My dear Zalman,
As we celebrate your bar mitzvah this week, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion.
The past 13 years have flown by; I vividly remember your bris like it was yesterday. Watching you grow into the remarkable young man you are today has been an incredible journey. We are so thankful to Hashem for entrusting us with your precious neshama to nurture and to love!
As you transition into adulthood and take on the responsibilities of the 613 mitzvot, I want to prepare you: From now on, a constant battle will rage within you—a battle between the forces of evil and the forces of light. Every moment, every day, you will face a choice: Will your eyes read the latest world gossip, or will they be fixed on the pages of the eternal Torah? Will your mouth be used to slander or to talk kindly about others? Will your hands be used to hurt or to wrap tefillin? Will your legs carry you to inflict pain or to a hospital to visit the sick?
You are now part of the “struggling brigade,” like the rest of us. But here's an important truth: G-d has equipped you with the resources to overcome and emerge victorious in this battle! The power to triumph lies within you. You cannot blame your friends, your teachers or even your parents. The power is given to you and only you. You alone can tap into that innate strength to overcome any obstacle in your path.
We live in a world plagued by darkness, devoid of spirituality, filled with chaos. So many bad people, so many unnecessary wars. But amidst this darkness, you have a mission—a purpose that sets you apart. Your job is to find and ignite the light and illuminate a world desperately in need of hope and healing. It’s up to you to show the world that there is a Master to this universe—the Almighty G-d.
As you embark on this new chapter of adulthood, remember that the forces of light will always overcome the forces of darkness. The smallest flame can light up the darkest room; even a small spark of spirituality can dispel the darkness around us. You just have to strike the match.
You are now fully responsible for all your Torah and mitzvot. I am thrilled that you can now help us form a minyan in shul every week! I urge you to embrace this responsibility and become a shining example of light in a world that sorely needs it.
Ever since you were born, I’ve seen the fire inside you—the burning sensation to do and live and go. You are a man on a mission. You have been given incredible natural gifts. You love helping people and you have natural charisma and charm. Take these talents with you and use them to transform the world!
May you fulfill your mission and become a beacon of hope in these unprecedented times.
Tatty