Yesterday

An important story from my life was taking a family trip to celebrate my Bar Mitzvah in Israel. A Bar Mitzvah is the initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has turned 13. After years of preparation I finally was able to present my torah portion and chant various Jewish prayers. Most important, I was ready to take on the responsibilities demanded of me by my religion. Having my Bar Mitzvah in Israel was very important because I learned an abundance about the religion and culture of Judaism. When I first arrived in Israel I felt a bit uncomfortable because of my proximity to hostile countries. After a couple days passed I felt safer than ever. Chanting Torah at the Western Wall made me feel a strong connection to the past.