[DebbieJFSG]

This morning was Bar Mitzvah Lesson #3. According to my son, they spent some time talking about what it means to be an adult - in Judaism, in the US, in life, etc. What are different rights and responsibilities that come with different ages? He had a list (credit cards, drivers license, etc.) of things to talk about. Interesting what your perspective is when you're still a preteen....

He was given an interesting "homework" assignment for next month - he needs to ask his grandparents (and great-grandfather) about their experiences with B'nei Mitzvah growing up. The timing was terrific, as we went straight from his lesson to visit my mother for her birthday. He interviewed her and my stepdad about their experiences. Next week he will be going to stay with my in-laws for a few days, so he'll have a chance to interview them and my husband's grandfather.

My mother went through hebrew school AND hebrew high school and confirmation but was not allowed to have a Bat Mitzvah. Although her synagogue had just started allowing girls to have them when she turned 13 (they were allowed to lead Friday night service and chant from the Haftorah but not read from the Torah at Saturday morning service), her mother refused to allow it, stating that she was such a bad singer no one would want to listen to her chant. I wonder now (when it's too late to ask, since my grandmother died eight years ago), whether that was really the reason (and my mom really can't carry a tune) or whether she just couldn't undo her own upbringing to accept a Bat Mitvah in the family. The first time my mother ever had an aliyah was at my brother's Bar Mitzvah. Her second was when my husband and I got engaged and invited her for an aliyah at our oofroof (sp?).

My stepdad shared that his Bar Mitzvah was delayed five weeks because his grandmother died three days before the originally scheduled date. He learned the new parshah. Then he had a disagreement with the rabbi, who refused to allow him to read the speech he had written (a budding existential philospher, even at the young age of 13, the speech was fairly revolutionary!). He said okay, wrote a new speech, and then delivered the original from the pulpit. It was quite a scandal!!!

Next week my son will interview his other grandparents and his great-grandfather...can't wait to hear what he learns!