11 adults mark b'nai mitzvah at Adat Chaverim

Eleven adults, ages 18 to their 70s, celebrated a group b'nai mitzvah at Adat Chaverim on Jan. 10, joining together in a service filled with family and congregants.

Eleven adults stood together at the Torah at Adat Chaverim on Saturday, Jan. 10, marking their b'nai mitzvah as a group. Each person’s path to the bimah was different, but the celebration was shared by family, friends and congregants. The service brought generations together and drew a full sanctuary. Many of the participants formed study partnerships during their preparation. Event details: - The celebrants were Rachel Betcher-Smith, Olivia Foster, Suzanne Ginsburg, Steve Kriss, Rebecca Moore, Elizabeth Pimper, Jennifer Redman, Robin and Kurt Schriefer, Adrian Wang and Irena Wayne. - The service on Jan. 10 filled the Adat Chaverim sanctuary and included family members and a spillover room of attendees. - Rabbi Adam Ruditsky described the day as significant and noted the emotional passing of the Torah during the hakafot. - Robin and Kurt Schriefer celebrated together with their children and grandchildren present, and received tallises as a family gift. - Adrian Wang and his wife met congregants at a local bagel shop after Oct. 7, 2023, later joined Adat Chaverim; Donna took an Introduction to Judaism course and Adrian joined the b'nai mitzvah class, learning Hebrew through weekly sessions and study. - Jonathan Goldstein, the congregation's board president and cantorial soloist, and b'nai mitzvah tutor Gallia Benglas helped prepare the participants and the reading of Parashat Shemot. Summary: The group b'nai mitzvah was presented as a communal milestone that connected individuals across ages and backgrounds and highlighted shared study and support. Undetermined at this time.