ACT Jewish community

Celebrating a bar mitzvah’s 90th anniversary

Dixon, born in the East End of London where he celebrated his bar mitzvah, emigrated with his wife Ruth and three daughters over 60 years ago.

103-year-old Len Dixon celebrates his bar mitzvah 90 years on. 
Photo: Supplied
103-year-old Len Dixon celebrates his bar mitzvah 90 years on. Photo: Supplied

At the ACT Jewish Community Centre Shule in Canberra on the December 28 last year, past president Len Dixon, 103, celebrated the 90th anniversary of his bar mitzvah.

His daughter Jo Dixon said, “My dad is a Kohen, and he read the Kohen aliyah as he would have done at his bar mitzvah. Although this was special because it was the 90th, he actually has been doing this every year for some time.”

Dixon, born in the East End of London where he celebrated his bar mitzvah, emigrated with his wife Ruth and three daughters over 60 years ago.

Apart from family, the three pillars of Dixon’s life have been the Jewish community, the bridge community and the Canberra Times.

“My Dad has never been a very emotional person and that has only lessened in recent years,”

Jo said. “He is very English in that way; he just gets on with it.

“I have ‘eulogised’ my dad so many times now and giving the drasha after his Torah reading gave me a chance to do so again, for his remarkable inner strength and emotional fortitude.”

Alan Shroot, the Orthodox congregation leader added: “A wonderful unique occasion and a privilege being part of a 90th bar mitzvah anniversary celebration. Len still has the ability to read Torah and has a great sense of humour. Mazel tov bis 120.”

Karen Tatz, immediate past president of ACT Jewish Community and long-time friend said, “What a privilege to see and hear Len Dixon aged 103 stand up and read from the Torah 90 years after his bar mitzvah celebrated in England in 1934.

“No glasses, no stick, and good conversation over the celebratory lunch. Len is remarkable and this community event was particularly special in these times.”

Jo’s sister Felicity described Len’s reading of the Torah on the 90th anniversary of his bar mitzvah as the mental equivalent of climbing Everest.

“I am so proud to be his daughter and to have witnessed this remarkable achievement.”

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