Bar Mitzvah Accomplishment Report

In judaism, turning thirteen years old and having a Bar Mitzvah is a monumental event, which according to the Torah is the crossing over into adulthood from childhood. At the time I felt fulfilled in the sense that I had worked hard over several years for this one moment and grateful that I could celebrate my accomplishment with family and friends. After my Bar Mitzvah, I reflected upon my accomplishment, only to realize that I still did not feel any different. I did not feel any new connection to the Jewish philosophies and definitely did not feel like I had transitioned into an adult.

About two years later after my Bar Mitzvah life as I knew it would drastically change. Weeks after New Years my grandfather passed away. My grandfather was

In years prior to 2014, I had gone to many of the major European cities. I found interest in the history behind some of these cities and how modern buildings go hand and hand with sites of historical significance. Although, I enjoyed my experience in those cities, I felt like a tourist and felt no personal connection. Later the same year as my grandfather passing my family and I traveled to Israel as part of my temple’s annual trip. The trip consisted of many other families that belonged to the temple as well as the rabbi's family. Never did I expect to gain a newfound understanding on how the culture and history of Judaism plays a role in the foundation of the country. An excursion that will always stick with me is meeting Ethiopian Jews at a local JCC. The group of Ethiopians had to leave Ethiopia and seek safe haven in Israel because they were being persecuted for being Jewish. Prior to that experience I had taken being Jewish and living in a country that fosters a melting pot of culture for granted. The people of Israel show fortitude in their believe that there is a sacrifice for religious freedom. On one of the last days of the trip a member of our temple group got Bar Mitzvahed on a hill overlooking the old city of Jerusalem. I realized at that point looking down at the old city how much I had changed spirituality and personally from the thirteen year old boy who felt no connection to his