Spotlight

LOOKING BACK, WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR WHOLE BAT MITZVAH EXPERIENCE?

Cydney: The best part was helping my parents with the planning. Once we decided on a theme, it was fun to put all of the pieces together. There is so much that goes into having a bat mitzvah from the Shabbat dinner to the service to the celebration. Getting to see family and friends was really special. My parents really made sure it was a special experience for everyone.

Michelle Feinberg, mother: Seeing Cydney up on the bimah was so special. She had worked so hard for a year. Also, due to COVID we hadn’t seen family in so long. We were so happy that so many came in.

HOW DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECT THE BAT MITZVAH?

Michelle Feinberg, mother: Cydney only did her lessons by Zoom. She never had one in-person lesson with her amazing tutor. Vaccines and masks were required at the service.

CYDNEY FEINBERG

BAT MITZVAH: OCT. 23, 2021 SYNAGOGUE: B’NAI JESHURUN CONGREGATION CELEBRATION: EMBASSY SUITES BEACHWOOD OFFICIANTS: RABBI STEPHEN WEISS AND CANTOR AARON SHIFMAN AGE: 13 HOMETOWN: PEPPER PIKE SCHOOL: BRADY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MORELAND HILLS WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER YOUNG ADULTS PREPARING FOR THEIR B’NAI MITZVAHS?

Cydney: I started preparing for my bat mitzvah a year before – it seemed like there was so much to do to be ready for the service. I was nervous. I had a great tutor who I met with each week over Zoom and together we worked on making sure I was ready. I would say to others, don’t get overwhelmed, make sure you study in between your sessions and have some fun, too. Getting to write my own d’var Torah was cool. I was able to personalize it and teach others about the Torah portion.