There are moments in Jewish life when time seems to fold in on itself. When past, present, and future sit together in the same row, hearts full, eyes misting, quietly aware that something sacred is unfolding. They remind us how quickly one moment becomes memory. My granddaughter Lainey’s upcoming bat mitzvah is one of those moments.

This weekend, family and friends will gather to celebrate a simcha that is both deeply personal and profoundly communal. A bat mitzvah is not simply a party or a performance; it is a passage. It’s a young person stepping forward to claim her place in an ancient chain of tradition, responsibility, and identity…. L’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.

Lainey is moving from childhood to young adulthood with intention and grace. Watching her prepare has been a reminder that growth doesn’t happen on a single day. It unfolds gradually through effort, curiosity, discipline, and heart. What strikes me most isn’t only what she can do, but how she does it with purpose and joy. It’s a privilege to witness the person she is becoming.

She builds friendships with warmth and authenticity, showing kindness, good humor, and an openness that draws people in. She is learning to trust her own voice, to stand tall in her knowledge, and to grow in confidence without losing compassion. These are the qualities that matter most, and they are already taking root.

As a grandmother, I experience milestones like this through a wider lens. Time feels less linear and more layered. I am keenly aware of how relationships sustain us not only in moments of celebration, but throughout our lives. At Jewish Senior Life, where many older adults live and gather, I witness grandparents and great-grandparents visited by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Each visit affirms that connection doesn’t diminish with age; it deepens.

Judaism teaches that honoring and caring for our elders is a sacred obligation. One that JSL defines as its mission. Showing honor to the elderly and fulfilling bikur cholim, the mitzvah of visiting those who are aging or frail, reminds us that presence itself is holy. These acts affirm dignity, shared humanity, and the enduring power of relationships.

It’s especially meaningful to me that Lainey has participated in JSL and Hillel Day School’s collaborative D’or L’dor program. Its very name reflects continuity across generations. Through games, conversation, laughter, and companionship, she and her peers have brought joy to residents while learning from their stories and wisdom. In doing so, Lainey has already been living Jewish values long before stepping onto the bimah.

There’s a special joy in witnessing a grandchild reach this milestone. It’s the joy of continuity and the passing of the torch. We have been fortunate to experience this not only with our grandchildren, but also with nieces, nephews, and now their children. To witness Jewish life unfolding across our family is to see our values reflected back to us, shaped by a world vastly different from the one we knew, yet anchored in the same enduring principles. This is the second of our grandchildren to become b’nai mitzvah. Each brings something unique, reminding us that Judaism is not static; it lives and breathes through each generation.

I’m kvelling wholeheartedly and unapologetically. Kvelling at the joy Lainey shared with her classmates and teachers and in anticipation of this weekend and all that she will bring. It’s a privilege to witness a Jewish milestone that links our family’s past to its future.

May Lainey’s bat mitzvah be only the beginning of a life filled with learning, kindness, confidence, laughter, and love. May she continue to walk honoring those who came before her while enriching the lives of those she encounters along the way.

As we celebrate moments like this, may we all pause to notice the generations around us, the elders who came before, the children finding their way, and the relationships that bind us together. May we continue to show up for one another.