THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM
A NEW BAR MITZVAH RITUAL
BY LEONARD H. BERMAN
THE BOY WHO IS TO BECOME A BAR MITZVAH, STANDS BEFORE A SMALL, ONE STEP PLATFORM. BEHIND HIM IS A TABLE UPON WHICH HAS BEEN PLACE TEN TALLAISIM. TO HIS RIGHT AND TO HIS LEFT STAND HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S) OR TWO MALE SPONSORS. THIS RITUAL PRECEDES THE SYNAGOGUE SERVICE EITHER FRIDAY EVENING OR ON SATURDAY MORNING. IT MAY BE PERFORMED IN THE CHAPEL.
IN A SEMI-CIRCLE, FACING THE BAR MITZVAH ARE TEN MEN. THE TOTAL NUMBERING THIRTEEN, THE AGE OF BAR MITZVAH. OTHER MEN MAY OBSERVE. WOMAN ARE NOT TO OBSERVE THIS RITUAL. YOUNG MEN NEED ADULT MEN TO TEACH THEM THE WAYS OF THEIR PEOPLE. THIS IS MAN’S WORK.
FATHER:
MY, BELOVED SON. WHEN SOMETHING IS SACRED, IT IS SEPARATE FROM ALL OTHER THINGS. THIS IS A SACRED MOMENT. THIS IS A SACRED SPACE. THIS IS A MOMENT, SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER MOMENTS YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN.
GRANDFATHER:
MY BELOVED GRANDSON. AT THIS SACRED MOMENT AND IN THIS SACRED SPACE, WE SHALL REVEAL TO YOU THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM. AS THESE SECRETS OF MANHOOD WERE REVEALED TO US, SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE TO YOU. YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE SAME TEACHINGS TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU.. AT THIS MOMENT YOU WILL BE WELCOMED AS A MAN INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER JEWISH MEN AND YOU WILL BECOME ONE WITH US AND ONE WITH YOUR PEOPLE.
FATHER:
WE ARE HERE TO TEACH YOU THE SECRET WISDOM OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF RECORDED TIME WHEN OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, HEARD GOD’S CALL TO ‘GO OUT.’ ALL OF US HAVE TAKEN THIS JOURNEY. IT IS YOUR TIME TO BEGIN YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS A JEWISH ADULT.
GRANDFATHER:
NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND. NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU REMEMBER. BUT YOUR SOUL WILL UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER IT ALL, AND AS YOU GROW AND LEARN AND MOVE THROUGH YOUR LIFE, THE WISDOM OF THE TEN TALLAISIM WILL BE RECALLED TO YOU AND YOU WILL KNOW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE AS WE KNEW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE.
THE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TAKE THE FIRST TALLIS AND PLACE IT OVER THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIRST MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS THAT SPEAKS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS IN ALL OF US. “AND GOD SAID, ‘LET US CREATE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS...’ AN GOD BLEW HIS OWN BREATH INTO MAN, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL EXISTING ON GOD BREATH.
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE EYES THAT ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND SEE THIS PERSON, LIKE YOURSELF, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. GOD CREATED A WORLD OF GREAT DIVERSITY AND GOD REJOICES IN OPPOSITES. SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL WHO ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY, LIKE YOU, ARE ANIMATED BY GOD’S BREATH.
GOD SUSTAINS LIFE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIRST TALLIT. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN KNOWS.
THE SECOND TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SECOND MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HUMAN EQUALITY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘THERE SHALL BE ONE LAW FOR THE HOME BORN AND THE STRANGER AMONG YOU. THIS IS THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPAL BY WHICH WE LIVE. ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT AND ALL MUST BE EQUAL BEFORE MAN’S LAW. THERE MUST BE ONE LAW FOR ALL. THIS IS THE MEANING OF JUSTICE. THIS IS FAIRNESS.
EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW IS THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD SOCIETY. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SECOND TALLIS. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE THIRD TALLIS IS PLACE ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE THIRD MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TZEDAKAH. “AND GOD SAID, ‘WHEN YOU GATHER THE GRAPES OF YOUR VINEYARD, DO NOT GLEAN IT AFTERWARDS; IT SHALL BE FOR THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN AND THE WIDOW.”
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE THE NEEDY OF THE WORLD AND TO FEEL YOUR OBLIGATION TO SHARE YOUR BOUNTY WITH THOSE OF THE WORLD WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU. ACT RIGHTEOUSLY TOWARD THE NEEDY AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE, FOR THE POOR SHALL NEVER DEPART OUT OF THE LAND AND YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.
RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OTHERS IS THE WISDOM OF THE THIRD TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN SHOULD KNOW.
THE FOURTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FOURTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF PERPETUATING JUDAISM. “AND GOD SAID, ‘AND YOU SHALL TEACH THESE COMMANDMENTS TO YOUR CHILDREN.’
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDAISM IS OF GREAT VALUE TO THE WORLD, FOR IT GAVE THE WORLD THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GOD WHO DEMANDS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. JUDAISM TAUGHT THE WORLD THAT CRUELTY AND SLAVERY ARE EVIL AND THAT THE WORLD CAN BE TRANSFORMED TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN IT IS. JUDAISM IS OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR PATH AMONG MANY PATHS. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SET THE FEET OF OUR CHILDREN ON IT.
TO PERPETUATE THE IDEAS AND VALUES OF JUDAISM IS OUR GOAL. IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE FOURTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE FIFTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIFTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TORAH STUDY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL COME FORTH THE TORAH AND THE WORD OF THE LAW FROM JERUSALEM...IT IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO IT.’
MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND MAY THIS LOVE LEAD YOU TO OUR SACRED BOOKS, FOR IN THESE BOOKS ARE FOUND GREAT WISDOM AND GREAT PEACE. MAY YOU MOVE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN THE WISDOM YOU DRAW FROM THEM.
LOVE OF TORAH LEARNING IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIFTH TALLIS. TORAH LEARNING IS THE WAY OF JEWISH MEN.
THE SIXTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SIXTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF JUSTICE. “AND GOD SAID, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT A WRONG IN JUDGMENT. YOU SHALL NOT FAVOR THE POOR OR SHOW RESPECT FOR THE RICH, BUT YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN FAIRNESS.’ MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND THE WISDOM TO TEMPER YOUR JUDGMENTS OF OTHERS WITH MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. MAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND THE STRENGTH TO ACT JUSTLY, FOR IT IS JUSTICE THAT MAKES THE WORLD SAFE. IT IS JUSTICE THAT PERMITS CHILDREN TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SIXTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN DOES.
THE SEVENTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SEVENTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HOLINESS. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD...’ ‘BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.’”
MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR ANIMAL INSTINCTS AND TEACH YOU TO RISE ABOVE THOSE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A LESSER HUMAN BEING THAN YOU ARE MEANT TO BE. YOU ARE TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR APPETITES AND YOU ARE TO LEARN MODERATION. YOU ARE NOT TO TAKE INTO YOUR BODY THAT WHICH IS HARMFUL AND YOU ARE TO STRIVE PLACE YOURSELF IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO ARE DECENT.
