Rob's Bar-Mitzvah

A few weeks ago I posted Rob's pictures as he was preparing for his Bar-Mitzvah, and last Saturday we celebrated this transition to young adulthood with his family and friends. Although Rhea (my friend and Rob's mom) thought she only wanted a few pictures of the ceremony, she should have known better when asking me to capture these moments - there was no way I was going to limit it to just a few. For the first time, Rob carries on the tradition of carrying the Torah scroll through the congregation. His dad, Bob, followed closely behind. (I love the smile on Bob's face...it was truly a moment of joy!)
Rob prepared for months by studying Hebrew in preparation for the day he would stand and read from the scroll. I don't speak or read Hebrew, but he sounded good to me and full of confidence.Following the reading, Rob was able to share a short message about the passage he had read. His poise and ability to communicate clearly, effectively and with humor was outstanding - many noticed the makings of a future pastor.
We stand together as a community with Rob and his family to pray a special blessing over his life and destiny. Congratulations, Rob...mazel tov!