Bukhara Synagogue Celebrates First-Ever Bar and Bat-Mitzvah

"My sister and I dreamt of performing the ceremony of bat-mitzvah," says Regina, one of 20 children to participate in the first bar/bat-mitzvah celebration in Tashkent's community of Bukhara Jews. "We wanted to get the status of adult girls under Jewish law, to be future keepers of Jewish houses, and to have the right to light Shabbat candles and read blessings over them."

With the support of JDC and the local orthodox Bukhara synagogue, the Tashkent Jewish Community Center (JCC) organized the coming-of-age ceremony for an eager group of seven boys and thirteen girls.

Preparing the children for the momentous occasion was a community effort. "The children went to the synagogue three times a week where they had studies with the rabbi of the Bukhara synagogue, David, and his wife," says director of the JCC, Alyona. "The rabbi told the boys about their adult role in the family, traditions, and the ceremony itself. His wife was busy with the girls."

Bar/bat-mitzvah lessons were also given by adult volunteers, including a representative of the Jewish Community Center, Stella, and the director of Hillel, Evgeniy.

The children took quickly and responsibly to their studies, reports Stella. "All prepared very seriously for the forthcoming ceremony. If somebody couldn't come, they called and were interested in when it would be possible to make up class." At the JCC the kids learned about Jewish traditions, holidays, and learned Torah. They were also taught acting technique and prepared a performance on the weekly Torah portion, "Toldot".

During the male ceremony, Rabbi David laid tefillin on each boy. He explained that they were now responsible for their own actions, and permitted after their bar-mitzvah to read Torah in shul.

The girls' ceremony was performed in a special room on the second floor.

Upon completion of the ceremonies, the congregation – and representatives of JDC, the Israeli Embassy, and the Jewish Agency – congratulated the children on the beginning of their adult lives and showered them with nuts and sweets, which in Jewish tradition symbolize a plentiful, sweet life.

The new b'nai-mitzvah continued the festivities with their parents at a restaurant, arranged by the JCC. The young adults themselves organized a program of theatrical and dance performances for their families. In recognition of this important milestone, they also received gifts and certificates confirming that they had each become a bar or bat-mitzvah and were given their Jewish names.

Due to the success of this program, the Tashkent's community of Bukhara Jews will continue to prepare its children for the tradition of bar-mitzvah in the coming years.