The principles of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, women mandate that women be fully integrated in religious ceremonies.

It is in this spirit of equality, that communities associated with the Movement for Progressive Judaism conduct their lives and ensure the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life. Women serve as rabbis and community leaders, make up a minyan (quorum for prayer services), lead prayer services, can be called to the Torah, read from the Torah, and lay tefillin.

In the liberal Jewish movements, the bat-mitzvah ceremony usually consists of being called to the Torah, reading from the Torah, and in some cases donning a tallit (prayer shawl).

In recent years, we have begun to encounter an increasing number of our females Young Emissaries who choose to hold a religious bat-mitzvah ceremony after being introduced to and living in a progressive Jewish community in the US.

The Young Emissary's family generally comes to celebrate the ceremony in the US with her, thus seeing first-hand the experiences enjoyed by their daughter during her national service in the Jewish community.

1.       Karen's Dvar Tora

2.       Karen's Mother Speech

3.      Karen Speech