Eric’s Bar Mitzvah: An Open Tent and a Courageous Heart

Eric’s Bar Mitzvah: An Open Tent and a Courageous Heart

Some students arrive at their Bar Mitzvah having learned the prayers. Eric arrived having learned what the prayers are for. Standing on the bimah surrounded by family and friends who traveled from near and far, he showed all of us that he understands Judaism not as something he inherited, but as something he is choosing to carry forward.

A Mensch Before the Bimah

Long before his Bar Mitzvah day, Eric was already living the meaning of “son of the commandments.” He shared with us some of the mitzvot that have shaped him: joining a toy drive with All Elite Wrestling, visiting fire stations after the Los Angeles fires, and spending time with fans, hoping to motivate and inspire them. Eric understands something many adults are still learning: when you have a platform, you have a responsibility to use it for good.

The Shema: A Prayer That Grew Up With Him

One of the most touching moments of the service came when Eric spoke about the Shema. When he was a baby, his mom said the Shema with him every night at bedtime. It became part of his routine, and it still is.

What moved me most was his reflection on how that prayer has changed for him. As a little boy, he said it because his mom taught him to. Now, he told us, he is beginning to make its meaning his own. Whether it was a great day, a hard day, or an ordinary one, the Shema gives him a moment to pause, feel grateful for his family, and remember that God is with him. That is exactly what becoming a Bar Mitzvah is about: taking the words we were given and making them ours.

L’dor Vador: One Link in the Chain

Eric described himself as a link in a chain he did not start and will not end. He spoke about how our traditions survived because elders took the time to pass them down, and then he made a promise I loved hearing: not only to take care of Judaism for his own generation, but to keep it exciting and relevant for the generation that comes after him. I believe him.

Vayera: The Open Tent

Eric’s Torah portion was Parshat Vayera, which means “And He appeared.” It is filled with some of the most beloved stories of Avraham and Sarah.

Eric was struck by a remarkable detail. At 99 years old, Avraham had just undergone his brit milah. Instead of resting, he ran to greet three strangers and welcomed them into his tent, never knowing they were angels. Eric shared the traditional teaching that each angel had a mission: one came to heal Avraham, one came to announce that Sarah would have a son, and one came with news about the fate of Sodom.

Then Eric asked a wonderful question: How could Avraham, in pain and exhausted, still host strangers so generously? And where did he find the courage to argue with God to save the people of Sodom?

His answer was beautiful. Avraham treated every stranger with the same respect, no matter who they were. And he refused to accept that innocent people should suffer, so he spoke up, respectfully and bravely. Eric told us he wants to be like Avraham: welcoming, generous, and willing to stand up for what is right even when it is hard. At Neshamah, where our doors are open to everyone, I could not imagine a more fitting lesson.

Remembering Uncle Harry

Eric also chose to honor a family member whose story is part of his own: his great-uncle Harry, born in Dresden, Germany, in 1920. As a teenager, Harry was imprisoned in the camps during the Holocaust, and he lost his mother and sister. A French soldier found him among the dead, weighing just 76 pounds, and helped him escape. Harry made his way to America, became a biology teacher, and, as Eric’s grandmother remembers, was a fun-loving man full of hope.

Eric reminded us that being Jewish is both a privilege and a responsibility, because so many children before him never had the chance to study Torah or celebrate a day like this. He promised that Harry, and all those who were lost, will never be forgotten. With that promise, Uncle Harry’s story became part of Eric’s Bar Mitzvah, and part of our community’s memory.

A Family Full of Love

Eric’s thank-yous showed just how deeply he is loved. He thanked his mom and dad for their endless devotion; his big sister Ashley for staying up late practicing prayers with him; his Momom and Popop for driving him to Hebrew lessons, dinners, baseball, and card shops; and his grandmother Lulu for teaching him to be a young businessman. He also thanked Miss Jenn, who poured her whole heart into teaching him and turned what he expected to be a challenge into a wonderful experience.

Eric, it was an honor to stand beside you on your Bar Mitzvah day. You have Avraham’s open heart and his courage to speak up. May you always keep your tent open, your voice strong, and the Shema close. Mazel tov to you and your whole family!

Planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Boca Raton or online? Everything at Neshamah starts with a conversation. Reach out at info@niboca.org or (561) 368-1199.