December 13
The Shabbat Shacharit service on December 13 was marked by a special moment of celebration, belonging, and renewal of Progressive Judaism at the CIP synagogue in São Paulo. In a collective B’Mitzvah ceremony, ten participants celebrated this important milestone in their Jewish journeys, reaffirming their commitment to study, spirituality, and community life.
The ceremony included Raquel Ouahba, Nina Pencak, Cleyton Wolff, Simone Malina, André Fix, Heloísa Meleras, Maxwell Alves, Jorge Brito, Laís Gotlib, and Luís Dei Agnoli. The synagogue was filled, reflecting the strength of the moment and the community’s support for each person experiencing this meaningful passage. Throughout the service, nine aliyot were conducted, with the active participation of the B’Mitzvah celebrants.
The service was led by Rabbi Kelita Cohen and Rabbi Natan Feller, with musical and liturgical accompaniment by Cantor Avi Bursztein and Morah Paola Picherzky, creating an atmosphere of spiritual depth, warmth, and shared joy.
More than an individual rite of passage, the collective B’Mitzvah reaffirmed the central role of the community as a space for ongoing learning, dialogue, and meaning-making. In every reading, melody, and word, the idea was present that taking on B’Mitzvah means taking responsibility — for oneself, for others, and for Judaism as it is lived today.
The celebration served as a powerful reminder that Progressive Judaism is strengthened when it amplifies voices, creates spaces of belonging, and honors diverse journeys, united by a shared desire to learn, celebrate, and live Judaism with purpose.
