The Joy of Allegra’s Bat Mitzvah at SAC

Two years ago in 2019, Allegra Isaac, then 11, and her 9-year-old brother David ventured to SAC for the first time from their hometown of Oakland, CA.  They knew not a single camper at SAC prior to their arrival, and due to some homesickness challenges, things were honestly a bit rocky at the beginning.  But the Isaac siblings stuck it out.  Before long they each met friends and caught their stride.  In the end, they enjoyed camp so much that once back home in Oakland, they told their parents they couldn’t wait to go back!

Fast forward to 2020, and Allegra was supposed to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. But Covid had other plans. Her parents, Fabiana and Raoul, were struggling with what to do.  Two rounds of party plans and a trip to Brazil to be with family were all canceled one by one.  So as things kept getting pushed off, Raoul thought of the idea of having Allegra celebrate at SAC 2021.  How fitting that our SAC motto this year is “Una Puerta Se Sera i Sien Se Avren”, (When one door closes, a hundred more open).  This is one of the many doors that opened for us!  And at the SAC office, we were so excited about the opportunity that we put a special event team together so we could pull it off in style!  

This past Shabbat, on the ground in Cle Elum, it was all about to come to reality.  The festivities started with a delicious Kiddush in Allegra’s honor, sponsored by her parents.  The colorful spread of cookies, brownies and candy was several notches fancier and prettier than our typical camp Kiddush.  Then at lunch, Allegra gave a Dvar Torah that she studied for, wrote, and practiced up at camp with the help of staff members.  After she gracefully delivered her presentation while standing on one of the dining room chairs, staff member, Beth Jacoby, read aloud a heartfelt letter that her parents sent ahead.  In the letter, Fabiana and Raoul addressed not only Allegra, but the entire SAC 2021 contingent of campers and staff.  “You and your friends are the next link in the long chain of our people and the further continuation of our destiny.”, they wrote.  Our SAC team would most definitely agree, and we’re so pleased that both Allegra and David have become part of a community that connects them to their Sephardic heritage, and to friends across the country!  

The excitement culminated after Shabbat with a Glow in the Dark party, sponsored by the Isaac family, complete with our own in-house SAC DJ team.  DJ’s Ariel Sassoon, Alon Yehezkel, and Yosef Katz kept the energy alive with a special playlist of both American and Israeli pop songs requested in advance by Allegra herself.  A popcorn machine, homemade cotton candy, and a lot of glow sticks were all part of the fun.  But the energy in the room was perhaps the most dynamic element.  At one point Allegra was lifted up on a chair as the crowd cheered her name over and over with excitement.  The campers didn’t want the fun to end!

Fabiana and Raoul’s hope was that a Bat Mitzvah celebrated at SAC would provide Allegra with an experience she would remember for the rest of her life.  Judging by the warm and abundant energy level of the day and the elated look on Allegra’s face throughout the night, we believe we met that challenge!  Sephardic Adventure Camp wishes a Mazal Tov to Allegra and the entire Isaac family.  May she and her SAC friends move forward from strength to strength and may we celebrate many more happy occasions together with our camp family!  

By Beth Jacoby