By the Grace of G-d25th of Menachem Av, 5731 Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessings:

I am in receipt of your letter of ". . ." with the enclosed clipping, which is returned herewith. I was pleased to note your feelings and response in connection with the mass Bar-Mitzvah celebration for the war orphans, which was held in Kfar Chabad, which is an annual event.

In this connection, and based on the principle of our Sages that the essential thing is the deed, I trust that your feelings and sentiments will he translated into actual deeds. I have in mind the many Bar-Mitzvah boys who are "orphans" in a real sense, inasmuch as their parents, for one reason or another, have failed to care for their spiritual needs, and thus many of them have not really had their Bar-Mitzvahs. For, needless to say, a true Bar-Mitzvah is not the external festivity or celebration or birthday party. A real Bar-Mitzvah has to do with permeating the Jewish boy with the feeling and recognition that he has become a full-fledged Jew, with all the duties and privileges pertaining thereto, namely the fulfillment of all the Mitzvoth in the daily life and conduct as is incumbent upon any aduIt Jew. In this country in particular it is necessary to emphasize that a Bar-Mitzvah is not a "graduation" and end of Jewish studies and Jewish education, but on the contrary, the beginning of adult life as a Jew. Moreover, it is also often necessary to refute some misguided parents who think that at the age of thirteen a boy is still too young to assume the full responsibilities of an adult Jew. For, as our sages remind us, G-d does not expect the impossible, nor does He deal despotically with His creatures by imposing duties and responsibilities which the individual is incapable of fulfilling. In other words, inasmuch as our Torah, called Toras Chaim and Toras Emes - because it is the true guide in life - tells us that the age of thirteen is the age of maturity for a Jewish boy, it is certain that it is so.

In light of the above, I trust that you are doing what you can to help such "orphan" Bar-Mitzvah boys in your own community and environment to be given the opportunity to celebrate their Bar-Mitzvah in the true and proper spirit, as indicated above. That is to say, to bring them closer to their Father in Heaven by helping them strengthen their adherence to a life of Torah and Mitzvoth as an everyday experience.

It may be added that in most if not all the cases of such an “orphan" Bar-Mitzvah boy in this country, it is the result of ignorance on the part of the parents, either total ignorance or distorted ideas, and very often the parents would be readily responsive if the problem of their Bar-Mitzvah boys would be brought to their attention in a suitable manner. Though this is not a very easy effort, it is nevertheless easier than anticipated, inasmuch as one does not have to deal with antagonism, but simply with ignorance or other external causes. Furthermore, our sages have assured us that words coming from the heart penetrate the heart, and are eventually effective, especially when coupled with a living and inspiring example.

May G-d grant that you should have Hatzlacha in the above efforts, and thus put into operation an activity that would have a chain reaction, whereby those influenced by you would become sources of influence to others. This will also widen the channels for you and all yours to receive G-d’s blessings in all your needs, materially and spiritually.

Hoping to hear good news from you in all above,

With blessing,

P.S. With regard to your desire to get in touch with those who arrange the Bar-Mitzvahs in Kfar Chabad, you may communicate directly with Rabbi Lebov, Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, Kfar Chabad.