Shabbat shalom everyone, my name is Freya and thank you for joining me at my Batmitzvah.
Before I begin, I want to say a big mazel tov to Anna and Josh, who got married on Thursday and are celebrating their simcha with us this Shabbat. Mazel tov as well to all of their families—it’s so special to be sharing this joyful occasion with you.
I also want to thank Rabbi Hackenbroch and Rabbi Yitzi for their guidance, care, and for making this such a warm and welcoming community. I feel very lucky to be part of a shul where everyone is supported and included. Thank you as well to Rebbetzin Gila for all your encouragement and kindness—your support means so much to my family.
Today I am standing in front of you, reading this D’var Torah to commemorate the milestone of my Batmitzvah. But I’m also celebrating the Batmitzvah of Frederika Freia van Cleef, a 14-year-old girl from Amsterdam who was murdered during the Holocaust on the 16th of July 1943. She was not able to celebrate her Batmitzvah, so I am doing this for the both of us.
In Judaism, we light candles for lots of occasions. For happy ones—for example, to celebrate the miracles of Chanukah—but also for sad ones, like commemorating those who perished in the Holocaust. At the beginning of this week’s Parasha, Aaron is instructed to light the menorah. The Torah states: “Beha’alotecha et ha’nerot” – “When you raise up the lights.”
Rashi explains that Aaron needed to light the flame until it could rise and burn steadily on its own. This imagery of lighting a flame until it can stand up on its own seems very appropriate for me today as I become Batmitzvah. Until now, I have been a child, and my flame has been held up and supported by my community and everyone around me. Now that I am Batmitzvah, just like the flame, I can stand tall with my values and spread my own light to everyone around me.
One part of the parasha that really stood out to me was the commandment to make two silver trumpets. They were used to bring the people together, to guide them when to travel, and even during celebrations and offerings. I love music and singing, and I find it amazing that sound was such an important part of how the Jewish people connected to Hashem. Music has the power to create calm, happiness, and a feeling of closeness both with each other and with something bigger. Just like the trumpets brought people together and reminded them of G-d, I hope I can use music in my own life to bring joy and peace to others.
Towards the end of the Parasha, Miriam, with the greatest intentions, spoke negatively about Moshe, and she was punished for this. This is where we learn about the commandment of not speaking Lashon Hara.
Words are immensely powerful and can be used to heal or to hurt. This is why it is so important that we understand the value of speech and think about other people when we choose our words. I want to use the power of speech to spread kindness to those around me, and I know that even just a few well-chosen words can make a difference to the world.
As Jews, we put our trust in Hashem to give us clarity and to guide us to where we need to go. We see this in this week’s Parasha when the Israelites were wandering in the desert, with no clear idea of their immediate plans. They had to follow the Ana-Ney Ha-Kavod, the clouds of glory, which were made from G-d to guide them. They had to have complete and utter trust and faith in Hashem to take them where they needed to go, to the land of Israel. Just like this, in life, we don’t always know what’s ahead of us, especially now that I’m Batmitzvah, in secondary school, and have more power over my own life. I need to be able to trust the process, and understand that Hashem has a plan for me, just like He had a plan for the Jewish people.
As I become Bat Mitzvah today, I am stepping into a new chapter of my life—one where I take more responsibility for my choices, my actions, and the kind of person I want to be. I want to be someone who spreads light like Aaron’s flame, who uses her voice with care and kindness, and who brings people together through joy, music, and meaning—just like the silver trumpets.
I feel so lucky to be surrounded by a community, a family, and friends who have helped me get to this moment. Thank you to my Bat Mitzvah tutor, Izzy, for helping me understand this parasha and for supporting me every step of the way. Thank you to my amazing family—Mum, Dad, Willow, and Astrid—for always being there for me, for encouraging me, for putting up with my singing around the house, and for loving me exactly as I am.
And thank you to all my friends and everyone who came to shul this morning—it means so much to me to share this day with you.
By remembering Frederika Freia van Cleef today, I hope I have honoured her memory by carrying her light forward. I will try to live my life with strength, with joy, and with kindness—both for myself, and for those who never had the chance.
Shabbat shalom.