Annette Bat Mitzvah Club and Yoel Bar Mitzvah Club Year-End Ceremonies

The 46 young girls of Bat Mitzvah age who had attended the Anette Bat Mitzvah Club for one year, participated in the Collective Bat Mitzvah Ceremony.

The ceremony started with the girls entering the synagogue arm in arm with their fathers and taking their places in an emotional atmosphere, along with the song 'Boi Kala' sung by Cenk Rofe. Following the girls' reciting the Bat Mitzvah prayers, in Hebrew and Turkish, Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva gave the girls his blessing while reminding them of their responsibilities in passing on the traditions as future mothers. After Deputy Chief Rabbi Naftali Haleva's speech, it was time for the candle-lighting ceremony. Along with their introductory speeches, the Bat Mitzvah girls thanked their teachers who trained them throughout the year. 

During the candle-lighting ceremony where the values that the women in our history had passed on to today's girls were told, Anette Rubenstein Talu, who had lost her life during the 2003 terror attack, and after whom the club had been named, was also commemorated. The girls who enthusiastically sang songs such as Shalom Aleichem, Osse Shalom, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, and Adon Olam during the ceremony, also thanked the UÖMO (Ulus Jewish Schools) music teacher Tutkum Alkan who had helped them get ready for this special day.

HEGKOM co-President Avi Alkaş in his speech, thanked everyone who had contributed to organizing this ceremony and wished the Bat Mitzvah girls "Mazal Tov." The ceremony ended with the girls being presented with their diplomas and gift books. Following the ceremony, girls and their families attended the banquet in the Neve Shalom Cultural Center prepared by La Casa Catering. Thus another heartwarming ceremony came to an end full of happiness felt by the families, the Bat Mitzvah girls, and their teachers.

The first-year-end ceremony of the Yoel Bar Mitzvah Club was celebrated on Sunday, May 26th, in the Morning Tefillah. The boys who attended this unique collective ceremony, put on tefillin with their fathers experiencing the excitement of reaching the Bar Mitzvah age for the first time. Along with the explanations of Rabbi Isak Alaluf and Rabbi Izak Perez, the prayers were understood and followed better. Then the Bar Mitzvah students joyfully sang the songs and recited the prayers they had learned throughout the year. The parents watched them emotionally feeling proud of their children hosting this magical ceremony.

Following Deputy Chief Rabbi Naftali Haleva's speech at the end of the Tefillah, the HEGKOM co-President Beri Koronyo took the stand and expressed his gratitude for the HEGKOM office, the Yoel Bar Mitzvah instructors, the music teacher, the Rabbis, and everyone who had contributed.

At the end of the ceremony, the boys received their First-Year-End Participation Certificates and the Tallit and Tefillin presented, and with their families, they enjoyed the brunch prepared by La Casa Catering in the Neve Shalom Cultural Center.

Related News

14 November

"Humor on the Margins: Cartoons in the Turkish Jewish Newspaper Şalom" by Rakel P. Meşulam

Rakel P. Meşulam signed her first book "Humor on the Margins: Cartoons in the Turkish Jewish Newspaper Şalom (1947-2016)" at Schneidertempel Arts Center.

7 November

The "Ottoman and Turkish Ketubbot" Exhibition

The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews is opening an exhibition of Ketubbot (Jewish wedding contracts), some from forgotten corners of our homes, some as already discovered works of art, some from the walls of the collectors, some from the Chief Rabbinate Collection, on November 7th, at Schneidertempel Arts Center, after they have been cleaned and maintained.

24 October

Izzet Keribar´s "Journey of Colors" Exhibition at Istanbul Modern

Istanbul Modern, Turkey´s first modern and contemporary art museum, is preparing to host photography artist Izzet Keribar´s solo exhibition "Journey of Colors".

5 September

Virna Gülzari´s ´Dream Rooms´ Exhibition Opened in Ayvalık

8 August

Kasadolu Draws Attention to the Increasing Hostility Towards Turkish Jews

The businessperson Doğan Kasadolu wrote a letter to AKP´s Ankara Member of Parliament Tuğrul Türkeş, drawing attention to the increasing anti-Semitism.

13 May

Renan Koen´s Brand-New Projects for Hatay

28 March

Democrat Party (DP) Visited Şalom

18 March

Moris Karmona Declared War On Bullying With His Book "Morhis"

Moris Karmona´s book "Morhis" in which he wrote his life story, has been published.

1 March

82nd Anniversary of the Struma Disaster

The Struma Immigration Ship had sailed from Constanza, Romania to take the Jews desperate to run from the Nazis to today´s Israel, and was sunk by a torpedo from a Russian submarine after anchoring off the coast of Istanbul for weeks.

26 February

Jenisya Yaeş Came First in the 16th National Young Soloist Competition

Soprano Jenisya Yaeş, who is studying at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, Opera Art Major Undergraduate 3rd grade, has been deemed worthy of first place in the University Category of the 16th National Young Soloist Competition.