Learning the St. John's Wood Way
It started with a sigh - “We never had anything like that in my day”. This sigh bespoke a generation of women who had little opportunity for a formal Jewish education and had not developed the learning skills to access their Jewish heritage directly. One letter from Rebbetzin Rachie Binstock addressed to the women of the St. John's Wood congregation produced a flurry of excitement and a true sense of belonging and cohesion that no one could have imagined possible.
Who would have anticipated the interest and subsequent response of one probing letter asking who would like to have a Batmitzvah. The time proved right for women who for a number of reasons were unable to be Batmitzvah formally in a meaningful way when aged 12. But that didn't stop other women joining the weekly shiurim to learn alongside those who were determined to complete the process.
Younger women who had been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity for more advanced Jewish study themselves paired up with the Batmitzvah students in ‘chavrutot’, where lots of cross- generational exchange - and laughter - took place. Such a novel and ambitious style of learning aiming towards an ultimate end goal attracted these women from teens to beyond and formed a bond among pupils that has endured.
Under the tuition of Rebbetzin Rachie many themes and topics were considered and the unanimous decision was made to focus on the most special, but least discussed, hero in our heritage, King David. Therefore each student chose one of the Psalms of David that was pertinent to their own individual and personal thoughts.
Eight women completed the course and rather than present their work individually, their written commentaries were compiled into a book presented at a dinner hosted by the eight Batmitzvahs for their families and friends, and attended by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks and Lady Sacks the day following a special Shabbat Kiddush at St. John’s Wood Synagogue.
In keeping with traditional Bar/Batmitzvahs there was the praise from the family and friends who “shlepped nacchus”, with guests coming from Australia, America, Israel and Europe to join in the celebrations and bearing gifts - including the eagerly received ubiquitous pen. Each Batmitzvah participant went home with a signed and framed certificate of achievement presented by the Chief Rabbi. Subsequently they received an award of recognition from the United Synagogue and the customary photograph appeared in the Jewish Press.
Timing was tight and unrelenting. A valuable learning session was held without fail each week starting right after the Yomim Noraim. Despite plenty of l'chaims dispensed to celebrate various landmark occasions at many of the Monday evening sessions, by Pesach each woman had managed to fulfil her own personal commitment. Commenting on the success of this unique programme Rebbetzin Rachie said: “I saw this as giving women of all ages and backgrounds a chance to explore their Jewish identity and achieve religious and spiritual growth”.
There were only four requirements for this programme: that the students be Jewish, female, over twelve years old and willing to learn!
Rachie Binstock said: “I believed that Batmitzvah Revisited would have wide appeal, particularly to the "silent majority" of United Synagogue women who provide practical support for their communities but are less involved with the education process. I felt that this project would truly put women in touch with their Jewish "voice” and possibly be of interest to communities across the United Synagogue.”
The eight women, of an indeterminate age, from St. John’s Wood were:
Psalm 16 Susan Kosky
Psalm 23 Hazel Howard
Psalm 30 Linda Sharpe
Psalm 34 Denise Katz
Psalm 69 Irene Goodman
Psalm 137 Beryl Slade
Psalms 113-118 Irene Gee
Psalm 121 Simone Klass
(From left to Right: Back row – Linda Sharpe, Beryl Slade, Simone Klass. Centre – Irene Gee, Susan Kosky, Irene Goodman. Front row – Hazel Howard, Rebbetzin Rachie Binstock, Denise Katz)
Each piece of work was dedicated to loved ones, past and present, and supported by photographs, some past and present too.
For me, as I spearheaded the project from its conception to fruition and coordinated the book and the Batmitzvah celebrations, it evolved at a time of sadness. “While men say kaddish (the mourner’s prayer) daily to fulfil their mitzvah during the period of mourning) I in turn wanted to honour the memory of my much missed mother, Mary, who had died in tragic circumstances and her mother, Rosie, who, by living with us, was an integral part of my religious, spiritual and loving upbringing”. I hope they would have been proud.
Simone Klass
(The St. John’s Wood Batmitzvah celebrations took place on 7 May 2006)