HOLINESS THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE IS THE WISDOM OF THE SEVENTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN STRIVES TO BE.
THE EIGHTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE EIGHTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF COMPASSION. “AN GOD SAID, ‘IF A STRANGER LIVES WITH YOU IN YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL DO HIM NO WRONG. YOU SHALL LOVE HIM AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.’ MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS; TO FEEL ANOTHER’S JOY AND ANOTHER’S PAIN. MAY YOU ALWAYS BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE WITH A HEART FULL OF COMPASSION AND SEE THAT EACH PERSON YOU ENCOUNTER IS CAPABLE AND WORTHY OF BEING LOVED.
SHOWING LOVE THROUGH COMPASSION IS THE WISDOM OF THE EIGHTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN SEEKS TO DO.
THE NINTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE NINTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF THE SHALOM GIVER, OF THE PEACE MAKER. “...AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOW SHEARS AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NOR SHALL THEY STUDY WAR NO MORE.”
THESE TORAH WORDS SHARE THE JEWISH VISION OF A TIME WHEN THERE SHALL BE UNIVERSAL PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD. IT IS A VISION FOR THE WORLD THAT OUR PEOPLE DREAMED CENTURIES AGO. IT IS THE MESSIANIC VISION OF GOD’S KINGDOM COME TO EARTH AND IT IS STILL OUR DREAM AND HOPE FOR HUMANITY. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE SKILLS TO BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE IN CONFLICT AND THE SKILLS TO EASE THOSE IN STRESS. FOR THE WORLD NEEDS PEACEMAKERS. BUT KNOW THIS, TOO, THAT THERE ARE EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CREATE PAIN AND CHAOS AND THEY MUST BE ROOTED OUT AND FOUGHT, FOR THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WHERE EVIL FLOURISHES.
SHALOM, PEACE BETWEEN AND AMONG MEN IS THE WISDOM OF THE NINTH TALLIS. IT IS FOR SHALOM THAT JEWISH MEN PRAY AND WORK.
THE TENTH TALLIS IS PLACED UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE TENTH TALLIS:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TIKUM OLAM, OF MENDING THE WORLD. THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO TEACH THE WORLD OF GOD, GOD’S UNIVERSAL MORAL LAW AND TO MEND THE WORLD. FOR THESE THREE PURPOSES WERE WE CHOSEN AT SINAI. YOU NOW JOIN US AS GOD’S VOICE AND GOD’S HANDS. YOU JOIN US AS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH, AND LIKE OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, TO BECOME A BLESSING TO THOSE WHOM YOU MEET. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS THAT THE EARTH AND AIR AND WATER AND ALL THAT SUSTAINS LIFE WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND MADE SAFE. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT STRIFE BETWEEN AND AMONG OTHERS WILL END. IT WILL BE THOUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT THE IMPERFECT WORLD WE GIVE YOU, WILL BE MADE BETTER UNDER GOD’S LAW. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR HOPE.
TO MEND THE WORLD IS THE WISDOM OF THE TENTH TALLIS. AS JEWISH MEN, THIS IS OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH.
FATHER:
MY BELOVED SON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S MISSION, OF ISRAEL’S MISSION ON EARTH AND THAT MISSION IS TO BE GOD’S PARTNER IN CREATION AND “TO BE A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS.” WE BECOME A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS BY BECOMING MODELS OF RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR AND BY TEACHING OTHERS THAT GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION OF HIS CHILDREN IS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. WE BECOME PARTNERS IN CREATION BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE WORLD IS STILL UNFINISHED AND NEEDS TO BE MADE BETTER THROUGH CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES.
GRANDFATHER:
MY BELOVED GRANDSON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL LIVE IN THE WORLD NOT JUST AS A DECENT PERSON, BUT AS A DECENT JEWISH PERSON WHO STANDS WITH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL, IN BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES, WHO SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY AND WHO PARTICIPATES FULLY IN THE LIFE OF THAT COMMUNITY.
GRANDFATHER:
FEEL THESE TALLASIM. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL BIND YOURSELF TO YOUR PEOPLE, KEEPING SACRED OUR RITES OF PASSAGE, OUR HOLIDAYS AND OUR TRADITIONS. ALL THESE ARE NOW YOURS TO GUARD, TO KEEP, TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE.
ALL:
THESE TALLASIM ARE NOT A WEIGHT NOR ARE THEY A BURDEN. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS LATER. WHAT YOU FEEL ON YOUR SHOULDERS IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE, THE VALUES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES AND GIVE OUR LIVES PURPOSE.
THE FATHER AND THE GRANDFATHER(S) EACH ASSIST THE BAR MITZVAH’S TO STEP UP TO THE PLATFORM IN FRONT OF HIM.
ALL:
ASCEND TO A HIGHER PLACE.
ASCEND TO A SACRED SPACE.
YOU WERE, YOU ARE AND YOU SHALL FOREVER MORE BE KNOWN IN ISRAEL AS (YOUNG MAN’S HEBREW NAME)
MAY YOU GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND BE A CREDIT TO YOUR PEOPLE. MAY YOUR NAME BECOME A SHINING LIGHT IN ISRAEL.
FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S) EACH PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S HEAD FOR THE PRIESTLY BENEDICTION:
FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S):
“MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU. MAY THE LORD COUNTENANCE YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. MAY THE LORD FAVOR YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE.” REPEAT IN HEBREW.
ALL:
BLESSED ART THOU, OH LORD OUR GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO HATH KEPT US IN LIFE AND ENABLED US TO REACH THIS SEASON. REPEAT IN HEBREW.
THE MEN WALK TO THE BAR MITZVAH AND EACH REMOVES A TALLIS. EACH PLACES HIS TALLIS UPON HIS OWN SHOULDERS AND THEN FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. THE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER (S), ALREADY WEARING THEIR OWN TALLASIM, PLACE THE BAR MITZVAH’S TALLIS UPON HIS SHOULDERS.
THEY SAY:
THIS IS YOUR TALLIS. FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE WORN A TALLIS SUCH AS THIS AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN US. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR FAMILY. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR PEOPLE. WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND REVERENCE. WEAR IT WITH DIGNITY. WE WELCOME YOU. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT OF US. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU CARRY OUR NAME. YOU ARE OUR INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR BELOVED SON.
THE FATHER AND GRAND FATHER (S) JOIN THE CIRCLE OF MEN AND JOIN HANDS. THEY FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE YOUNG MAN, HIS FATHER AND GRAND FATHER AND RECITE THE SHEMA THREE TIMES.
ALL:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHALOM!
WELCOME!
THE BAR MITZVAH:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
THEY ALL STAND IN SILENCE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. EACH MAN PRESENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WORDS OF PRAISE OR ENCOURAGEMENT OR BLESSING. AFTER ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEY EACH TAKE A TURN MOVING TOWARD THE BAR MITZVAH TO CONGRATULATE HIM.
THEY GO INTO THE SANCTUARY FOR MORNING SERVICES.
