[su_heading size=”18″]A Bar Mitzvah in Snowmass[/su_heading]

Bar Mitzvah:

It was a beautiful service. Thumper was flawless as he stood up there singing and reading from the Torah and thanks to Aspen Dream Events, they successfully executed all of my ideas that I had for decorating the room to suit 70 teenagers with a dreamy, nightclub theme and a candy bar.

At the end of the service, the lights were dimmed, the candle lit and Rabbi Itzhak and his wife Dalia encouraged all the family and friends in the room to sing together in prayer. As we sang Thumper’s friends came toward the stage and sang with us and it was beautiful. I whispered to Thumper to look out to all of his friends and soak it all in. This service, this tribute was all for him and I wanted him to remember it forever.

Then the kids rocked out to the tunes by DJ Naka G and Brevitt tried on his new self.

And as Brevitt moves forward into his life, I thought I might share with you my speech and the movie I made for him and hope that you will celebrate with us.

Bar Mitzvah Speech:

My dear Brevitt,

I remember your first bath. I was petrified. What happened when you got all slippery from the soap? What if I dropped you into the water and traumatized you for life so that you never wanted to take baths again? Unwrapping you from your snuggly, soft, clean clothes I gently immersed you into the water and there you floated in my arms, looking at me with big, trusting velvety green eyes. My world was rocked from your love.

As your legs sprouted out of your clothes before our eyes I couldn’t help but constantly plant my face in your abounding curls, even your eyelashes had a curl so deep that I often surfed them with my fingers.

Having a child awakens the imagination in a parent and as you angelically slept I envisioned soft transparent wings fluttering from your tiny shoulders and spindled sugar crystallized as you exhaled your sweet breath.

For thirteen years of your life I have seen your sleepy body emerge in the mornings, your tousled hair far more awake than you and your legs seeming to be at least two inches longer than the night before. But you are always my Brevitt, only personified with each inch you gain. You are a boy filled with a smile that lights up a room and makes people feel like smiling along with you. You have an insatiable curiosity toward people and life and an energy that, if harnessed correctly, could generate tremendous power.

You see Brevitt. You are a wonderful person with a magnetic personality and an active imagination and like your principal Jim Gilchrist said to me after I was called in for some rambunctious behavior on your part, boys like you have the potential to go far in life. You are a leader and a thinker and a boy always concerned and caring for those you love and like a beautiful Maple tree, you have planted your roots deeply into all of us.

And now some motherly advice, just as roots need nurturing, so do the people that you touch in your life. Never take advantage of that love, always be respectful and caring of others and try not to be critical or judgmental but instead find the beauty in every person you meet and in them plant seeds of love, contentment and faith. Try to stay away from impatience, fear, and frustration. It’s up to you – stay clear on your path!

You have been fortunate to have had a few mentors in your life, Itzsy and Dalia being two of them and LouRae, your LA teacher who is also here with us today, another. With each mentor, I have watched you rise to the challenges that have been presented to you. With each challenge you have emerged shining with a stronger, wiser and more confident constitution. Remember this. These challenges (both intellectual and physical) are what help you to experience life at its fullest. Try to stay the course and not give up, for they will only help you to grow as a person.

If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavors you will be met with success and every day will be a miracle.

And so with this service I welcome you into the world as a responsible adult, although, to your father and I, you will always be forever young and just as your love for the soft quiet of snowfall will spark a light within you, know that your voice and being will always ignite that same feeling within your parents and all who love you, and keep that within you forever.

I’ll finish with a quote from the Talmud:

“May your heart conceive with understanding, may your mouth speak wisdom and your tongue be stirred with sounds of joy. May your gaze be straight and sure, your eyes be lit with Torah’s lamp, your face aglow with heaven’s radiance, your lips expressing words of knowledge, and your inner self alive with righteousness.” Talmud, Brachot 17A

 Bar Mitzvah Video: