Well, the bat mitzvah part is over. The haftarah was chanted, the services are done, and I ended them surrounded by current, former, and not-quite-mine students. (The last are students who were in the school, but past fourth grade by the time I started teaching.) I did okay on the haftarah. I was nervous. I’m thinking of having weekly lessons with Elisson and starting all over, so I can do the trope correctly without him yelling at me. My mother came in on Friday during one of my lessons, and he is a perfectionist, so he was telling me, “No!” when I was getting the trope right (IMHO). I yelled at him, he yelled back, and my mother evidently thought we were battling. Nah. Just expressing our opinions strongly. (Sorry about the time I told you you suck, Elisson. I didn’t mean it. I blame the pressure of the last few weeks.)
I think I shall re-do my haftarah next year. A year is more than enough time to study and get it right.
A fuller report is going to have to wait until I’ve recovered a bit. I look forward to getting my first full night’s sleep in ages. My pulse is finally back to a normal rate. The worry lines are gone from my forehead. Yep. Tonight it’s party time, and I get to leave with a clear conscience. I’ve hired a caterer and a clean-up guy. All I need to do today is finish my lesson plan, drop it off tonight, then get together and party with my friends and family.
Services were great last night and tonight. I had the kids come up for a lot of the prayers. When I gave the option to all the young people to come up and help me with the Ashrey, every child in the place came up. We normally only give that one to sixth and seventh graders, mostly only seventh. And they came up to the bima again for Adon Olam. Like I said, I ended my bat mitzvah surrounded by children. It was wonderful.
My first year’s madricha (teaching assistant) is a junior in college now. I asked her to give the “Mom” speech. Her speech was wonderful. She came very close to making me cry.
Hm. Looks like the report is mostly full. Well, off to create a lesson plan for tomorrow and then relax with my friends and family. This was a wonderful day, and it’s not quite over yet.
Mazel tov, Meryl!
Mazal Tov.
Mazel Tov!
You go, girlchik!
Mazel tov!
Congratulations.
Mazel Tov
Consider yourself to have been pelted with nuts and candies at the end of the Barochas.
At least that is was used to be done in the old lantzman shules of my youth!
Mazal Tov! Shkoach!
And to all my fellow blog readers and snarkers, don’t forget to give Meryl a Bat Mitzvah present!
chsw
Mazel Tov, Meryl!
Mazel Tov!
Mozzil Tove! I knew you could do it!
Mazal Tov! I’m glad it all went well… enjoy!
Funny, you don’t look … thirteen. Oh yeah, Mazel Tov!
Congratulations, mazal tov, yay!! :)
Mazal tov, Meryl!
Shkoach!
Well done and Mazel Tov!
Mazal Tov,Meryl, a listener from Shire Net Work News.:)
… congratulations, ma’am!…..
Mazel tov, Meryl! :) You rock!
Very good Meryl !! Mazal Tov!!
Mazal Tov! And many more simchas to come.
Mazal Tov!
Mazel tov!
(Consider yourself pelted with a chunk of cognac-spiked fudge. Unlike real kiddies, you can enjoy the good stuff :) )
Mazel Tov!
(I guess you’re not a fountain pen.)
Bon Chance! Cajuns don’t do “mazel tov” real well, and this is my best substitution.
MC
Mazel tov. Think about posting your Bat Mitzvah speech. I’m sure it was wonderful.
Mazel tov, Meryl! I’m sure you did great and, yes, you should post your ‘drash. Adult Bnai Mitzvahs are a lot different from the usual teen variety; I’ve attended several and enjoyed them all, including the “2nd Bar Mitzvahs” of my father and his brother. Learned a few new family stories that way.
Our Men’s Club arranged to have a Haftorah scroll loaned to us for yesterday’s service from the Federation of Jewish Mens Clubs. I understand it was in Richmond last week (not sure which congregation). The Bar Mitzvah boy yesterday declined the opportunity to read from it, but the rabbi rolled it out following services so we could look at it. Unlike a Torah scroll, it has vowels and trope. Otherwise, reading from it would be just like from a scroll, complete with yad.
Congrats and Mazel tov again!
Mazel tov v’shakoyach!! I can’t imagine there being a finer chavrusa to learn with than Adon Elisson.
I had the privilege of being one of the four men to lift Meryl in her chair during Hava Nagila. Meryl throws a good party. I must say though it was the first time I heard Hava Nagila immediately preceded by Vanilla Ice.
Mazal tov!
#28, I tend not to give out details like which congregation I belong to, but I’ve seen the haftarah scroll. I read from it last week (after services) for a former student, who came to see me on what should have been my run-through the week before my bat mitzvah.
I would have loved to use it yesterday.
Mazal Tov, Meryl!
Mazel Tov! I just posted a little bit of the boys and Sorena dancing Saturday night.
Mazel tov, Meryl!