LEONARD H. BERMAN
21 CHATHAM DRIVE
VOORHEES, NEW JERSEY 08043
(609) 768-2771THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM
A NEW BAR MITZVAH RITUAL
BY LEONARD H. BERMAN
THE BOY WHO IS TO BECOME A BAR MITZVAH, SITS BEFORE A SMALL, ONE STEP PLATFORM. BEHIND HIM IS A TABLE UPON WHICH HAS BEEN PLACE TEN TALLAISIM. TO HIS RIGHT AND TO HIS LEFT STAND HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. THIS RITUAL IS PART OF THE FRIDAY EVENING SYNAGOGUE
IN A SEMI-CIRCLE, FACING THE BAR MITZVAH ARE TEN SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE.
FATHER:
MY, BELOVED SON. WHEN SOMETHING IS SACRED, IT IS SEPARATE FROM ALL OTHER THINGS. THIS IS A SACRED MOMENT. THIS IS A SACRED SPACE. THIS IS A MOMENT, SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER MOMENTS YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN.
MOTHER:
MY BELOVED SON. AT THIS SACRED MOMENT AND IN THIS SACRED SPACE, WE SHALL REVEAL TO YOU THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM. AS THESE SECRETS OF MANHOOD WERE REVEALED TO US, SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE TO YOU. YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE SAME TEACHINGS TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU.. AT THIS MOMENT YOU WILL BE WELCOMED AS A MAN INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER JEWISH MEN AND YOU WILL BECOME ONE WITH US AND ONE WITH YOUR PEOPLE.
FATHER:
WE ARE HERE TO TEACH YOU THE SECRET WISDOM OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF RECORDED TIME WHEN OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, HEARD GOD’S CALL TO ‘GO OUT.’ ALL OF US HAVE TAKEN THIS JOURNEY. IT IS YOUR TIME TO BEGIN YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS A JEWISH ADULT.
MOTHER:
NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND. NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU REMEMBER. BUT YOUR SOUL WILL UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER IT ALL, AND AS YOU GROW AND LEARN AND MOVE THROUGH YOUR LIFE, THE WISDOM OF THE TEN TALLAISIM WILL BE RECALLED TO YOU AND YOU WILL KNOW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE AS WE KNEW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE.
THE FATHER AND MOTHER TAKE THE FIRST TALLIS AND PLACE IT OVER THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIRST PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS THAT SPEAKS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS IN ALL OF US. “AND GOD SAID, ‘LET US CREATE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS...’ AN GOD BLEW HIS OWN BREATH INTO MAN, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL EXISTING ON GOD BREATH.
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE EYES THAT ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND SEE THIS PERSON, LIKE YOURSELF, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. GOD CREATED A WORLD OF GREAT DIVERSITY AND GOD REJOICES IN OPPOSITES. SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL WHO ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY, LIKE YOU, ARE ANIMATED BY GOD’S BREATH.
GOD SUSTAINS LIFE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIRST TALLIT. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN KNOWS.
THE SECOND TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SECOND PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HUMAN EQUALITY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘THERE SHALL BE ONE LAW FOR THE HOME BORN AND THE STRANGER AMONG YOU.’ THIS IS THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPAL BY WHICH WE LIVE. ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT AND ALL MUST BE EQUAL BEFORE MAN’S LAW. THERE MUST BE ONE LAW FOR ALL. THIS IS THE MEANING OF JUSTICE. THIS IS FAIRNESS.
EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW IS THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD SOCIETY. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SECOND TALLIS. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE THIRD TALLIS IS PLACE ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE THIRD PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TZEDAKAH. “AND GOD SAID, ‘WHEN YOU GATHER THE GRAPES OF YOUR VINEYARD, DO NOT GLEAN IT AFTERWARDS; IT SHALL BE FOR THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN AND THE WIDOW.”
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE THE NEEDY OF THE WORLD AND TO FEEL YOUR OBLIGATION TO SHARE YOUR BOUNTY WITH THOSE OF THE WORLD WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU. ACT RIGHTEOUSLY TOWARD THE NEEDY AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE, FOR THE POOR SHALL NEVER DEPART OUT OF THE LAND AND YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.
RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OTHERS IS THE WISDOM OF THE THIRD TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN SHOULD KNOW.
THE FOURTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FOURTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF PERPETUATING JUDAISM. “AND GOD SAID, ‘AND YOU SHALL TEACH THESE COMMANDMENTS TO YOUR CHILDREN.’
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDAISM IS OF GREAT VALUE TO THE WORLD, FOR IT GAVE THE WORLD THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GOD WHO DEMANDS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. JUDAISM TAUGHT THE WORLD THAT CRUELTY AND SLAVERY ARE EVIL AND THAT THE WORLD CAN BE TRANSFORMED TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN IT IS. JUDAISM IS OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR PATH AMONG MANY PATHS. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SET THE FEET OF OUR CHILDREN ON IT.
TO PERPETUATE THE IDEAS AND VALUES OF JUDAISM IS OUR GOAL. IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE FOURTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE FIFTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIFTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TORAH STUDY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL COME FORTH THE TORAH AND THE WORD OF THE LAW FROM JERUSALEM...IT IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO IT.’
MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND MAY THIS LOVE LEAD YOU TO OUR SACRED BOOKS, FOR IN THESE BOOKS ARE FOUND GREAT WISDOM AND GREAT PEACE. MAY YOU MOVE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN THE WISDOM YOU DRAW FROM THEM.
LOVE OF TORAH LEARNING IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIFTH TALLIS. TORAH LEARNING IS THE WAY OF JEWISH MEN.
THE SIXTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SIXTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF JUSTICE. “AND GOD SAID, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT A WRONG IN JUDGMENT. YOU SHALL NOT FAVOR THE POOR OR SHOW RESPECT FOR THE RICH, BUT YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN FAIRNESS.’ MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND THE WISDOM TO TEMPER YOUR JUDGMENTS OF OTHERS WITH MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. MAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND THE STRENGTH TO ACT JUSTLY, FOR IT IS JUSTICE THAT MAKES THE WORLD SAFE. IT IS JUSTICE THAT PERMITS CHILDREN TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SIXTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN DOES.
THE SEVENTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SEVENTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HOLINESS. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD...’ ‘BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.’”
MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR ANIMAL INSTINCTS AND TEACH YOU TO RISE ABOVE THOSE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A LESSER HUMAN BEING THAN YOU ARE MEANT TO BE. YOU ARE TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR APPETITES AND YOU ARE TO LEARN MODERATION. YOU ARE NOT TO TAKE INTO YOUR BODY THAT WHICH IS HARMFUL AND YOU ARE TO STRIVE PLACE YOURSELF IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO ARE DECENT.
HOLINESS THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE IS THE WISDOM OF THE SEVENTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN STRIVES TO BE.
THE EIGHTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE EIGHTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF COMPASSION. “AN GOD SAID, ‘IF A STRANGER LIVES WITH YOU IN YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL DO HIM NO WRONG. YOU SHALL LOVE HIM AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.’ MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS; TO FEEL ANOTHER’S JOY AND ANOTHER’S PAIN. MAY YOU ALWAYS BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE WITH A HEART FULL OF COMPASSION AND SEE THAT EACH PERSON YOU ENCOUNTER IS CAPABLE AND WORTHY OF BEING LOVED.
