Since I had two older brothers I got to witness their Bar Mitzvah before mine was to take place. My oldest brother Mark is six years older than me which meant he had his in 1965 when I was seven. My brother Stephen had his a couple of years later in 1967. Mine was slated for sometime in 1971 when I would be 13 years old which was the typical year you’d have a Bar Mitzvah. If you’re interested in what exactly a Bar Mitzvah is all about Click Here for additional info.
Four distinct memories of their Bar Mitzvah that stood out in my mind.
- You get presents for completing your Bar Mitzvah. It was like Hanukkah on steroids. I remember sitting in the family room in our house in Flint. My Grandfather (my mom’s dad) came walking through the backyard toward the sliding door that opened into the family room. He was carrying a big cellophane bag about the size of a small beach ball. From a distance, I couldn’t see exactly what was in the bag. It looked like wadded-up green and white paper; almost looked like confetti. When my Grandfather stepped onto the concrete pad and walked through the sliding glass door I was mesmerized because I’d never seen anything like it. My Grandfather had somehow wadded up 100 one-dollar bills and had them in this big clear bag. I think at that point in my life that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Of course, I was jealous and wanted to know where mine was. He said that I’d get mine when I had my Bar Mitzvah. Of course, at that age six years into the future seems like 600.
- Secondly, was the enormity of the event. The Bar Mitzvah was held at the Synagogue we belonged to. It was almost like going to Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kipper. 🤣 You got all dressed up. The service was held in the sanctuary just like the other services. There weren’t as many people there like it would be for the holidays but there was a pretty sizable crowd. My guess at least 50 people. The biggest difference was you were on the Pulpit the whole time with the Rabbi and the Cantor.
- Third was the big party afterward. This was like a small wedding party 🤣 I’m sure it felt good to get through the day on the pulpit and then finish it off with a big celebration.
- The last thing I remember was the utter fear that I felt. Even though my Bar Mitzvah was several years away I was terrified of the thought of having to be on that Pulpit having to read out of the Torah in Hebrew which is a prerequisite of a Bar Mitzvah. It would be one thing if you could sit up there with the Rabbi and Cantor while they read and sang out of the Torah. But you have to recite and sing some lengthy prayers from the Torah.; in Hebrew and English. The Rabbi would actually bring the Scrolls out from the special Ark where they were stored so that you could read directly from the scrolls from the podium on the pulpit. That was terrifying for me because at the time I couldn’t speak or read a stitch of Hebrew. “But, you got six years to learn it. You’ll be fine” they said. 🤣
Truth be told, I was terrified of the thought of having to be on that pulpit reading and singing Hebrew in front of all my contemporaries. I was like Waldo. You know that weirdo in Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” video. I’d be a sweating, stuttering, nervous, anxious mess. I was sure of it. If you missed the Hot for Teacher video with Waldo in it, check it out Here.
I had myriad learning disabilities. Dyslexia being the main culprit. I was having a hard enough time learning elementary school subjects. Having to actually learn how to read Hebrew was going to be impossible for me. But it wasn’t like I could call in sick. 🤣
To be continued…
