Alex Gordon's Bar Mitzvah Speech With the Assistance of Rabbi Joel Finkelstein

Parshat Yitro January 26th 2008

Shabbat Shalom! Welcome everyone, family and friends to join me as I become a Bar Mitzvah here today.

This moment is especially rich in tradition, sentiment, and emotion for me, as I stand here wearing the Tallis of my Zaydie, Karl Diamond, and the Kippah of my PawPaw, Alvin Gordon, (for whom I am named).

As you know, this is a Jewish rite of passage for me. I must now accept my obligations to perform mitzvahs (good deeds) and accept the responsibilities of my own actions as I journey towards manhood.  It is just one of many Jewish initiation ceremonies that I will have experienced, starting with my bris. 

Like many other cultures, religions, and organizations, we Jews have our share of initiation ceremonies. In my haftorah today - which by the way, is the exact same Parsha and haftorah that my Zaydie, read on his Bar Mitzvah - it speaks about the case of the famous prophet, Isaiah (Yeshayahu), and his initiation to the highest level of being a holy person in Judaism. It means that the person is so holy or beloved by G-d that he is chosen to be G-d’s messenger or prophet.

Isaiah, like most of the other prophets we read about, had a revelation that was overwhelming and powerful.  He says, “I beheld the L-rd seated on a high lofty throne and the skirts of His robe filled the Temple.  Seraphs (firey angels) stood in attendance of Him…And one would call to the other, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts! The whole world is filled with His glory.”

But, Isaiah’s awe quickly turns to a sense of unworthiness as he confesses he is “a man of unclean lips” - he knows his speech is “impure” and he cannot possibly find the words to describe this holy vision he has seen.  He cannot make sense of this because he knows he is not perfect or worthy enough to have seen this heavenly image.  Then an angel visits him with a piece of hot coal that was removed from the Temple altar.  This coal is pressed to Isaiah’s lips and the angel then says, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt shall depart and your sin will be purged away.”  This action burned away Isaiah’s insecurity and changed him from being an ordinary man into a prophet.

Rabbi Finkelstein and I found it very interesting to compare Isaiah’s experience with cases of other holy men who became prophets, such as Jacob (Yaakov), Moses (Moshe), Jeremiah (Yirmiyahu), and Ezekiel (Yechezkel). They all had common features in their initiation experiences. 

First, there was always some kind of fire or bright light Moshe, as we all know, saw the burning bush. Yirmiyahu saw a bubbling pot which foretold of the coming attacks on Israel. And Yechezkel saw a light on the throne of G-d. Yeshayahu, in my haftorah, had burning coals from the altar.

We also noticed most of these prophets had a vision of angels. Moshe saw one in the burning bush. Yaakov saw them going up and down the ladder to heaven. Yechezkel saw Hayot, another kind of angel. And Yeshayahu saw Seraphim, a kind of fiery angel (there's that fire again).

Most often, G-d clearly identifies himself to these prophets by saying, “Anochi Hashem”, “I am G-d”.  The official response is "hineni" which means "Behold, Here I am" – Available – And At your service!

Very often, either Hashem or the prophet feels as if some change is in order to be worthy of the task. Moshe was told to take off his shoes, Yeshayahu was given a coal from the altar to purify his lips, and Yirmiyahu was touched on his lips by the hand of G-d, so to speak. Each one felt they were not worthy messengers, and G-d reassured them – after all, He chose them! 

All of these men find that being a prophet means you are about to be sent on a mission. G-d usually makes that pretty clear.  Moshe was told “lecha ve'eshla'cha'cha el Paro”, “Go and I will send you to Pharaoh.” In the case of Yirmiyahu, G-d says, “al kol asher eshla-cha-cha telech”, “To whatever I send you, you shall go.” In Yechezkel, G-d says to him, “Sholeach ani otecha el yisrael”, “I am sending you to Israel, that is, to the people of Israel.”  And in my haftorah, it says that G-d asks his heavenly angels, “Et mi eshlach umi yelech lanu”, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Each prophet also was blessed with the comforting notion that G-d would be with them on their mission.

Every week, a haftorah is chosen because of its connection to the parasha. This week, the parsha is about receiving the Ten Commandements.  So…we ask, what is the connection between Yeshayahu being initiated as a prophet, and the Jewish people receiving the Ten Commandments?

Those same characteristics of an initiation ceremony for a prophet, also appear in this Parsha about receiving the Ten Commandments. Does this means that the ceremony on Mount Sinai was actually the initiation of the Jewish people on their mission to be a holy people? Is it as if these ancestors of ours and all of us from then on were all called on to be messengers of G-d?

Was there fire? Yes, the mountain was burning with a fire up to heaven. Were there angels? Yes, the rabbis say that there were 22,000 angels at Sinai.

Does G-d identify Himself? Yes, the first words of the Ten Commandments are “Anochi Hashem Elokecha,” “I am the Lord your G-d.” Do the Jews respond and say, Here we are? Well, not exactly, but they do say, Whatever G-d says we will do, or later, “Naaseh V'nishma”, “We will listen and we will do.” Do they do anything to change themselves? Yes. And the mission G-d sent them on was… “V'atem Tihyu li, mamlechet cohanim v'goy kadosh”, “you shall be a holy kingdom and a holy nation.”

Yes, I think this revelation at Mount Sinai was a huge initiation ceremony. And this is, appropriately, a special initiation occasion for me. Today is literally my Bar Mitzvah, my 13th birthday on the Hebrew Calendar. Not only am I being initiated into Judaism today, but in a way, I am still carrying out G-d’s mission assigned to us on Mount Sinai, by continuing on this journey to be a holy nation. 

However, for my initiation ceremony, I am glad there is no literal sign of fire -- and I am especially glad I don’t need to put hot coals on my lips.  But there is the bright light of the Torah that leads our way.

As for Angels, The rabbis teach that every mitzvah we perform creates a good angel. So hopefully, we all have our share of good angels following us around. And I would like to think that my PawPaw and Zaydie are two special spiritual forces who are always with me.

A prophet is initiated by a call from G-d, just as today, I was called to the Torah and, like the prophets, I say, “Hineni, here I am, ready to serve.”

Also, as part of my initiation process, I know I must change, hopefully by maturing both physically and mentally.  The mission I am being sent on, is to make Judaism a bigger and more important part of my everyday life. I commit myself to do so – and the Rabbi did not make me say that. 

I too, have a strong sense that G-d will be with me on this journey - along with many others that this might be a good time to mention. …Most importantly of course, My parents and My grandparents, who’s love, support and influence will always be with me on my life-long mission.  My Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, and the many friends our family has that we can always depend on.  My Family of Teachers and Staff at Bornblum Solomon Schechter School, Cantor Samberg and his family, and last but not least, Rabbi Finklestein and his family, who have all been extremely generous with their time and patience in this learning process. You have all helped to make my Bar Mitzvah possible. Thank you all for coming and sharing in this simcha with us and I have one more thought to share with you as well.

Today’s haftorah from the holy prophets gives us the source of the words which we say in our holiest prayer, the Kedusha prayer. “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the L-rd of Hosts! The whole world is filled with his glory.”  May reciting this line in our prayers help us capture the intensity of Isaiah’s emotions and bring them to us here, in our own sanctuary.  “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, hashem tzevaot, melo kol haaretz kevodo.”