SHOWING LOVE THROUGH COMPASSION IS THE WISDOM OF THE EIGHTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN SEEKS TO DO.
THE NINTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE NINTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF THE SHALOM GIVER, OF THE PEACE MAKER. “...AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOW SHEARS AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NOR SHALL THEY STUDY WAR NO MORE.”
THESE TORAH WORDS SHARE THE JEWISH VISION OF A TIME WHEN THERE SHALL BE UNIVERSAL PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD. IT IS A VISION FOR THE WORLD THAT OUR PEOPLE DREAMED CENTURIES AGO. IT IS THE MESSIANIC VISION OF GOD’S KINGDOM COME TO EARTH AND IT IS STILL OUR DREAM AND HOPE FOR HUMANITY. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE SKILLS TO BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE IN CONFLICT AND THE SKILLS TO EASE THOSE IN STRESS. FOR THE WORLD NEEDS PEACEMAKERS. BUT KNOW THIS, TOO, THAT THERE ARE EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CREATE PAIN AND CHAOS AND THEY MUST BE ROOTED OUT AND FOUGHT, FOR THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WHERE EVIL FLOURISHES.
SHALOM, PEACE BETWEEN AND AMONG MEN IS THE WISDOM OF THE NINTH TALLIS. IT IS FOR SHALOM THAT JEWISH MEN PRAY AND WORK.
THE TENTH TALLIS IS PLACED UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE TENTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TIKUM OLAM, OF MENDING THE WORLD. THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO TEACH THE WORLD OF GOD, GOD’S UNIVERSAL MORAL LAW AND TO MEND THE WORLD. FOR THESE THREE PURPOSES WERE WE CHOSEN AT SINAI. YOU NOW JOIN US AS GOD’S VOICE AND GOD’S HANDS. YOU JOIN US AS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH, AND LIKE OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, TO BECOME A BLESSING TO THOSE WHOM YOU MEET. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS THAT THE EARTH AND AIR AND WATER AND ALL THAT SUSTAINS LIFE WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND MADE SAFE. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT STRIFE BETWEEN AND AMONG OTHERS WILL END. IT WILL BE THOUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT THE IMPERFECT WORLD WE GIVE YOU, WILL BE MADE BETTER UNDER GOD’S LAW. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR HOPE.
TO MEND THE WORLD IS THE WISDOM OF THE TENTH TALLIS. AS JEWISH MEN, THIS IS OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH.
FATHER:
MY BELOVED SON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S MISSION, OF ISRAEL’S MISSION ON EARTH AND THAT MISSION IS TO BE GOD’S PARTNER IN CREATION AND “TO BE A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS.” WE BECOME A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS BY BECOMING MODELS OF RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR AND BY TEACHING OTHERS THAT GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION OF HIS CHILDREN IS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. WE BECOME PARTNERS IN CREATION BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE WORLD IS STILL UNFINISHED AND NEEDS TO BE MADE BETTER THROUGH CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES.
MOTHER:
MY BELOVED SON FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL LIVE IN THE WORLD NOT JUST AS A DECENT PERSON, BUT AS A DECENT JEWISH PERSON WHO STANDS WITH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL, IN BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES, WHO SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY AND WHO PARTICIPATES FULLY IN THE LIFE OF THAT COMMUNITY.
FATHER:
FEEL THESE TALLASIM. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL BIND YOURSELF TO YOUR PEOPLE, KEEPING SACRED OUR RITES OF PASSAGE, OUR HOLIDAYS AND OUR TRADITIONS. ALL THESE ARE NOW YOURS TO GUARD, TO KEEP, TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE.
ALL:
THESE TALLASIM ARE NOT A WEIGHT NOR ARE THEY A BURDEN. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS LATER. WHAT YOU FEEL ON YOUR SHOULDERS IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE, THE VALUES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES AND GIVE OUR LIVES PURPOSE.
THE FATHER AND MOTHER ASSIST THE BAR MITZVAH’S TO STEP UP TO THE PLATFORM IN FRONT OF HIM.
ALL:
ASCEND TO A HIGHER PLACE.
ASCEND TO A SACRED SPACE.
YOU WERE, YOU ARE AND YOU SHALL FOREVER MORE BE KNOWN IN ISRAEL AS (YOUNG MAN’S HEBREW NAME)
MAY YOU GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND BE A CREDIT TO YOUR PEOPLE. MAY YOUR NAME BECOME A SHINING LIGHT IN ISRAEL.
FATHER AND MOTHER PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S HEAD FOR THE PRIESTLY BENEDICTION:
FATHER AND MOTHER:
“MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU. MAY THE LORD COUNTENANCE YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. MAY THE LORD FAVOR YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE.” REPEAT IN HEBREW.
ALL:
BLESSED ART THOU, OH LORD OUR GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO HATH KEPT US IN LIFE AND ENABLED US TO REACH THIS SEASON. REPEAT IN HEBREW.
THE TEN PEOPLE WALK TO THE BAR MITZVAH AND EACH REMOVES A TALLIS. EACH PLACES HIS TALLIS UPON HIS OWN SHOULDERS AND THEN FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. THE FATHER AND MOTHER ALREADY WEARING THEIR OWN TALLASIM, PLACE THE BAR MITZVAH’S TALLIS UPON HIS SHOULDERS.
THEY SAY:
THIS IS YOUR TALLIS. FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE WORN A TALLIS SUCH AS THIS AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN US. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR FAMILY. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR PEOPLE. WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND REVERENCE. WEAR IT WITH DIGNITY. WE WELCOME YOU. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT OF US. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU CARRY OUR NAME. YOU ARE OUR INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR BELOVED SON.
THE FATHER, MOTHER AND OTHERS FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE YOUNG MAN,
ALL:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHALOM!
WELCOME!
THE BAR MITZVAH:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
THEY ALL STAND IN SILENCE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. EACH PERSON PRESENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WORDS OF PRAISE OR ENCOURAGEMENT OR BLESSING. AFTER ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEY EACH TAKE A TURN MOVING TOWARD THE BAR MITZVAH TO CONGRATULATE HIM.
BY LEONARD H. BERMAN
THE BOY WHO IS TO BECOME A BAR MITZVAH, STANDS BEFORE A SMALL, ONE STEP PLATFORM. BEHIND HIM IS A TABLE UPON WHICH HAS BEEN PLACE TEN TALLAISIM. TO HIS RIGHT AND TO HIS LEFT STAND HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S) OR TWO MALE SPONSORS. THIS RITUAL PRECEDES THE SYNAGOGUE SERVICE EITHER FRIDAY EVENING OR ON SATURDAY MORNING. IT MAY BE PERFORMED IN THE CHAPEL.
IN A SEMI-CIRCLE, FACING THE BAR MITZVAH ARE TEN MEN. THE TOTAL NUMBERING THIRTEEN, THE AGE OF BAR MITZVAH. OTHER MEN MAY OBSERVE. WOMAN ARE NOT TO OBSERVE THIS RITUAL. YOUNG MEN NEED ADULT MEN TO TEACH THEM THE WAYS OF THEIR PEOPLE. THIS IS MAN’S WORK.
