Tonight we celebrate Girl Scout Shabbat, a Shabbat that has become an annual event for Temple Beth Abraham. Girl Scouts from all around Westchester County are invited and each year sees greater numbers than the year before.
Girl Scout Shabbat takes place at the end of the week in which March 12 occurs. March 12 is “Be Your Best Day,” and honors the very first Girl Scout meeting in the United States. That first meeting took place in Savannah, Georgia, with Juliette Lowe, the founder of Girl Scouts USA, and 18 young girls. Twelve of those girls were congregants of Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest synagogue in the United States. Yes, 2/3 of the first Girl Scouts in America were Jewish!
It is fitting that TBA be home to the annual joyful remembrance of the beginning of Girl Scouting. We have lots of Girl Scouts in our Temple community as well as leaders who guide girls to “be their best.” Our Clergy celebrate the evening beautifully, engaging all of the scouts, Jewish and non-Jewish, alike and the Oneg is in honor of the scouts. We will have a lovely display of famous Jewish-American women, all of whom were Girl Scouts, and we invite you to pray and celebrate Girl Scout Shabbat with us.
