In a room packed with friends and family at the Center for Jewish Life, Kleinman celebrated her 20th birthday on Friday evening with a ceremony that Jewish girls and boys usually celebrate at the ages of 12 and 13, respectively, to conclude a childhood of theological and Hebrew study and recognize their entrance into Jewish adulthood. Kleinman is also a senior writer for The Daily Princetonian.
Raised in a non-practicing Jewish household, Kleinman said she became fascinated with religion when she was in 10th grade at Wilmington Friends, a Quaker school. “I always believed in God, and always felt a connection to Judaism, but never had a real way to express that belief,” she said.
As a “scared freshman,” Kleinman explained, she wandered into the CJL and soon began studying with Sara Wolkenfeld, educational director of the Jewish Learning Initiative.
Then one day in seminar, when Westheimer led a discussion on Bar and Bat mitzvahs, Kleinman mentioned that she had never had one. After class, Miriam Rosenbaum ’12, an orthodox Jew and friend of Kleinman, suggested that she have a bat mitzvah on campus.
Kleinman began studying four to five hours each week in preparation for the service. She learned prayers by chanting along to a recording made by Brad Stanger ’11, who helped lead Friday’s service. She recited prayers from phonetic transliterations during the service, since she does not read Hebrew.
“This is me saying, ‘I’m ready to be an adult in this community, to have this be a really important part of my life and take on responsibility in our group,’ and I’m showing that by leading a part of services,” Kleinman said of the experience.
In addition to leading prayers, Kleinman analyzed the week’s Torah portion in a D’var Torah, which highlighted two facets of holiness: following rules and treating others with respect.
Kleinman said that while the second aspect of holiness has always been a maxim in her life, becoming a bat mitzvah marks a “turning point” in her relationship with Jewish law. “Up to this point, I haven’t been following too much of the rules, but from now on I will be thinking more about them,” she said.
Excited that her seminar inspired this event, Westheimer said that she takes “tremendous pleasure from some unintended consequences of my little seminar on Jewish family.”
Though Westheimer could not attend the bat mitzvah due to a prior commitment, she said, “I know that all the other people who attend will never forget [it].”
Rabbi Julie Roth, executive director of the CJL, said that this was the first bar or bat mitzvah she has seen during her five years at the University, noting that such a large celebration for an undergraduate is “pretty unusual.”
Roth said that the timing of Kleinman’s initiation into Jewish adulthood is “very fitting.”
“Judaism is such an ancient religion that when they started having Bar or Bat mitzvahs, at the time, people would take on responsibilities of independence much earlier,” she explained. “Now, college is really the time that prepares people for becoming adults.”
Roth added that she hopes other students, after seeing Kleinman’s, might be inspired to have a bar or bat mitzvah of their own.
Read More
Students weigh in on changes to hours at Murray-Dodge Café
Eojin ParkMurray-Dodge’s hours have been cut nearly in half. Previously, Murray-Dodge was open from 3 p.m. to midnight every day. Amid other closures of campus cafes, its hours have been reduced to 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Murray-Dodge’s hours have been cut nearly in half. Previously, Murray-Dodge was open from 3 p.m. to midnight every day. Amid other closures of campus cafes, its hours have been reduced to 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on path to the Supreme Court in campus lecture
Isaac Bernstein and Justus WilhoitAt Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
At Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
Student employment in flux as University navigates budget cuts
Kian PetlinThe future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.
The future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.