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

May 30, 2024

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.

Yoel Bar Mitzvah Club first-year-end ceremony

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.

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