FATHER:
MY, BELOVED SON. WHEN SOMETHING IS SACRED, IT IS SEPARATE FROM ALL OTHER THINGS. THIS IS A SACRED MOMENT. THIS IS A SACRED SPACE. THIS IS A MOMENT, SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER MOMENTS YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN.
GRANDFATHER:
MY BELOVED GRANDSON. AT THIS SACRED MOMENT AND IN THIS SACRED SPACE, WE SHALL REVEAL TO YOU THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM. AS THESE SECRETS OF MANHOOD WERE REVEALED TO US, SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE TO YOU. YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE SAME TEACHINGS TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU.. AT THIS MOMENT YOU WILL BE WELCOMED AS A MAN INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER JEWISH MEN AND YOU WILL BECOME ONE WITH US AND ONE WITH YOUR PEOPLE.
FATHER:
WE ARE HERE TO TEACH YOU THE SECRET WISDOM OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF RECORDED TIME WHEN OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, HEARD GOD’S CALL TO ‘GO OUT.’ ALL OF US HAVE TAKEN THIS JOURNEY. IT IS YOUR TIME TO BEGIN YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS A JEWISH ADULT.
GRANDFATHER:
NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND. NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU REMEMBER. BUT YOUR SOUL WILL UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER IT ALL, AND AS YOU GROW AND LEARN AND MOVE THROUGH YOUR LIFE, THE WISDOM OF THE TEN TALLAISIM WILL BE RECALLED TO YOU AND YOU WILL KNOW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE AS WE KNEW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE.
THE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TAKE THE FIRST TALLIS AND PLACE IT OVER THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIRST MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS THAT SPEAKS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS IN ALL OF US. “AND GOD SAID, ‘LET US CREATE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS...’ AN GOD BLEW HIS OWN BREATH INTO MAN, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL EXISTING ON GOD BREATH.
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE EYES THAT ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND SEE THIS PERSON, LIKE YOURSELF, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. GOD CREATED A WORLD OF GREAT DIVERSITY AND GOD REJOICES IN OPPOSITES. SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL WHO ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY, LIKE YOU, ARE ANIMATED BY GOD’S BREATH.
GOD SUSTAINS LIFE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIRST TALLIT. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN KNOWS.
THE SECOND TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SECOND MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HUMAN EQUALITY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘THERE SHALL BE ONE LAW FOR THE HOME BORN AND THE STRANGER AMONG YOU. THIS IS THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPAL BY WHICH WE LIVE. ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT AND ALL MUST BE EQUAL BEFORE MAN’S LAW. THERE MUST BE ONE LAW FOR ALL. THIS IS THE MEANING OF JUSTICE. THIS IS FAIRNESS.
EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW IS THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD SOCIETY. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SECOND TALLIS. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE THIRD TALLIS IS PLACE ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE THIRD MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TZEDAKAH. “AND GOD SAID, ‘WHEN YOU GATHER THE GRAPES OF YOUR VINEYARD, DO NOT GLEAN IT AFTERWARDS; IT SHALL BE FOR THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN AND THE WIDOW.”
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE THE NEEDY OF THE WORLD AND TO FEEL YOUR OBLIGATION TO SHARE YOUR BOUNTY WITH THOSE OF THE WORLD WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU. ACT RIGHTEOUSLY TOWARD THE NEEDY AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE, FOR THE POOR SHALL NEVER DEPART OUT OF THE LAND AND YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.
RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OTHERS IS THE WISDOM OF THE THIRD TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN SHOULD KNOW.
THE FOURTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FOURTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF PERPETUATING JUDAISM. “AND GOD SAID, ‘AND YOU SHALL TEACH THESE COMMANDMENTS TO YOUR CHILDREN.’
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDAISM IS OF GREAT VALUE TO THE WORLD, FOR IT GAVE THE WORLD THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GOD WHO DEMANDS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. JUDAISM TAUGHT THE WORLD THAT CRUELTY AND SLAVERY ARE EVIL AND THAT THE WORLD CAN BE TRANSFORMED TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN IT IS. JUDAISM IS OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR PATH AMONG MANY PATHS. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SET THE FEET OF OUR CHILDREN ON IT.
TO PERPETUATE THE IDEAS AND VALUES OF JUDAISM IS OUR GOAL. IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE FOURTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE FIFTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIFTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TORAH STUDY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL COME FORTH THE TORAH AND THE WORD OF THE LAW FROM JERUSALEM...IT IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO IT.’
MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND MAY THIS LOVE LEAD YOU TO OUR SACRED BOOKS, FOR IN THESE BOOKS ARE FOUND GREAT WISDOM AND GREAT PEACE. MAY YOU MOVE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN THE WISDOM YOU DRAW FROM THEM.
LOVE OF TORAH LEARNING IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIFTH TALLIS. TORAH LEARNING IS THE WAY OF JEWISH MEN.
THE SIXTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SIXTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF JUSTICE. “AND GOD SAID, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT A WRONG IN JUDGMENT. YOU SHALL NOT FAVOR THE POOR OR SHOW RESPECT FOR THE RICH, BUT YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN FAIRNESS.’ MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND THE WISDOM TO TEMPER YOUR JUDGMENTS OF OTHERS WITH MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. MAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND THE STRENGTH TO ACT JUSTLY, FOR IT IS JUSTICE THAT MAKES THE WORLD SAFE. IT IS JUSTICE THAT PERMITS CHILDREN TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SIXTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN DOES.
THE SEVENTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SEVENTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HOLINESS. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD...’ ‘BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.’”
MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR ANIMAL INSTINCTS AND TEACH YOU TO RISE ABOVE THOSE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A LESSER HUMAN BEING THAN YOU ARE MEANT TO BE. YOU ARE TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR APPETITES AND YOU ARE TO LEARN MODERATION. YOU ARE NOT TO TAKE INTO YOUR BODY THAT WHICH IS HARMFUL AND YOU ARE TO STRIVE PLACE YOURSELF IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO ARE DECENT.
HOLINESS THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE IS THE WISDOM OF THE SEVENTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN STRIVES TO BE.
THE EIGHTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE EIGHTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF COMPASSION. “AN GOD SAID, ‘IF A STRANGER LIVES WITH YOU IN YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL DO HIM NO WRONG. YOU SHALL LOVE HIM AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.’ MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS; TO FEEL ANOTHER’S JOY AND ANOTHER’S PAIN. MAY YOU ALWAYS BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE WITH A HEART FULL OF COMPASSION AND SEE THAT EACH PERSON YOU ENCOUNTER IS CAPABLE AND WORTHY OF BEING LOVED.
SHOWING LOVE THROUGH COMPASSION IS THE WISDOM OF THE EIGHTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN SEEKS TO DO.
THE NINTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE NINTH MAN:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF THE SHALOM GIVER, OF THE PEACE MAKER. “...AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOW SHEARS AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NOR SHALL THEY STUDY WAR NO MORE.”
