| Bar Mitzvah! What an experience! It is one thing | | | | Bar Mitzvah. Again, walking into the temple I |
| that will always be remembered as a unique | | | | noted the same atmosphere as the night before. |
| experience for me. My first exposure to Jewish | | | | Bright, happy, and noisy! The ceremony was |
| life was after moving to Austin and attaining | | | | similar to the synagogue in some sense, with the |
| many clients and friends of Jewish faith. My next | | | | immediate and extended family participating in the |
| exposure was the opportunity to study Judaism in | | | | service by reading of the Torah, the procession |
| History of World Religions class. Furthermore, two | | | | through the congregation with the Torah, the Bar |
| of my spiritual partners, Stan and Mel, are Jewish. | | | | Mitzvah speaking to the congregation and the |
| For a gentile, I was catapulted very quickly into | | | | parents speaking to him. The difference was that |
| something I didn't know about. | | | | most of the service was in English, with the |
| The first Bar Mitzvah I went to was at | | | | exception of the reading of the Torah and some |
| Congregation Agudas Archim with one of my | | | | of the singing by the Cantor in the most angelic |
| spiritual partners. Mel invited me to go with him | | | | voice I have ever heard. There was no Cantor at |
| and I was thrilled. Mel was also the sponsor of the | | | | the synagogue. |
| young man. I was informed by Mel that the | | | | After the completion of the service, (in both |
| service started at ten in the morning, however, | | | | cases) blessings were made over wine and bread |
| that time was only for the religious people, and I | | | | before the Kiddush luncheon. The luncheon at the |
| could be there about fifteen to twenty minutes | | | | temple was wonderful with traditional Jewish |
| past ten. Being late is unusual for me, but I | | | | foods (bagels and lox, kugel and latke). They |
| complied. | | | | were all foods that I was familiar with, make, and |
| On my arrival, I was greeted by young ushers. I | | | | did not realize that they were Jewish! After |
| walked in and spotted Mel. He motioned me over | | | | picking up our food in buffet style my husband |
| and I stood beside him. Mel gave me a book and | | | | and I decided to sit at an empty table with the |
| indicated the page number. Well, that is when the | | | | idea of "seeing who will show up at our table." |
| "difference" began! | | | | Soon three elderly couples sat with us. After |
| To my embarrassment I could not figure out the | | | | introductions they realized that we were not |
| book. It was always upside down! I kept flipping it | | | | Jewish. The welcome from them was nothing I |
| over, turning it around, and I still wasn't getting it. | | | | had experienced before. It was very warm, |
| Mel explained that in Hebrew, the writing is from | | | | loving, and spiritual. They made sure that we |
| left to right as are the page numbers. We had a | | | | were honored guests in their temple. |
| good laugh about my embarrassment and | | | | Dinner and dancing in the evening are "something |
| proceeded to listen to the service. | | | | to remember"! What a party! The reception at |
| I listened and immediately realized that it was in | | | | the Four Seasons Hotel started with cocktails and |
| Hebrew, with very little English. I could read along | | | | appetizers, followed by a wonderful three course |
| in English which I did and found the Torah lesson | | | | meal. Seating arrangements were prearranged by |
| of great interest as it portrayed the dietary laws | | | | the family so we could sit with people we knew |
| of Jewish life. Finding my reading was much faster | | | | or have a common bond. The decorations were |
| than the lesson being read, I had an opportunity | | | | fabulous, and a live band played throughout the |
| to observe the surroundings! As I looked around, I | | | | night. There were approximately twohundred and |
| noted that most of the congregation was male | | | | seventy five people there, which one hundred of |
| and had similar characteristics! Immediately the | | | | those being school mates (Jewish and Gentile) of |
| stereotype of a Jewish male was made known to | | | | Zach. The atmosphere was "high," with much |
| me, and I looked at Mel, and sure enough he | | | | laughing and dancing. Zach and the immediate |
| looked like all the rest of them! The few women | | | | family were of great attention throughout the |
| that were there had same features and | | | | dancewith many traditions performed. One was |
| characteristics. The atmosphere was solemn and | | | | the Hora where the Bar Mitzvah and each |
| somewhat dark in nature. The congregation was | | | | member of the immediate family are raised up on |
| there for one purpose and that was to receive | | | | a chair and the guests dance around them. |
| the lesson of the day. | | | | Another tradition was that the father whirled |
| After the ceremony Mel took me to the Ark and | | | | around each of the immediate family member, |
| showed me the Torah, explained symbols in the | | | | holding either end of a handkerchief while the |
| synagogue, and answered many questions. This | | | | guests danced around them. It is not known when |
| whole experience was new to me and one to | | | | these traditions originated or the meaning, but it |
| remember. | | | | certainly created a lot of hype and fun. |
| One month later I had an opportunity again to | | | | It is difficult to put into words the feeling I get |
| participate in another Bar Mitzvah, this time at | | | | from this experience. Fortunately, I discussed the |
| Congregation Beth Israel. This time the son of my | | | | rituals that were performed over the weekend |
| other spiritual partner, Stan, became a Bar | | | | with my Jewish friends as well as read about the |
| Mitzvah and I was invited to the complete | | | | traditions, customs and values so I would be |
| weekend celebration which started with the | | | | prepared for the experience. Even so, it was |
| Shabbat Service Friday. Upon entering the temple | | | | overwhelming for me but in an exciting way. |
| I immediately noted the difference between the | | | | Many aspects of the Jewish way of life portray |
| synagogue and temple. The sanctuary was | | | | diversity, joy, and personal fulfillment fitting into a |
| different, the atmosphere was different, the | | | | whole life. This experience gives me a better |
| energy was different. Many women were in | | | | understanding of my two spiritual partners, their |
| attendance, bright colors were worn, and there | | | | way of life, and how they fit into my life. This |
| was happy chatter and hugging going on. A few | | | | experience also gave me a confirmation that |
| men wore the Yarmulke and I noted only one | | | | although my spiritual partners are of a different |
| man wearing the Tallit. (At the synagogue only a | | | | faith and walk of life from me, there are many |
| few men did not wear either.) | | | | parallels, and we are connected by one Higher |
| Saturday morning, during the Sabbath Service, | | | | Power, Source, Spirit, God. |
| was the actual ceremony where Zach became | | | | |