Gurwin Assisted Living Resident Turns 103, Celebrates Bat Mitzvah

When Leona Rothfeld and her twin brother came of age nearly a century ago, the ceremonial celebration was typically held strictly for boys. So, while Irving became bar mitzvah in Brooklyn in June of 1932, Leona’s role that day was directing guests to their synagogue. “It just wasn’t done,” she says. Although Leona understood that it was simply the way it was, she never forgot about it, and always felt that something was missing from her life. “I wanted to celebrate my bat mitzvah, too,” she said.

Ninety years later, while speaking with her rabbi at Gurwin Jewish~ Fay J. Lindner Residences Assisted Living Community in Commack, NY, Leona mentioned her life-long dream to commemorate her bat mitzvah; to her delight, the rabbi agreed to help make it happen. And so, just days after her 103rd birthday -- during the 100th anniversary year of the first American bat mitzvah -- Leona’s dream was fulfilled in a service held at Gurwin’s assisted living community. “My son told me this is the perfect time to do it,” Leona says. “He said we just remove the ‘0’ from 103, which makes 13 -- it was meant to be this way!” She was delighted to finally have the opportunity.

Also celebrating with Leona were her three sons: David (East Islip, NY), Phillip (Michigan) and Elliott (Bellmore, NY), and several of her four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. “I’ve thought about this for so many years,” Leona said. “I figure if not now, when?”

About Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences

Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences assisted living community, located in Commack, Long Island, is part of the Gurwin Healthcare System, a renowned healthcare provider offering a full continuum of healthcare and senior living services for the frail and elderly, and younger adults with complex medical needs. In addition to its assisted living community, the System provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, advanced care, ventilator and respiratory care, on-site dialysis, memory care, and palliative and hospice care, as well as adult day care programs and home care. The campus is also home to Fountaingate Gardens, a newly opened 129-apartment Life Plan Community for seniors age 62 and older. For more information, visit www.gurwin.org. Follow Gurwin on Facebook (bit.ly/GurwinAssistedLiving) and on Twitter (@GurwinJewish).