The Speeches from Abe's Bar Mitzvah

Laura's speech to Abe---
Abe - you did it! Take a big breath! I am so proud of you! When you were born, a good friend visited us in the hospital & said, he looks like an Abe. I wasn’t so sure. But today you have grown into your name. When you were two, you told me you wanted to be a rabbi, because you wanted to play guitar like Rabbi Jamie & the Wiggles! Well today you played guitar on the Bimah & read beautifully from the Torah, but I won’t hold you to becoming a Rabbi. I think the best part of becoming a Bar Mitzvah is realizing you can face a challenge, overcome some stage fright, and meet the goals of your family & community. Which translates into take chances, try your best, meet your goals, know that we are here to help, catching you when needed, & perfection isn’t expected. The joke in Judaism is you become a man on your Bar Mitzvah. Its not really true. You do become accountable though. Last Saturday, on Yom Kippur, you joined your father & I in fasting. As I left Kol Neidre services with you, we discussed the Rabbi’s sermon. You were listening. I couldn’t be more proud. Today was the first time you read from the Torah at Temple Sinai, on Monday you read your torah portion for your school community, it is my hope that you continue to read from the torah at CDS, Temple Sinai, or somewhere else of your choosing in the future. As you continue with your Jewish education at CDS & Temple Sinai Teen School as well as participate in the Samuel M Goldston Teen Philanthropy Project & the Friendship Circle - note that your work in becoming a Jewish man is not done. The hard work continues. I love you!


Stuart's Speech
Just like the decision of the Israelites to worship the golden calf and reject God’s teachings, as described in your D’vor Torah this morning, I am reminded of the last words of Moses to the Jewish people to choose life and affirm the covenant that God offered to our people. Through your hard work and diligence leading to this morning, when there were so many other things you would have preferred to be doing instead of preparing for your Bar Mitzvah, you have declared your decision to choose life and accept the contract that God has offered to you. Your mother and I, and your other friends and relatives gathered here today, couldn’t be more proud of your decision.

The qualities that you brought you to this day, your perseverance, courage, intellect and humility have served you well, and God willing, will continue to do so for the rest of your days. Not that you are perfect, never miss a layup or never make a bad decision, but when you do, you have the ability to admit your failing, to learn from your mistake, to make amends, and to dust yourself off and get back in the game where you know you should be.

I know you were nervous about messing something up this morning, but I had no concerns, since I knew you would do fine or would recover from any missteps when you did not. And though I plan to be around for a good many more years to help keep you on your toes, I also go to bed each night with the conviction that you have all the skills and talents you need to live a highly meaningful and successful life. My being able to say this to you, at the age of 13, is something very special that should not be taken for granted.

You were named for my father, also Abe Kaplan, who you never met, but who like yourself, was a man of good deeds and few words (though you do chatter on a bit more than he did). I know that he and Grandma Grace are looking down on this bima right now consumed in their joy over your accomplishments and the young man you have grown to become. May you continue to bring that joy to all around you, and continue to live a life of deliberation and good deeds. But for now, it is time to step back, take a breath and rejoice. Nice job my son. Mom, me, Nathan and Mollie can’t wait to celebrate with you, but let’s go easy on the rap music stuff, huh?


ABE's speech
This week’s Torah Portion is special for Sukkot. It is in the book of Exodus, chapter 30, Verse 11 to Chapter 34 Verse 35. This Parasha is all about the Golden Calf and the events that took place after it. After Moses broke the first Ten Commandments he had to make a second set.
I am most interested in the idolatry that took place and Moses’ reaction to it. Before studying my portion, I wondered why idolatry was such a big deal. I found out that one of the most important rules in Judaism is “our God is the only God.” No idol can replace G-d. That itself explains why it is such a big deal.
Another person named Sarah Gershman believes that my parashah is all about the power of seeing things with their own eyes. When the Israelites saw that Moses’ trip up and down Mount Sinai had been delayed, they needed something to replace Moses, something that they could see. That something was the golden calf.
The message and the lesson that I retained from all of this is that you should always be happy with what you have. The people of Israel weren’t happy with what they had and they were punished. Even I am guilty of not appreciating what I have. I am always wanting a new video game or a new basketball. sometimes you just have to think about what you do have, not what you don’t.
I am proud to become a Bar Mitzvah because people have said that you are not a man until you have become a Bar Mitzvah and now, finally, in Judaism, I am a man. I am also proud to become a Bar Mitzvah because all of my hard work is now paying off.
For my bar mitzvah project I spent a lot of time at the Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry. I volunteered there and helped around the pantry. I did things such as stacked shelves, weighed food items, and helped the customers shop. It is important for everyone to have food in our community so that nobody is ever starving. When I worked there, the people that shopped there didn’t look much different than you and me.You should always appreciate that you are not someone who has to shop there.
I plan on continuing my jewish education at CDS and going to Israel and learning even more there. I am also in Monday Night School at Temple Sinai and will expand my Jewish Education even farther.
I want to thank my friends, teachers, and family for helping me make this a very special day. I also want to thank my rabbis and cantor, Rabbi Symons, Mrs. Mayo, and Rabbi Gibson. I would not be able to be up here without them. I want to thank my grandparents and any relatives who have helped me along my way. I want to thank everyone, especially all the out of towners, for being here today. Lastly, I want to thank my mom and dad for organizing this Bar Mitzvah. I love you and I very much appreciate your guidance. Thank you all for coming.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad