she's 13 tomorrow--i really didn't want to donate thousands to some synagogue to teach her some rituals--many i don't believe in and are just plain against G-d's Word. i bat-mitzvah'ed her myself in the car ride from work during lunch--it was beautiful.
the basic precepts were serve G-d, mankind and the animal kingdom fervently--backed up by the rituals of continual prayer, atonement, kindness, charity, and devoted study--then you got what it means to bind yourself to the Coventant that G-d made with our fathers. got home -recited a few prayers from the authorized prayer book-recited Deuteronomy 6:4 and let her know that G-d gives us free will to serve Him fully--or not--it's up to you to make the right choice--and i know you will.
such was the 'shot-gun' albeit beautiful bat-mitzvah of Rebek'ah Sar'ah Lieberman on 2 Etan'im 3458--9/14/2007