Beth Goldberg was joined in celebrating her bat mitzvah at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford by (l to r)
Cantor Sanford Cohen, Rabbi david small,
and Emanuel ritual director Moshe Pinchover.

WEST HARTFORD – On Saturday, Nov. 30, Beth S. Goldberg of Bloomfield celebrated her bat mitzvah at age 80 at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford. Goldberg, who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. where she attended Shulamith Yeshiva, an Orthodox elementary school for girls, was an active member for most of her adult life of the Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center, a Conservative congregation, now called Beth Tikvah, on Long Island. She relocated to Bloomfield in 2013 to be closer to her children, Karen and Gerald Goldberg, and grandchildren.

Celebrating her bat mitzvah by being called to the Torah at a Shabbat service “was on my bucket list,” says Goldberg.

An award-winning artist who has exhibited at many one-woman shows – at her bat mitzvah, two of her paintings, “Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors” and another painting depicting symbols of spirituality, were on display on easels in the sanctuary – Goldberg served as president of the New York State National League of American Pen Women and president of the Lionesses and President of Pequa Art.  She was also the recipient of the Woman of Distinction Award in Community Affairs from the town of Oyster Bay, N.Y., and the Woman of Distinction Award in the Arts. She holds a Masters degree in creative art therapy from Hofstra University. In 2004, she was elected to the prestigious George M. Estabrook Society as an Alumni of Distinction.

Goldberg was joined in celebrating her bat mitzvah by 50 family and friends, including her grandson Joshua Goldberg, who read an aliyah and recited the Musaf service, and her granddaughter Hannah Goldberg, who participated in the Havdallah service. Goldberg recited the Torah portion of Vayigash at the shul’s Mincha service, led by Rabbi David Small. She received the priestly blessing from Rabbi Philip Lazowski. In her “dvar Torah,” she recounted the story of Joseph.