Kvellers, we are seriously verklempt over this amazing Jewish moment that involves two of our all-time favorites: Tiffany Haddish and Barbra Streisand.
As you may already know, Tiffany Haddish, whose father was an Eritrean Jew, had her amazing bat mitzvah last night. (It coincided with her 40th birthday and the release of her hilarious comedy special, Black Mitzvah — so much naches!)
Haddish, as it happens, actually worked the bar/bat mitzvah circuit as a dancer when she was a teen. But last night, she got to celebrate, for herself, the amazing Jewish rite of passage.
As Haddish told our sister site, Alma, about the event: “We’re all gonna break it down like the good old days. We’re a lot older so I don’t know how good we’re going to do, but we’re definitely going to be breaking it down.” And according to all the photographic evidence, break it down they did!
The bat mitzvah was a star-studded night, featuring guests like Sarah Silverman, Sinbad, and Billy Crystal (!!!). But it was also a serious Jewish event, officiated by none other than Rabbi Susan Silverman — yes, Sarah’s sister — who also did the hamotzi blessing with Haddish, who, naturally, learned Hebrew for the occasion.
While we’re certain the evening was full of powerful moments, there was one happy, tearful event before the show even started that has made us oh-so-emotional. It was Tiffany Haddish sharing her reaction to the incredibly Jewish gift she got from the Jewish queen herself: Barbra Streisand.
No, it wasn’t a check for an amazingly high multiple of chai. Rather, Babs gifted Haddish with an important staple for every Jewish teen: a star of David necklace.
“My friend Barbra Streisand, she sent me a gift,” Tiffany tells the people watching her live Instagram story, “And I’m trying my best not to be a crybaby. Because […] I love gifts, but when it comes from special people, I love them even more.”
Then, she reads the card Streisand included with the necklace:
“Dear Tiffany,
I’m so proud of you. You are a jewel on a diamond in the rough. You are the best!
Love,
Barbra
Happy bat mitzvah!”
She then shows us the card, which is on a paper embossed with Barbra’s name in gold letters. “That’s success right there,” Tiffany points out. “They’ve got some money in their life.” (So true!)
Then, she shows us her necklace and emotionally exclaims: “It’s so beautiful. The star of David. Thank you, Barbra. You’re my sister, my momma, and my auntie. You’re my everything. I love this. It’s so nice.”
“I love my necklace and I’ll probably wear it every single day,” she adds, and then admits (very relatably, for every long-haired necklace wearer!) that she’s going to wear it “till there’s weave hair caught up in the back. And I’m gonna have to dip it the white vinegar to get the grease off of it. You know, that real life — when you really love jewelry you gotta dip it in some white vinegar.” Preach, Tiffany!
She then emotionally thanks all her viewers and the journalists who covered the big day. “I work real hard to bring joy and happiness to the world and I love it when people give it back to me.”
Thank you for all the joy you give us, Tiffany! Watch this amazing video below:
We’re not crying, you’re crying! OK, OK… We’re all crying!
Image via Barbra Streisand Twitter
