful Torah cover, uses one of Nina’s Judaic inspired designs, sewn in needlepoint by one of Nina’s friends, Marcia Gladstone. Photography credit: Tibidabo Photography.