THESE TORAH WORDS SHARE THE JEWISH VISION OF A TIME WHEN THERE SHALL BE UNIVERSAL PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD. IT IS A VISION FOR THE WORLD THAT OUR PEOPLE DREAMED CENTURIES AGO. IT IS THE MESSIANIC VISION OF GOD’S KINGDOM COME TO EARTH AND IT IS STILL OUR DREAM AND HOPE FOR HUMANITY. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE SKILLS TO BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE IN CONFLICT AND THE SKILLS TO EASE THOSE IN STRESS. FOR THE WORLD NEEDS PEACEMAKERS. BUT KNOW THIS, TOO, THAT THERE ARE EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CREATE PAIN AND CHAOS AND THEY MUST BE ROOTED OUT AND FOUGHT, FOR THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WHERE EVIL FLOURISHES.
SHALOM, PEACE BETWEEN AND AMONG MEN IS THE WISDOM OF THE NINTH TALLIS. IT IS FOR SHALOM THAT JEWISH MEN PRAY AND WORK.
THE TENTH TALLIS IS PLACED UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE TENTH TALLIS:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TIKUM OLAM, OF MENDING THE WORLD. THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO TEACH THE WORLD OF GOD, GOD’S UNIVERSAL MORAL LAW AND TO MEND THE WORLD. FOR THESE THREE PURPOSES WERE WE CHOSEN AT SINAI. YOU NOW JOIN US AS GOD’S VOICE AND GOD’S HANDS. YOU JOIN US AS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH, AND LIKE OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, TO BECOME A BLESSING TO THOSE WHOM YOU MEET. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS THAT THE EARTH AND AIR AND WATER AND ALL THAT SUSTAINS LIFE WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND MADE SAFE. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT STRIFE BETWEEN AND AMONG OTHERS WILL END. IT WILL BE THOUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT THE IMPERFECT WORLD WE GIVE YOU, WILL BE MADE BETTER UNDER GOD’S LAW. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR HOPE.
TO MEND THE WORLD IS THE WISDOM OF THE TENTH TALLIS. AS JEWISH MEN, THIS IS OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH.
FATHER:
MY BELOVED SON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S MISSION, OF ISRAEL’S MISSION ON EARTH AND THAT MISSION IS TO BE GOD’S PARTNER IN CREATION AND “TO BE A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS.” WE BECOME A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS BY BECOMING MODELS OF RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR AND BY TEACHING OTHERS THAT GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION OF HIS CHILDREN IS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. WE BECOME PARTNERS IN CREATION BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE WORLD IS STILL UNFINISHED AND NEEDS TO BE MADE BETTER THROUGH CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES.
GRANDFATHER:
MY BELOVED GRANDSON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL LIVE IN THE WORLD NOT JUST AS A DECENT PERSON, BUT AS A DECENT JEWISH PERSON WHO STANDS WITH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL, IN BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES, WHO SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY AND WHO PARTICIPATES FULLY IN THE LIFE OF THAT COMMUNITY.
GRANDFATHER:
FEEL THESE TALLASIM. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL BIND YOURSELF TO YOUR PEOPLE, KEEPING SACRED OUR RITES OF PASSAGE, OUR HOLIDAYS AND OUR TRADITIONS. ALL THESE ARE NOW YOURS TO GUARD, TO KEEP, TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE.
ALL:
THESE TALLASIM ARE NOT A WEIGHT NOR ARE THEY A BURDEN. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS LATER. WHAT YOU FEEL ON YOUR SHOULDERS IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE, THE VALUES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES AND GIVE OUR LIVES PURPOSE.
THE FATHER AND THE GRANDFATHER(S) EACH ASSIST THE BAR MITZVAH’S TO STEP UP TO THE PLATFORM IN FRONT OF HIM.
ALL:
ASCEND TO A HIGHER PLACE.
ASCEND TO A SACRED SPACE.
YOU WERE, YOU ARE AND YOU SHALL FOREVER MORE BE KNOWN IN ISRAEL AS (YOUNG MAN’S HEBREW NAME)
MAY YOU GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND BE A CREDIT TO YOUR PEOPLE. MAY YOUR NAME BECOME A SHINING LIGHT IN ISRAEL.
FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S) EACH PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S HEAD FOR THE PRIESTLY BENEDICTION:
FATHER AND GRANDFATHER(S):
“MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU. MAY THE LORD COUNTENANCE YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. MAY THE LORD FAVOR YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE.” REPEAT IN HEBREW.
ALL:
BLESSED ART THOU, OH LORD OUR GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO HATH KEPT US IN LIFE AND ENABLED US TO REACH THIS SEASON. REPEAT IN HEBREW.
THE MEN WALK TO THE BAR MITZVAH AND EACH REMOVES A TALLIS. EACH PLACES HIS TALLIS UPON HIS OWN SHOULDERS AND THEN FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. THE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER (S), ALREADY WEARING THEIR OWN TALLASIM, PLACE THE BAR MITZVAH’S TALLIS UPON HIS SHOULDERS.
THEY SAY:
THIS IS YOUR TALLIS. FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE WORN A TALLIS SUCH AS THIS AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN US. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR FAMILY. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR PEOPLE. WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND REVERENCE. WEAR IT WITH DIGNITY. WE WELCOME YOU. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT OF US. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU CARRY OUR NAME. YOU ARE OUR INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR BELOVED SON.
THE FATHER AND GRAND FATHER (S) JOIN THE CIRCLE OF MEN AND JOIN HANDS. THEY FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE YOUNG MAN, HIS FATHER AND GRAND FATHER AND RECITE THE SHEMA THREE TIMES.
ALL:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHALOM!
WELCOME!
THE BAR MITZVAH:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
THEY ALL STAND IN SILENCE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. EACH MAN PRESENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WORDS OF PRAISE OR ENCOURAGEMENT OR BLESSING. AFTER ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEY EACH TAKE A TURN MOVING TOWARD THE BAR MITZVAH TO CONGRATULATE HIM.
THEY GO INTO THE SANCTUARY FOR MORNING SERVICES.
LEONARD H. BERMAN
21 CHATHAM DRIVE
VOORHEES, NEW JERSEY 08043
(609) 768-2771THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM
A NEW BAR MITZVAH RITUAL
BY LEONARD H. BERMAN
THE BOY WHO IS TO BECOME A BAR MITZVAH, SITS BEFORE A SMALL, ONE STEP PLATFORM. BEHIND HIM IS A TABLE UPON WHICH HAS BEEN PLACE TEN TALLAISIM. TO HIS RIGHT AND TO HIS LEFT STAND HIS FATHER AND MOTHER. THIS RITUAL IS PART OF THE FRIDAY EVENING SYNAGOGUE
IN A SEMI-CIRCLE, FACING THE BAR MITZVAH ARE TEN SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE.
FATHER:
MY, BELOVED SON. WHEN SOMETHING IS SACRED, IT IS SEPARATE FROM ALL OTHER THINGS. THIS IS A SACRED MOMENT. THIS IS A SACRED SPACE. THIS IS A MOMENT, SEPARATE AND DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER MOMENTS YOU HAVE EVER KNOWN.
