Dylan Becomes a Bat Mitzvah: A Leap of Faith at The Neshamah Institute

Dylan’s Bat Mitzvah at The Neshamah Institute felt like a promise, one she made to herself, to her family, and to the generations who came before her.

A Torah Portion That Mirrored Her Own Journey

Dylan’s Torah portion was Lech Lecha, the story of Avram being told to leave everything he knows, his home, his family, his birthplace, and travel to a land he has never seen. It is a portion about courage in the face of uncertainty, and Dylan connected to it in a way that moved everyone in the room.

In her own words, she is not literally leaving home. But becoming a Bat Mitzvah meant stepping into a new part of her life without knowing exactly what lies ahead. Dylan shared that she hopes to grow into a compassionate, kind, and caring Jewish woman, and that intention shaped everything about her service.

Finding God in a Difficult Moment

One of the most touching parts of Dylan’s remarks was her reflection on faith. She spoke about the passing of her grandmother Fefe and how she prayed that Fefe would rest easy and be free of pain. It was in that moment, Dylan said, that she first understood faith is not only something you learn. It is something you feel.

This is the heart of the Shema. Dylan reminded us that the Shema is not just a statement of belief. It is a call to put love, kindness, and responsibility into our actions every day.

L’dor V’dor: Carrying Tradition Forward

Dylan spoke beautifully about L’dor V’dor, from generation to generation. She talked about her parents, who taught her kindness, responsibility, and a love of Jewish life, and her grandparents, who share traditions with her at the Passover seder, eating matzah together and reading from the Haggadah.

She named clearly what so many of our Bat Mitzvah students come to understand on this day: she is now responsible for carrying these traditions forward, not just by learning about Judaism, but by living it through her choices and actions.

Trusting Herself, On and Off the Bimah

Dylan also shared a story about trying out for her school soccer team, knowing her sister was already the team’s main goalie. Taking on the role of secondary goalie meant real courage, real self-doubt, and ultimately, real trust in herself.

She connected that experience directly to Avram’s leap of faith, and to the process of preparing for her Bat Mitzvah itself. Learning to chant Torah, writing her remarks, understanding what it means to become a Bat Mitzvah, it was a lot. There were moments of confidence and moments of doubt. But like Avram, Dylan kept going, trusting the process and the people who helped her along the way.

Stepping Into Responsibility

As Dylan became a Bat Mitzvah, she took on responsibility for mitzvot, for making ethical choices, and for how she shows up in the Jewish community and in the world. It is exactly the kind of responsibility The Neshamah Institute hopes every Bat and Bar Mitzvah student walks away holding onto.

Mazel tov to Dylan and her entire family. Watching her take this leap of faith, with courage, honesty, and heart, was a gift to our whole Neshamah community.