Birth of the Bat Mitzvah: A Family Legacy

If you asked Jewish women in the U.S. today whether they had a bat mitzvah, the majority would likely say, “Yes.” In our world today, it feels like such a normal part of Jewish tradition, but what most people don’t realize is that this practice is actually quite new relative to Jewish history, which spans thousands of years. Many people don’t truly know the history of the bat mitzvah or that this practice has only existed for just over a century. The stories of the first few bat mitzvahs have been told to me from a young age, as their origins trace back to my own family.

In the early 1900s, women had a very minimal role in Jewish life and tradition outside of the home. Most Jewish traditions revolved around men; they were the ones who studied Talmud, read from the Torah, and recited prayers while women sat behind a mechitzah at synagogue, observing silently from afar. Opportunities for girls to participate in Jewish ritual outside the home were almost nonexistent. For centuries, the entrance into Jewish adulthood has been marked by a bar mitzvah, a coming-of-age ceremony that is celebrated when a boy turns thirteen. These ceremonies were and continue to play an extremely significant role in Jewish life today. Girls, however, had no ceremony to celebrate this milestone and commemorated the occasion at home, if at all. The thought of having what is now known as a bat mitzvah was simply unimaginable.

On March 18, 1922, everything changed when Judith Kaplan became the first girl ever to become a bat mitzvah in New York. Judith's sister, Hadassah Kaplan (later Hadassah Musher), followed in her footsteps, becoming the second girl in Jewish history to reach this milestone. Both Judith's and Hadassah’s ceremonies play an important part in Jewish tradition, proving that women will continue to be honored in Judaism. 

Hadassah and Judith’s father, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, founded the Reconstructionist Judaism movement in 1922, and his beliefs were reflected in his daughters' bat mitzvahs. Rabbi Kaplan believed in adapting Judaism to the modern world, viewing it as an “evolving religious civilization.” To him, Judaism was something that could change with the times without losing its identity. He helped and encouraged his daughters to read from the Torah and take their place in Jewish ritual for the first time. Hadassah’s bat mitzvah serves as a turning point in Jewish tradition and shows how our religion can adapt to the changing times. 

Hadassah’s story is one that is inspirational to all, but I feel a personal connection to it, as she is my relative. My great-uncle Daniel Musher is the son of Hadassah Musher, and I feel so proud to call this family mine. When I spoke with my Uncle Daniel about any memories his mother had mentioned about her bat mitzvah, he said, “You know, it’s interesting. She [Hadassah] was the second person to ever have a bat mitzvah, and she never discussed it. She was the second one, and we know nothing about it.” To me, this quote shows how the Kaplans sought to create a meaningful Jewish change with integrity and to better our religion.

Knowing that I am related to the Kaplans, a family that completely changed the way we now practice the Jewish religion, makes me feel both proud and grateful. Uncle Daniel said to me, “I have read every book my grandfather wrote … I think his philosophy is tremendously important, and I think to a greater or lesser extent, most American Jews accept some or a lot of his philosophy. My own religious belief and practice are very strongly influenced by being raised by him.” When I participate at my synagogue and read Torah, I am thankful that Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan encouraged his daughters to make a change in Jewish tradition.

Everybody can learn from Hadassah’s accomplishments and bravery. Both she and her sister challenged the norms of society not by protest, but simply by stepping forward onto the bimah. This simple act went against centuries of Jewish traditions and redefined Judaism for future generations. Now, teenage girls all over the world have bat mitzvahs, continuing the tradition that began with Judith and Hadassah.