Mazel tov to the bat mitzvah women

After six weeks of classes about Judaism — the 613 mitzvahs in the Torah and cultural identity — eight women made their bat mitzvah many years after Jewish girls typically celebrate this rite of maturity.

Susan Ballison, Gina Beshkin, Dale Durdunas, Janine Fisher, Vicky Golduber, Judy Metz, Nataly Tarnarider and Rozana Zemlyansky studied under Chabad of Hewlett Rebbetzin Rivkie Tenenboim and were celebrated for their achievement at an intimate ceremony on Aug. 16.

Tenenboim presented seven of the women with charms that filled a locket and a personal siddur — prayer book. Beshkin did not attend. “We celebrate who we are and celebrate our Jewish identity,” Tenenboim said. “It is important for us and the people around us.

Fellow Rebbetzin, Chanie Wolowik, wife of Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, the spiritual leader of the Chabad of the Towns, attended the ceremony and showed her support for the women. “Mazel tov to all of you,” Chanie Wolowik said. “We need to be able to connect and the 613 mitzvahs connect us to God. We go from strength to strength and you inspire us to do more and more.”