Shabbat Morning Service (Hybrid)

Registration: This event is available in person and via live stream. Registration is not required. Click here to join the live stream at the event start time.

About Calla
Dear TBE Community: Hi, my name is Calla Jellinek. I am 12 years old, and I am from Newton.

Playing ice hockey is one of my favorite things to do because it makes me feel alive. I also love soccer and basketball. Basically, I love all sports. In the summer, I go to a seven-week overnight camp in Maine called Pinecliffe. This will be my sixth summer.

I have a twin sister Sydney, an older sister Avalon (14), and two dogs. They are yellow labradors named Tele (Telemachus) and Jester.

I go to Dedham Country Day school where I like hanging out with my friends and doing sports. Along with a friend, I started the Jewish Alliance Group at school. Members are both Jewish and not Jewish. We learn about the holidays and other traditions, and talk about issues. We’ve also braided challah and eaten sweet Jewish treats like rugelach and hamantaschen!

The Ma’asim Tovim volunteer work I did before my bat mitzvah was food delivery with JF&CS. Being able to pack food and deliver it to people made me happy, and it also made me reflect on how differently all families live.

For me, becoming a bat mitzvah means I get to become an adult in my religion, which makes me feel proud of who I am.

About Sydney
My name is Sydney Jellinek, and I live in Newton! Playing soccer and performing on stage make me feel strong and powerful. Whether I am on a stage or kicking a ball, I need to be part of a team; I need to be connected to other people. I have a twin sister and an older sister who is 14. People ask me about what being a twin is like, and I describe it as having a companion you can always count on. Having a twin is like having a best friend or a person you will always trust. I also have 2 dogs named Tele and Jester.

I am a rising 7th grader, and I go to BB&N. At school, I love my classes and my teachers. My favorite subjects are science and history. I enjoy science because learning about biology and human development has become something I am passionate about. I enjoy history because learning about the past and how we can help the future has always made me think, “What could I have done?” or, “If I was in their shoes, how might I have handled that differently?” I like these two classes because they require hands-on activity such as projects or labs. I learn better visually and physically, so it is easier for me to understand these subjects.

I’m excited to become a bat mitzvah because it is a part of my Jewish tradition. I have always been told it is a “right of passage” or “becoming an adult”. Over these past 2 years, as I have been studying Torah, I have learned what those phrases mean to me. Being a bat mitzvah isn’t about growing older; it is about growing and understanding who I am as an individual. It is about showing up and being brave by showing the people I care about my hard work and effort. Becoming bat mitzvah is about sharing myself with my community and showing them what I have accomplished and what I will continue to do.