by Ron Bing

Why Celebrate a Bar Mitzvah?

We all know that Jewish boys and girls may celebrate a Bar or a Bat Mitzvah at the age of 13 years.  But did you know that you become Bar or Bat Mitzvah whether you chant from the Torah or do nothing at all. Every Jew becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah when they reach the age of 13 years, with or without a celebration. The more traditional community celebrates Bat Mitzvah at the age of 12 years for girls.

So why am I writing about this?  For me these celebrations have deep meaning.

When I celebrated my Bar Mitzvah in December 1955 in Montreal at Temple Emanuel, I read my Parsha, Miketz, the story of Joseph interpreting Pharoah’s dreams. The Reform custom at the time was to read, not chant, and not to wear a kippah! At that time the Reform movement rejected most traditions that we take for granted today.

Fifteen years ago, when I turned 65, I thought I celebrated my Bar Mitzvah a second time.  Rabbi Glickman tells me that was a Torah reading and not a Bar Mitzvah. Apparently, you may have a second Bar Mitzvah when you reach the ripe old age of 83. In 2007, I read my Parshah at Temple, the same as in 1955.

I have decided to chant my Torah reading at age 80, for the first time on December 24, 2022, at 10:30 AM in Temple.  I prefer not to wait until I am 83 years old, since I do not know how the future will unfold.

I wish to publicly thank the following people: Katie Baker who chanted all my 7 Alyahs and sent them by email. Norm Yanofsky who has been tutoring me every Monday morning for the past several months. Rabbi Glickman who is guiding my journey.  Just last month I chanted from the Torah on a Thursday morning from the Bima.

Hope you will join me on December 24, 2022, to celebrate my 80th birthday as I chant Torah for the first time!

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