For those of you living in the big cities this may not seem like such a big deal. But, for those of us who live in Des Moines and daven at the Beth El Jacob, the Orthodox Congregation of Des Moines and Iowa...it is.
Today, on Thanksgiving Day Natan Nahali put on a tallit and tefillin for the first time. His Bar Mitzvah is this Shabbos, G-d willing and then a major party for him on Sunday. But this is NOT about the party. Look at the photo...he takes this seriously and for him the Bar Mitzvah isn't a "graduation" event. It's a big beginning.
So, why such a big deal? Because Natan and his parents (Shlomo and Rachel) are some of the pioneers who have moved from the "big city" to Des Moines to help us build an Orthodox Community. It's a big deal because he is one of the 14 children we have in our Beth El Jacob Torah Academy. It's a big deal...because he, and his friend Moshe Bernstein (who gets his turn next year) are the future. It's a big deal that despite the folks that are saying this can never work...it's working.
It's a big deal...and we welcome him to the minyan. You see, that is the real big deal. Jews are commanded to pray with a minyan (10 men) three times a day. And now that Natan will be taking his place alongside of men five and six times his age. It's big.
And that, my friends, is what people moving to Des Moines come to realize. Every Jew counts. Every man and woman and child can have an impact on our shul and our faith. For those who think this "old tradition" is...old. Well, come and experience how you can make a difference by simply standing with others of your faith...and saying, "Amen".
How thankful we are on this Thanksgiving.
See you in Shul...