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Synagogue Sermon

October 26, 1968

Bar Mitzvah Address to Andrew Greenspan (son of George Greenspan) (1968)

Noach Bar & Bat Mitzvah
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Speech

Bar Mitzvah Address for Teddy Gross (1967)

Dear parents, relatives, and friends: Because this is the eve of Shabbat Hagadol, I would like to devote my “Devar Torah” to the forthcoming festival of Passover. The commandment to read the Hagadah is biblically ordained; it is a mitzvah min ha-Torah that we tell the story of the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. Now if this recitation of the Hagadah is, indeed, a biblical mitzvah, then we should be required to recite a blessing before the performance of this commandment, as we do over all commandments. Why, indeed, do we not recite a berakhah prior to the performance of this commandment? Why should the recitation of the Hagadah be different from, for instance, the recitation of Hallel or the Megillah, over which we recite a benediction before we begin? One answer that has been suggested is the principle laid down by the Rashba. The Rashba points out that we ordinarily recite a blessing before those mitzvot bein adam la-Makom, the commandments guiding man's relationship to God; but we do not recite a berakhah over those commandments bein adam le-chaveiro, which relate to the conduct of man towards his fellow man. But are not the ethical and social commandments of the Torah equally as important as the purely religious ones? The answer, says the Rashba, is yes. However, whenever I make a blessing I recite the name of God, and I must therefore be particularly careful that the blessing is a necessary one, that it not be wasted – for then I will have recited the name of the Lord in vain. Now, those commandments which tell me how to act towards God depend only upon myself, and once I have decided to perform the mitzvah then I may recite a blessing because there is no one to stop me from doing the commandment. However, when it comes to those commandments that are bein adam le-chaveiro, my successful performance of the mitzvah depends not only upon myself but upon another intelligent human being, my friend. I therefore cannot make the blessing because I am never sure that the…
Shabbat Hagadol Bar & Bat Mitzvah

Note

Bar Mitzvah Letter Outline (1956)

Dear _______, On _______, your Bar Mitzvah was held in Congregation Kodimoh. You will remember that prior to that important event in your life, on _______, we had an intimate chat in my office during which one or both of your parents were present. At that time, I pointed out to you that the whole procedure of Bar Mitzvah was just a farce unless you followed it up in a special way. I told you that it meant that from then on you were to be a “good Jew” – and that the way to do that was to lead a Jewish way of life. Particularly, I urged you to put on your tefillin every morning and daven at least the Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei – to come to services at Kodimoh every Saturday and holiday morning – and to participate in the activities of our teen-age group, the “Bnei Mitzvah,” which meets every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. for their minyan and which is followed by breakfast and a meeting. In my office, on that day, you promised me the following: —. I am sure that as an honorable person you want to keep your word, and that as a good Jew you will want to live in such a manner that will prove that your Bar Mitzvah was something serious and sincere. I therefore write to you to remind you of your promise, and to tell you that I anxiously look forward to greeting you as a “regular” at our Saturday services (they begin at 8:30 a.m. – you may come a little later if you wish) and our Sunday morning breakfast minyan (9:00 a.m. – be prompt, please!). I am confident that you will not disappoint me. Cordially, Rabbi Norman Lamm
Bar & Bat Mitzvah

Correspondence

Letter to Feldman Family about Inability to Attend Bar Mitzvah (1967)

Dear Friends: Most regretfully, your invitation reached us the day of the Bar Mitzvah, because we had just returned from our summer vacation. That is why I was unable to telegram my congratulations in time or, certainly, to attend personally. To keep things in their proper chronological order, let me first welcome you back from your stay in Israel. A number of people had told me that they met you – including the Aaron Greens – and all of them brought back enthusiastic reports of your stay there. And now please accept our most heartfelt and sincere congratulations upon the Bar Mitzvah of Ilan Daniel. May the Almighty grant that your Ilan bear your kind of perot which will distinguish him as a loyal son to his parents, a devoted member of his family, and, above all, as a fruitful and creative child of Israel. May you be blessel with years and years of undiminished "nachas." Cordially yours,RABBI NORMAN LAMM
Bar & Bat Mitzvah