Michelle Lee gets dropped off at the synagogue once again. This has been a reoccurring thing for the past six months because she is training for her Bat Mitzvah.
A Bat/Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish ceremony when a boy or girl becomes adults in the Jewish religion. Michelle who is a 7 th grader at A.C. Stelle in Calabasas is 12 years old and will be 13 when the ceremony is complete. When asked why she wants to have the ceremony. "So I can learn more about my heritage and become a woman," said Lee. Lee has been studying for a long time but really started her Bat Mitzvah training 6 months ago. "I've been studying since I was in 2 nd grade but started Bat Mitzvah training for real just 6 months ago," said Lee.
It is common for 13 year old Jewish children to have this ceremony because it somewhat completes there Jewish training in Hebrew school. Training for a Bat Mitzvah is a very tough task and according to Beth Lee, Michelle's mother it's the hardest thing she has ever done. "I've never seen her (Michelle) have to work so hard for something, but it is going to be so rewarding," said B Lee.
Ceremonies for the Bat Mitzvah can go from 1 ½ hours to 3 hours it varies on the temple that you go to. Michelle's ceremony will be 2 hours. Lee will be wearing a Talit which is a shoulder covering cloth with many different Jewish designs during her Bat Mitzvah because you must cover your shoulders while in front of the torah reading. She also will be wearing a Kippah to cover her head while she is in the temple out of respect.
After the ceremony is done there is always a big party after to celebrate the person becoming an adult. Michelle is having trouble deciding what to do about her party. "I don't know if I should have a band or a DJ, or what theme its really stressful, but I'm excited to get all that money," Lee said jokingly. The party usually has at least 200 people and they all bring gifts. There is always a theme to the party as well. There is a party to show the appreciation for all the hard work that the child had done in becoming a Jewish adult. Michelle is excited to get her Bat Mitzvah over with in December.
"I can't wait, it's something I have been wanting to do since my brother did it," said Lee. In December Michelle Lee will become a woman in the Jewish religion and will have completed all her hard work. "When its all over I'm going to be glad that she did it, I'm so proud of how far she has come," said her mother.