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1956

Bar Mitzvah Letter Outline (1956)

Bar & Bat Mitzvah
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Speech

Introduction to Tova Warburg's Bat Mitzvah Talk (1993)

As I greet all of you this wonderful day, I think of the words of King David in his תהילים: שיר המעלות לדוד, שמחתי באומרים לי בית ה' נלך. I was so happy when I was told by my parents that my Bat Mitzvah would be celebrated here in ירושלים, the city of the בית ה'. עומדות היו רגלינו בשעריך ירושלים. It is hard to believe that we are actually standing here in this holy city of ירושלים, for the first time in my life. ירושלים הבנויה כעיר שחוברה לה יחדו. We are in the rebuilt ירושלים, the city which makes all Jews friends to each other — even my sisters and I... למען אחי ורעי אדברה נא שלום בך. On behalf of my sisters I thank my Mommy and my Daddy, for giving us the privilege of coming here to Jerusalem to celebrate both my בת מצוה and פורים, and I thank my grandparents and aunts and uncles and all my cousins, for making the trip here with us — and I am happy that so many of our relatives and friends who live here in Israel came to join us.למען בית הי אלקינו אבקשה טוב לךFor the sake of ירושלים and of the בית המקדש I will always be grateful to all of you and pray that only good things befall you now and forever.
Bar & Bat Mitzvah

Outline

Yoni's Bar Mitzvah (1997)

His size – intimidates me; my BM – orange crate. Tribute his parents: Rivkie – & fabulous sisters – (her parents)… & Josh – calm, normal, wise – & his bro/sisters (his mother). In both cases – pleasure note frndshp שבת אחים. ואתה עיף ויגע ולא ירא אלקים… תמחה את זכר עמלק מתחת השמים. Then: physical eradication; but today, how מקיים המצוה? Answer: by fighting contemporary evil… but also: by building up our own moral stature. Rabbis: “ואתה עיף ויגע” – זה ישראל – “ולא ירא אלקים” – זה עמלק. So, reverse it: instead of tired/weary – energetic… instead of Amalek having no fear of God, we do… We are surrounded by Amalek-type elements – certain bitter enemies… etc. BUT worse: defections from Judaism, ignorance, occasionally unethical behavior by religious Jews… So, the battleground has shifted from military to ideological… Our task – make Torah more central in our lives, make Torah more desirable to other Jews and non-Jews by our conduct – more desirable, more attractive. Hinted at in gematria: תמחה את זכר עמלק = מצוות 240 – 227 = 13… age of. Yoni: you’re strong and athletic, so fight evil… but more important: you’re gentle (vegetarian), warm, affable. Concentrate on the positive: מצוות… erase Amalek by… Moreover: 13 = אחד & אהבה – with abundant love of ה׳, תורה, ישראל – and realization that each individual must assume he’s the אחד, the only one who can do his assigned task…
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