Interfaith Family Celebrates Meaningful Bat Mitzvah Milestone
Maya Schwartz’s recent bat mitzvah at Temple Emanuel of Andover was a joyful milestone that brought together her family, friends and the wider congregation. As an interfaith family, the Schwartzes experienced a deeply welcoming and inclusive celebration rooted in tradition and community. The service and festivities reflected both Maya’s personal journey and the multigenerational connections that shaped the day. The celebration was also covered in the Jewish Journal—read an excerpt below.
When Maya Schwartz walked up to the bimah at Temple Emanuel of Andover on March 21, she had a few butterflies. “I was a little bit nervous for my service,” she recalled. But from the sanctuary to the dance floor, those nerves soon gave way to smiles, song, and celebration.
Maya prepared for her big day with both Rabbi David Wilfond and Cantor Caitlin McLaughlin. McLaughlin had stepped in for Cantor Rachel Reef-Simpson, who was on leave, joining the team roughly two months before the ceremony.
The service itself was not only a personal milestone for Maya, but also a meaningful moment for her family. The Schwartzes are an interfaith family, and they arrived at the bat mitzvah with questions about how fully everyone could participate.
“We had a question for Rabbi Wilfond about whether you have to be Jewish to participate in the service,” said Maya’s dad, Eric. Wilfond’s answer made a lasting impression on the family. “He said, ‘The only requirement to participate in the service is that the person has to love Maya.’ It was very welcoming and inclusive. I thought it was really special.”
Wilfond noted Maya is the third generation of Schwartzes at Emanuel: her grandmother Barbara is active in the congregation and leads the synagogue’s library, while her father serves as temple treasurer.