A Parent's Perspective

A Parent's Perspective

Bar/Bat Mitzvah by Harold M. Schulweis

You are not today as you were yesterday
Nor are we.
Something has occurred.

We sit with the congregation
You stand alone on the Bimah
You lead the congregation
We follow
You sing, pray, speak
We listen.

You are not an echo of our sand
You have your own words.
The still, small voice of conscience stands alone
Stronger in you now than ever before
A blessed distance between us
You are ours but also your own.

When you were called to the Torah
You name and our names interwoven
You are not us
We are not you
But we are inseparable.

* This document, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without the written permission of the author.