MOTHER:
MY BELOVED SON. AT THIS SACRED MOMENT AND IN THIS SACRED SPACE, WE SHALL REVEAL TO YOU THE MEANING OF THE TEN TALLAISIM. AS THESE SECRETS OF MANHOOD WERE REVEALED TO US, SO WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE TO YOU. YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO REVEAL THESE SAME TEACHINGS TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER YOU.. AT THIS MOMENT YOU WILL BE WELCOMED AS A MAN INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF OTHER JEWISH MEN AND YOU WILL BECOME ONE WITH US AND ONE WITH YOUR PEOPLE.
FATHER:
WE ARE HERE TO TEACH YOU THE SECRET WISDOM OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE HERE TO TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THAT STRETCHES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF RECORDED TIME WHEN OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, HEARD GOD’S CALL TO ‘GO OUT.’ ALL OF US HAVE TAKEN THIS JOURNEY. IT IS YOUR TIME TO BEGIN YOUR OWN JOURNEY AS A JEWISH ADULT.
MOTHER:
NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND. NOT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR TODAY WILL YOU REMEMBER. BUT YOUR SOUL WILL UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER IT ALL, AND AS YOU GROW AND LEARN AND MOVE THROUGH YOUR LIFE, THE WISDOM OF THE TEN TALLAISIM WILL BE RECALLED TO YOU AND YOU WILL KNOW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE AS WE KNEW THE CORRECT PATH TO TAKE.
THE FATHER AND MOTHER TAKE THE FIRST TALLIS AND PLACE IT OVER THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIRST PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS THAT SPEAKS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS IN ALL OF US. “AND GOD SAID, ‘LET US CREATE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS...’ AN GOD BLEW HIS OWN BREATH INTO MAN, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL EXISTING ON GOD BREATH.
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE EYES THAT ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND SEE THIS PERSON, LIKE YOURSELF, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. GOD CREATED A WORLD OF GREAT DIVERSITY AND GOD REJOICES IN OPPOSITES. SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL WHO ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY, LIKE YOU, ARE ANIMATED BY GOD’S BREATH.
GOD SUSTAINS LIFE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIRST TALLIT. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN KNOWS.
THE SECOND TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SECOND PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HUMAN EQUALITY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘THERE SHALL BE ONE LAW FOR THE HOME BORN AND THE STRANGER AMONG YOU.’ THIS IS THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPAL BY WHICH WE LIVE. ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT AND ALL MUST BE EQUAL BEFORE MAN’S LAW. THERE MUST BE ONE LAW FOR ALL. THIS IS THE MEANING OF JUSTICE. THIS IS FAIRNESS.
EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW IS THE FOUNDATION OF A GOOD SOCIETY. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SECOND TALLIS. THIS IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE THIRD TALLIS IS PLACE ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE THIRD PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TZEDAKAH. “AND GOD SAID, ‘WHEN YOU GATHER THE GRAPES OF YOUR VINEYARD, DO NOT GLEAN IT AFTERWARDS; IT SHALL BE FOR THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN AND THE WIDOW.”
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE THE NEEDY OF THE WORLD AND TO FEEL YOUR OBLIGATION TO SHARE YOUR BOUNTY WITH THOSE OF THE WORLD WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU. ACT RIGHTEOUSLY TOWARD THE NEEDY AND SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE LESS FORTUNATE, FOR THE POOR SHALL NEVER DEPART OUT OF THE LAND AND YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER.
RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OTHERS IS THE WISDOM OF THE THIRD TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN SHOULD KNOW.
THE FOURTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FOURTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF PERPETUATING JUDAISM. “AND GOD SAID, ‘AND YOU SHALL TEACH THESE COMMANDMENTS TO YOUR CHILDREN.’
MAY GOD BESTOW ON YOU THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDAISM IS OF GREAT VALUE TO THE WORLD, FOR IT GAVE THE WORLD THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A SINGLE GOD WHO DEMANDS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. JUDAISM TAUGHT THE WORLD THAT CRUELTY AND SLAVERY ARE EVIL AND THAT THE WORLD CAN BE TRANSFORMED TO SOMETHING BETTER THAN IT IS. JUDAISM IS OUR WAY OF LIFE AND OUR PATH AMONG MANY PATHS. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO SET THE FEET OF OUR CHILDREN ON IT.
TO PERPETUATE THE IDEAS AND VALUES OF JUDAISM IS OUR GOAL. IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE FOURTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT EVERY JEWISH MAN MUST KNOW.
THE FIFTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE FIFTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TORAH STUDY. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR OUT OF ZION SHALL COME FORTH THE TORAH AND THE WORD OF THE LAW FROM JERUSALEM...IT IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO IT.’
MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE LOVE OF LEARNING AND MAY THIS LOVE LEAD YOU TO OUR SACRED BOOKS, FOR IN THESE BOOKS ARE FOUND GREAT WISDOM AND GREAT PEACE. MAY YOU MOVE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH IN THE WISDOM YOU DRAW FROM THEM.
LOVE OF TORAH LEARNING IS THE WISDOM OF THE FIFTH TALLIS. TORAH LEARNING IS THE WAY OF JEWISH MEN.
THE SIXTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SIXTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF JUSTICE. “AND GOD SAID, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT A WRONG IN JUDGMENT. YOU SHALL NOT FAVOR THE POOR OR SHOW RESPECT FOR THE RICH, BUT YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR IN FAIRNESS.’ MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND THE WISDOM TO TEMPER YOUR JUDGMENTS OF OTHERS WITH MERCY AND FORGIVENESS. MAY YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PURSUE JUSTICE AND THE STRENGTH TO ACT JUSTLY, FOR IT IS JUSTICE THAT MAKES THE WORLD SAFE. IT IS JUSTICE THAT PERMITS CHILDREN TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
JUSTICE, JUSTICE YOU SHALL PURSUE. THIS IS THE WISDOM OF THE SIXTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN DOES.
THE SEVENTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE SEVENTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF HOLINESS. “AND GOD SAID, ‘FOR YOU ARE A HOLY PEOPLE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD...’ ‘BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.’”
MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR ANIMAL INSTINCTS AND TEACH YOU TO RISE ABOVE THOSE THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A LESSER HUMAN BEING THAN YOU ARE MEANT TO BE. YOU ARE TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR APPETITES AND YOU ARE TO LEARN MODERATION. YOU ARE NOT TO TAKE INTO YOUR BODY THAT WHICH IS HARMFUL AND YOU ARE TO STRIVE PLACE YOURSELF IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO ARE DECENT.
HOLINESS THROUGH SELF DISCIPLINE IS THE WISDOM OF THE SEVENTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN STRIVES TO BE.
THE EIGHTH TALLIS IS PLACE UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE EIGHTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF COMPASSION. “AN GOD SAID, ‘IF A STRANGER LIVES WITH YOU IN YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL DO HIM NO WRONG. YOU SHALL LOVE HIM AS YOURSELF, FOR YOU WERE STRANGERS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.’ MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH THE ABILITY TO SEE YOURSELF IN OTHERS; TO FEEL ANOTHER’S JOY AND ANOTHER’S PAIN. MAY YOU ALWAYS BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EVERYONE WITH A HEART FULL OF COMPASSION AND SEE THAT EACH PERSON YOU ENCOUNTER IS CAPABLE AND WORTHY OF BEING LOVED.
