As a mighty oak tree grows from a tiny acorn,
so it is that a man grows from the seedling child.
Time changes us in many ways
yet the constant in our lives, is change.
To read from TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general.,
to learn all of the brachot,
to undertake the projects of mitzvotLit. Commandment. It is traditionally held that there are 613 mitzvot (plural) in Judaism, both postive commandments (mandating actions) and negative commandments (prohibiting actions). Mitzvah has also become colloquially assumed to mean the idea of a “good deed.",
to learn to speak publicly from the heart…
These are the gifts of becoming Bar Mitzvah,
the first small steps in fulfilling a destiny yet unwritten–
stepping cautiously into an uncertain future,
a time of opportunity to be shaped by you.
Take what you’ve learned from the lessons taught.
Take what you’ve found when you looked into your heart.
Hold on to the hands which reach out in support.
Hold fast to the ways which lead you higher.
Today, you are a man.
Today, you are a leader of the Tribes of IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel..
Today you stand before us and make us proud.
Take pride in what you’ve done.
Take pride in who you are.
Take pride in the family which loves and supports you.
Be proud yet humble, and always stand tall.
Blessed are you, Adonai, who today brings forth this sapling from the seed, and so too, this man from the child.
