90-year-old White Plains woman gets bat mitzvah

A 90-year-old Jewish woman from White Plains fulfilled a lifelong dream this weekend when she had a bat mitzvah. "When I was growing up Jewish girls did not have a bat mitzvah," said Shirley Schlinger,

News 12 Staff

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May 17, 2015, 6:44 PM

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Updated 3,454 days ago

A 90-year-old Jewish woman from White Plains fulfilled a lifelong dream this weekend when she had a bat mitzvah.

"When I was growing up Jewish girls did not have a bat mitzvah," said Shirley Schlinger, whose family watched as she finally took this important step into adulthood in the eyes of the Jewish faith.

Schlinger says she watched as each of her brothers took the ceremonial step, usually around age 13. Schlinger says her granddaughter, Molly, recently came up with the novel idea for her to have one.

With the help of Rabbi Aliza Erber, Schlinger took on the task of learning the Torah three days a week, three hours at a time.

"It's such a good feeling to do this," Schlinger said.