Number 41: We celebrated Yair’s Barmitzvah at the Milnerton Shul from Friday 8^th to Sunday 10^th  January 1999. Rabbi Stuart Serwater taught Yair his Bar Mitzvah portion “Shemot” and Rabbi Lazarus of Milnerton Shul ran the proceedings on the Shabbat Bar Mitzvah day (9^th January) and the subsequent brocha after the shul service. On the Sunday, a lunch was held with family and friends at the Milnerton Town Hall. 

Yair, of course, acquitted himself extremely well: his Haphtorah; Maftir and Speech on Sunday.

Maya, 11 year’s old at the time,  was the accomplished MC at the celebration!

A meaningful aspect of the celebration was the handing over of a silver Havdallah box to the Milnerton shul, who in turn gave the beautiful one donated by Ray’s grandparents to him. Victor and Golda Schkolne had dedicated it to the memory of their daughter Ray (Rachel), after whom Ray is name, who tragically died at age 15 in a car accident. When the Wellington Shul closed this and other artefacts from that Shul were given to the Milnerton Shul.

Sheryl painted an overlay tablecloth in the colours of blues and greens that are Yair’s favourite colours. We liked the idea so much that she ended up painting overlays for all the tables!

Yair was fortunate to have all four grandparents at the function: Ray’s parents Solly and Marcelle from Port Elizabeth, Sheryl’s parents Hackey and Fanny, as well as his godmother Edana Paiker who came from Jo’ burg and Cecil Rimer, Ray’s close friend who came especially from Israel.