Dear Family, Friends, & Beloved Community,
We are overjoyed to invite you to join us in celebrating our son, Ash Mica Koby-Hirschmann, as he embarks on his Bar Mitzvah — a deeply personal rite of passage marking his transition from childhood to adolescence.
Ash has spent the past year working closely with a Rabbi priestess and a youth coach, exploring his Jewish heritage, values, and what it means to step into adolescence. Together, they have crafted a journey rooted in Jewish traditions and inspired by the universal rites of passage found across cultures.
In honor of these traditions, Ash’s journey unfolds in four significant phases that symbolize the pathway from childhood to young adulthood. Here is a preview of what’s to come:
Community
Shabbat in Somerset
Date: November 29, 2024
This event will symbolise Ash’s “separation” from childhood, hosted in the beautiful surroundings of Somerset, with our local and extended community. Set against the backdrop of the autumn harvest, this evening of reflection, gratitude, and connection will include prayer, rituals, and a celebration of Ash’s transition.
Cape Town
Pilgrimage for
the Winter Solstice
Date: December 2024
In Cape Town, Ash will read from the Torah with a Rabbi before climbing Table Mountain. This represents the “liminal” phase—a time of growth and self-reflection as he prepares for the responsibilities of young adulthood.
Spring Pilgrimage
to Arizona
Date: March 2025
For the spring solstice and Passover, Ash will lead a part of our family Seder in Arizona, deepening his connection to nature, community, and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). This pilgrimage will celebrate freedom, renewal, and personal responsibility.
Solo Quest for
Shavuot & the
Summer Solstice
Date: June 2025
The journey culminates with a solo quest symbolizing Ash’s independence, coinciding with Shavuot and the summer solstice. This final phase marks Ash’s incorporation, celebrating his newfound identity and the beginning of new adventures.
Each of these events has been designed with Ash’s values and aspirations in mind, and we couldn’t be prouder of the maturity, courage, and thoughtfulness he has shown throughout this journey. This celebration is as unique as he is, and we’re honored to share it with you—our extended village who has supported and guided Ash along the way.
If you would like
to send Ash a message
Please send a photo, video, illustration, haiku or message to him at ashkhirschmann@icloud.com.
If you would like to send Ash the gift of £ - which he will invest in his future with: please use this link.
Whether you are joining us in person or sending blessings from afar, your love and support mean the world to us.
With love and gratitude,
Ash & the BAAD Family
Bethany, Ash, Apollo & Daniel
❶❸