11 July 2012
Hi Rhonda,
I would like to tell you how much I enjoy receiving Winnipeg Jewish Review. I feel like it keeps me connected to the community in a very easy and user-friendly way.
I am writing because we had a really unique and wonderful experience this year with our Bat Mitzvah – aged daughter through a program called Bat Mitzvah Club which is run through Winnipeg’s Chabad organization. The organizer is Chana Hedingsfeld.
This is a really great program offered to Grade Six girls in preparation for their Bat Mitzvahs. It does not matter what denomination you belong to as all girls can get involved. I just thought that we wanted Rachel to understand the importance of becoming a Bat Mitzvah and I was really impressed with the messages that this program had to offer the girls in light of the mass media images that bombard our young women today with regard to how they should look, dress and act.
I cannot speak highly enough of this program and wanted to bring it to your attention, in case you hadn’t heard of it already. It would be wonderful if other girls in our community knew about it.
Attached is a speech that I delivered at the very beautiful and meaningful closing ceremony on June 20th. All of the girls wrote and delivered a speech about a meaningful Jewish Woman (thereby developing their research, interviewing and public speaking skills). I was the parent who was asked to speak from a parent’s perspective that evening.
There are many wonderful pictures available from the closing ceremony as well.
Thanks for your time,
Jessica Cogan