SHOWING LOVE THROUGH COMPASSION IS THE WISDOM OF THE EIGHTH TALLIS. IT IS WHAT A JEWISH MAN SEEKS TO DO.
THE NINTH TALLIS IS PLACED ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE NINTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF THE SHALOM GIVER, OF THE PEACE MAKER. “...AND THEY SHALL BEAT THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOW SHEARS AND THEIR SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATION SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION, NOR SHALL THEY STUDY WAR NO MORE.”
THESE TORAH WORDS SHARE THE JEWISH VISION OF A TIME WHEN THERE SHALL BE UNIVERSAL PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD. IT IS A VISION FOR THE WORLD THAT OUR PEOPLE DREAMED CENTURIES AGO. IT IS THE MESSIANIC VISION OF GOD’S KINGDOM COME TO EARTH AND IT IS STILL OUR DREAM AND HOPE FOR HUMANITY. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE SKILLS TO BALANCE BETWEEN THOSE IN CONFLICT AND THE SKILLS TO EASE THOSE IN STRESS. FOR THE WORLD NEEDS PEACEMAKERS. BUT KNOW THIS, TOO, THAT THERE ARE EVIL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO CREATE PAIN AND CHAOS AND THEY MUST BE ROOTED OUT AND FOUGHT, FOR THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WHERE EVIL FLOURISHES.
SHALOM, PEACE BETWEEN AND AMONG MEN IS THE WISDOM OF THE NINTH TALLIS. IT IS FOR SHALOM THAT JEWISH MEN PRAY AND WORK.
THE TENTH TALLIS IS PLACED UPON THE BAR MITZVAH’S SHOULDERS.
THE TENTH PERSON:
THIS IS THE TALLIS OF TIKUM OLAM, OF MENDING THE WORLD. THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO TEACH THE WORLD OF GOD, GOD’S UNIVERSAL MORAL LAW AND TO MEND THE WORLD. FOR THESE THREE PURPOSES WERE WE CHOSEN AT SINAI. YOU NOW JOIN US AS GOD’S VOICE AND GOD’S HANDS. YOU JOIN US AS GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH, AND LIKE OUR FATHER, ABRAHAM, TO BECOME A BLESSING TO THOSE WHOM YOU MEET. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR FUTURE EFFORTS THAT THE EARTH AND AIR AND WATER AND ALL THAT SUSTAINS LIFE WILL BE KEPT CLEAN AND MADE SAFE. IT WILL BE THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT STRIFE BETWEEN AND AMONG OTHERS WILL END. IT WILL BE THOUGH YOUR EFFORTS THAT THE IMPERFECT WORLD WE GIVE YOU, WILL BE MADE BETTER UNDER GOD’S LAW. YOU ARE OUR FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR HOPE.
TO MEND THE WORLD IS THE WISDOM OF THE TENTH TALLIS. AS JEWISH MEN, THIS IS OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH.
FATHER:
MY BELOVED SON. FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S MISSION, OF ISRAEL’S MISSION ON EARTH AND THAT MISSION IS TO BE GOD’S PARTNER IN CREATION AND “TO BE A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS.” WE BECOME A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS BY BECOMING MODELS OF RIGHTEOUS BEHAVIOR AND BY TEACHING OTHERS THAT GOD’S MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION OF HIS CHILDREN IS THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER WELL. WE BECOME PARTNERS IN CREATION BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE WORLD IS STILL UNFINISHED AND NEEDS TO BE MADE BETTER THROUGH CREATIVE POSSIBILITIES.
MOTHER:
MY BELOVED SON FEEL THESE TALLASIM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL LIVE IN THE WORLD NOT JUST AS A DECENT PERSON, BUT AS A DECENT JEWISH PERSON WHO STANDS WITH HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL, IN BOTH GOOD AND BAD TIMES, WHO SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY AND WHO PARTICIPATES FULLY IN THE LIFE OF THAT COMMUNITY.
FATHER:
FEEL THESE TALLASIM. YOU ARE FEELING YOUR PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL BIND YOURSELF TO YOUR PEOPLE, KEEPING SACRED OUR RITES OF PASSAGE, OUR HOLIDAYS AND OUR TRADITIONS. ALL THESE ARE NOW YOURS TO GUARD, TO KEEP, TO HONOR AND PERPETUATE.
ALL:
THESE TALLASIM ARE NOT A WEIGHT NOR ARE THEY A BURDEN. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS LATER. WHAT YOU FEEL ON YOUR SHOULDERS IS OUR SOURCE OF LIFE, THE VALUES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES AND GIVE OUR LIVES PURPOSE.
THE FATHER AND MOTHER ASSIST THE BAR MITZVAH’S TO STEP UP TO THE PLATFORM IN FRONT OF HIM.
ALL:
ASCEND TO A HIGHER PLACE.
ASCEND TO A SACRED SPACE.
YOU WERE, YOU ARE AND YOU SHALL FOREVER MORE BE KNOWN IN ISRAEL AS (YOUNG MAN’S HEBREW NAME)
MAY YOU GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND BE A CREDIT TO YOUR PEOPLE. MAY YOUR NAME BECOME A SHINING LIGHT IN ISRAEL.
FATHER AND MOTHER PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE BAR MITZVAH’S HEAD FOR THE PRIESTLY BENEDICTION:
FATHER AND MOTHER:
“MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU. MAY THE LORD COUNTENANCE YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. MAY THE LORD FAVOR YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE.” REPEAT IN HEBREW.
ALL:
BLESSED ART THOU, OH LORD OUR GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO HATH KEPT US IN LIFE AND ENABLED US TO REACH THIS SEASON. REPEAT IN HEBREW.
THE TEN PEOPLE WALK TO THE BAR MITZVAH AND EACH REMOVES A TALLIS. EACH PLACES HIS TALLIS UPON HIS OWN SHOULDERS AND THEN FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. THE FATHER AND MOTHER ALREADY WEARING THEIR OWN TALLASIM, PLACE THE BAR MITZVAH’S TALLIS UPON HIS SHOULDERS.
THEY SAY:
THIS IS YOUR TALLIS. FOR GENERATIONS WE HAVE WORN A TALLIS SUCH AS THIS AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN US. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR FAMILY. IT IS THE TALLIS OF OUR PEOPLE. WEAR IT WITH PRIDE AND REVERENCE. WEAR IT WITH DIGNITY. WE WELCOME YOU. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT OF US. WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY WE ARE PROUD THAT YOU CARRY OUR NAME. YOU ARE OUR INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. YOU ARE OUR BELOVED SON.
THE FATHER, MOTHER AND OTHERS FORM A CIRCLE AROUND THE YOUNG MAN,
ALL:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
SHALOM!
WELCOME!
THE BAR MITZVAH:
SHEMA, YISRAEL, ADONAI, ELOHEINU, ADONAI, ECHAD!
THEY ALL STAND IN SILENCE AROUND THE BAR MITZVAH. EACH PERSON PRESENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WORDS OF PRAISE OR ENCOURAGEMENT OR BLESSING. AFTER ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEY EACH TAKE A TURN MOVING TOWARD THE BAR MITZVAH TO CONGRATULATE HIM.