Senator Attends Bar Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah celebrations in Wellesley, Massachusetts are not uncommon. Most local public school students have either had one or been invited to one. But when the Bar Mitzvah boy is the son of the local Shliach, the event is anything but common.

According to Jewish tradition, the boy’s Bar Mitzvah celebration is meant to be as joyous as his future wedding will be. So when Rabbi Moshe Bleich’s son Mendy turned thirteen last week, those in attendance at Wellesley’s first Chassidic Bar Mitzvah participated in an event they will not soon forget.

Nearly 300 guests arrived from eight states and three countries, including family, friends, rabbis and even politicians. The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine was one of 22 uncles and aunts of the Bar Mitzvah boy in attendance. More than forty rabbis joined in the festivities, including Wellesley Reform Rabbi, Joel Sisinwine of Temple Beth Elokim.

U.S. Senator Scott Brown, a longtime friend of Rabbi Bleich, recalled celebrating the birth announcements of each of the Bleich’s children during his speech to honor the Bar Mitzvah boy.

At one point, the celebrants watched a video of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, discussing the mitzvah of Tefillin played on a 20 foot screen.

Mendy delivered the customary Chasidic discourse as well as a pilpul and speech, in which he thanked his parents, spoke about his becoming of age and becoming one of the minyan goers. It was a tremendous kiddush Hashem. Afterwards, guests danced away the evening with lots of simcha (joy) to the Chasidic melodies played by a live four-piece band.

The level of excitement and pure spiritual joy that emanated from the celebration was inspirational.