Judy Berger lost her husband, Leslie, on New Yearâs Eve 2019, but he was very much on her mind during the second day of Hanukkah last Saturday. Thatâs when Berger, 73, achieved a milestone: her bat mitzvah.
âHe was never bar mitzvahed, and I thought, âOK, Iâm going to do this for him and for me,â â Berger said. âThis was something I did for me and for my husband. It was always in the back of my mind, and the fact that I accomplished it at this point in my life, Iâm glad that I did.â
Berger was part of a group adult bânai mitzvah at United Hebrew Congregation that was conducted over Zoom. The six UH congregants ended a yearlong study program with the ceremony.Â