In the Beginning

B'reisheet Bara Elohim.....

Dear Goldie

October 3, 2010

I wanted to take this time to document this very special year in your life: 7^th Grade!

This weekend we attended the first Bar Mitzvahs of the year. It was wonderful to be together as a family for these celebrations. So many of them we won’t be together; you will be with your friends. I wish to capture some of your comments when you tell us of your impressions of each celebration.

Goldie's Bat Mitzvah, May 29, 2010 Chabad of Lexington

Let me start by commenting on your Bat Mitzvah, the true first one of your class. It was the most joyous occasion of our family life. You were magnificent; poised, articulate, and confident. I loved watching you greet family and friends, thanking them for coming, and making them part of the day. You changed before our eyes, both physically and spiritually, into a beautiful young woman.

A remarkable four days starting with Minyan at the Rashi School took us through the Bat Mitzvah weekend. Friday night we lit candles and ushered in Shabbat at Chabad of Lexington, our religious home for the 7 years we have been in Boston. Along with family and close friends you led the Kabbalat Shabbat, and were toasted by the Rabbi and his wife. On Shabbat morning, you gave a D'var Torah to remember, and we honored the generations of our family in reading and blessing the torah. I was able to contain myself from tears, until the point your girlfriends rushed the Bimah to hug you when you finished. The kiddush luncheon under the tent was highlighted by Dad's speech about your name, and Jacob's greetings to our guests "Good Shabbas!"

We ended this special Shabbat with Havdallah and Persian food at our home Saturday night. You, Odessa and Amir had your own party...still not sure what you were up to! And the best part, was the dance party in the backyard under the tent and the stars with your school friends. A wonderful end to a beautiful weekend.

Josh S, October 2, 2010 Temple Aliyah, Needham.

Ever since we met the Simanis as a family, you and Jacob, and Josh and Nathan have been like cousins. We have watched you all grow together, enjoying Shabbat dinners, and family outings. Though it is a gang of boys, they have always included you, and enjoyed your company. Josh brought us back to the Temple where Dad and I were married, and the Rabbi who performed our marriage led Josh’s Bar Mitzvah. It was a joyous occasion for us to be in that holy place where it all began for us, to introduce you to the Rabbi, and to see the next generation become adults. The best comment of the day was when the Torah was brought out and “Breisheet” was chanted. You had been asked to read this part of the Torah for Josh’s Bar Mitzvah, but it didn’t quite work out. You said that it would have been “cool” to do that portion, and that you wanted to read from the Torah for Nathan’s Bar Mitzvah!!

Paul L. October 2, 2010 Temple Emanuel Newton

We didn’t attend Paul’s Bar Mitzvah at the temple, as it was at the same time as Josh’s. I know you were happy to be at Josh’s ceremony, but I know you missed being at Paul’s, admitting to me that you occasionally wondered if Paul was doing the same thing at the same time as Josh. Paul has been in your class since kindergarten, and though you were never “playmates”, you were always friendly. We attended Paul’s party at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed watching you and your friends (Odessa, Natalie) dance and socialize. You updated your facebook page when you came home:

first bar mitzvah of 7th grade was pretty good. its a good way 2 start the year with all the other ones! cant wait 4 da rest!!

Saman H., October 2, 2010, Temple Sinai, Westwood CA

Believe it or not, we had a third celebration this weekend. We were not able to attend your cousin Saman's Bar Mitzvah party in Los Angeles this weekend. Saman was born 10 months before you....I was pregnant with you at his Brit Milah. It is from Saman's childhood that I learned the Persian custom of making a special soup to celebrate the first tooth. Though we have not seen Saman and his family in a while, we shared early birthday parties and wish them well for Saman's Bar Mitzvah.

From Around the World:

I should also mention the few we missed over the summer: Elisheva Benjamin, friend from Shanghai who had her Bat Mitzvah in Australia in June. She loved your invitation so much that she, with permission, copied the style! Shani B., friend from Rashi, celebrated with her family in Jerusalem in August. And Sophie Rosen, friend from Shanghai, celebrated with her family and friends at the Ohel Moshe synagogue in Shanghai. Her's was the first ever Bat Mitzvah in this restored shul from the 1930s, and was documented in the Magazine, the Atlantic.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2010/09/being-jewish-in-shanghai-photos/62574/

Next up:

Phil B., October 10, 2010, Boston, MA (10-10-10 at 10:10 AM)