This Bar Mitzvah Speech is Just as Relevant Today as it was in 1947

I never met my Zaida Mickey (my Dad's Dad) but I have always felt extremely close to him. Probably because he has been my guardian angel for the last 35 years. I love hearing stories about him from people who knew him, of which there are only a handful still kicking. He was a character to say the least.

I also love seeing photos of him, wearing his jewellery and connecting to him through his various tchotchkes, whether it's using his gold toothpick or drinking from his Kiddush cup. But recently I was able to connect to him in a way I hadn't yet: through his words.

I've read a little bit of his writing, like the letter he wrote my Dad when my Dad was travelling through Europe as an 18 year old kid. And if I ever got a tattoo (I wouldn't), it would be in his handwriting. But we recently had his Bar Mitzvah speech translated from Yiddish to English and the message of his speech is just as important today as it was 8 decades ago.

He was born in 1934, so his Bar Mitzvah was in 1947, right after World War II. Therefore it is no surprise that his speech is mostly about what it means to be a Jew and a good Jew and how we need to protect our small but mighty tribe.

We received the translated speech a few weeks ago and as soon as I read it I knew I wanted to share it. Nobody who would have heard this speech 78 years ago is alive today, but the message lives on.

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on the first night of Hanukkah, sharing this now feels especially meaningful. My heart breaks for the victims and all who were there.

Moments like these are a reminder that light has always mattered most when the world feels darkest.

Below is the English translation of my Zaida's Bar Mitzvah speech, originally written in Yiddish in 1947, translated by a member of our synagogue. Shoutout Arnie.

Today I became a bar mitzvah. So say all Jewish children on the day they become bar mitzvah. But I will say something different. Today and going forward I became a bar mitzvah. This means that I will always be a bar mitzvah for the rest of my life. I will learn and study more from day to day how to be nicer and better for my family and my Jewish people. A great obligation lies on all of us Jewish children now and at all times to follow in the steps of our ancestors. This means to preserve our holy Torah and to defend Jewishness. To remain standing today in our bitter times when such wicked people, Jew haters, the likes of whom the world has never seen before, have arisen, and they, these wicked people, have slaughtered and burned millions of our innocent brothers and sisters.

These wicked people have destroyed the best, the holiest of our people of the God of Abraham. Therefore I zealously undertake to be a Jew in the full sense of the word, a Jew with Torah, with good deeds, a proud Jew. And certainly all my friends, all young Jewish children, need to do the same to build again that which our enemies have destroyed. So that we should again become a Jewish people as God commanded. A people with beautiful Jews. Jews with Torah and good deeds. Our enemies, the murderers, should not think that they can destroy the Jewish people, that they can go on with their murders and that those who will protest against them will not be found. No, it is God's commandment that a people with his holy Torah should exist which will always protest against these wicked people and say, "Wicked people, see what is written in God's Torah, 'You shall not murder.'"

There is a Mishnah that says: "As between respect for one's father and respect for one's teacher, respect for one's teacher takes precedence." This means that a student needs to show respect to his teacher before showing respect to his parents. Thus I come to thank my Rebbe, Rebbe Yechezkel Kreines, and teacher Kovalson for their patience in helping me to set on the path of the right and Jewish way of learning. At this moment, I also wish to thank my dear parents for their goodness to me until now and for their readiness to do the same for me in the future. But I lack the words and the understanding to be able to express this. My heart and mind overflow with thoughts and feelings but I do not have the words to express my feelings. May God bless them with long life and good health and that they see much joy from their children. Amen.

Hanukkah is a reminder that our survival is not accidental. Reading my Zaida's words today, I'm reminded that the responsibility he spoke about did not end in 1947. It was merely handed down to us.