Missionary Celebrates Bar Mitzvah On Crown Street Sidewalk
by Frieda Schapiro
I just participated in a ten-minute celebration of a bar mitzvah in front of my house on Crown St.
Let me tell you about it…
Sitting on my porch this morning, I noticed a group of about twelve young men branching out in smaller groups to various houses on the block – some with backpacks and all of them carrying reading material in clear bags. Clearly – they were missionaries. Decent looking and respectful.
A couple of them were walking up to my porch as I motioned to them that I cannot speak – and showed them I was praying. They apologized and continued on to the next houses.
A few minutes later – I overheard my neighbor, Levy Goldstein, speaking with them in a very nice and pleasant manner. Explaining that we are a community of orthodox Jews, so their efforts would be better used somewhere else.
Before I knew it – I saw Levy putting on tefillin with one of the young men and making the brochos with him – all the while chatting and explaining – as more of the smaller groups gathered around them. Within minutes, they were singing and dancing! Mazal tov! For the bar mitzvah.
Seizing the moment – I quickly ran to my freezer and brought out a container of sliced mandlebroit cake and a few of the “good cards” (7 Noachide Laws) I carry in my purse.
Levy very graciously gave out the cake, made a Bracha with the “bar mitzvah boy” and gave them the good cards.
Everyone walked away from the experience happy – and I hope, inspired to do good.
Motti
Nice story but did you check with a Rov you can put on to film with someone who believes in a duality..
Not so.poshut
CR
We have freely put on with people who, at the time, professed belief in various eastern religions which are absolute A”Z. This is quite poshut by comparison.
Lubavitcher
glad to see not Lubavitchers checking up on Lubavitch news.
next, we’re coming for you ; )
p.s.
there is no such thing as a jew who believes in duality, he is simply a Tinok Shenishba
Mendel
Does it look like he believes on something! Alvai you believe in gd
Stuart Federow
A bar mitzvah is recognizing the person’s becoming a member of those who keep the mitzvot. They are christians who, by definition, reject Torah and the mitzvot, their new testament (!) calls those mitzvot a curse and speaks of our covenant with Gd to be old and fading away… Please don’t legitimize them, let them feel their abandonment of all Judaism holds dear is valid and respected by Jews!
henya laine
Only in Chabad dowe touch another yiddishe neshoma!!!!!
Hope he joins Hadaar Hatorah!!!!!
Christo Chaney
I just attended a Bar Mitzvah last week in Houston. A bar mitzvah cannot be done in 10 minutes. It literally takes years studying Hebrew literacy, Judaica, taking classes, tutoring, learning how to lead a synagogue service. A 10 minute “bar mitzvah” is a total lie. Too bad these Chabad nicks just legitimately endorsed people who don’t even accept actual Judaism as legit!
YW
So sorry, Christo Chaney, that there are different understandings going around about what a bar mitzvah means or is supposed to entail.
This space is too short for me to explain it. I hope you will bring your objections, as questions, to your local Chabad rabbi, who will be ready, willing, and able to hear you out. We need more mutual understanding in the world, especially now!
All the best!
zelig
Can we get Halachic clarity posted here from a Rov ?
Elisheva
Was the missionary a Jew? If so, I would like to look at it from the positive perspective that perhaps the missionary was “missionized” and wrapping tefillin and celebrating with him lit a fire in his Jewish neshama that will draw him back home where he belongs!