So today I attended my very first Orthodox Bar Mitzvah! What an amazing tradition. A boy of 13 becoming a man of 13. It was quite emotional for me, and to be honest I'm not completely sure why.
It was the Rabbi's son who was reading from the Torah today. Part of the reason I enjoyed his reading was because his pace was slow enough for a goy like me to keep up! It was also fun to see his friends, candy in hand, anticipating his big day and awaiting the moment they could pelt him with their candy. The Bar Mitzvah boy started off shy and quiet, obviously nervous. But as he went on his confidence grew. His voice became louder and louder as the words began to flow out, almost effortlessly. He began belting out the words from Parshah Bo for all to hear. It was amazing to watch this timid young boy grow into a confident young man right before my eyes! Truly a blessing from HaShem.
But the real reason today was so enjoyable was family. At the Shul were the Bar Mitzvah boy's parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, friends, schoolmates, etc. His grandfather, who is suffering from cancer, is an old Chassidic Jew from New York or Jersey. White beard and engaging eyes, he could not hold back his pride in seeing his grandson participate in this timeless tradition. It was a glimpse into thousands of years of being a Jew. HaShem says that we should teach our children the ways of Torah. Hours of study, questions, stories, prayer all lead into the development of manhood. But most important, love. Love for God. Love for Torah. Love for family. Love for Judaism. It's amazing to see this "passing" of Judaism from one generation to the next. And it's even more amazing to think that these things have been going on since back in time to Avraham. How does God preserve Torah and His way of life? Through His people.
Oh, and the food was beyond amazing! ;)
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