4 | AUGUST 1 • 2024 
J
N

essay
My Second Bar Mitzvah

Editor’s note: Rabbi Yoskowitz, 
83, wrote this essay in 
anticipation of his second bar 
mitzvah held on July 27 at Adat 
Shalom Synagogue.
A

s a Jewish people, 
gratitude is our 
attitude.
Tov l’hodot, LaShem. Psalm 
92, the psalm designated to 
be said twice every Shabbat, 
begins with these 
words, which can 
be interpreted 
in two ways. 
The first 
interpretation is 
clear: “It is good 
to give thanks to 
G-d.” The second 
interpretation is “It is good to 
give thanks, G-d” and refers 
to giving thanks to the people 
in our lives because we are 
commanded to do so by G-d.
On this Shabbat, as I observe 
my second bar mitzvah, I do 
both. I give thanks to G-d for 
His many blessings, and I give 
thanks to the many people 
who have accompanied me on 
my journey of life.
According to Psalms, 
“yamay shenoteinu bahem 
shivim shannah, v’im b’g’vuorot, 

shmonim shannah.” “Three 
score and 10 our years may 
number, four score years if 
granted the vigor” (Psalms 
90:10). King David was 
granted only 70 years. The 
modern Jewish leader Rabbi 
Abba Hillel Silver lived only 70 
years. Three score plus 10 …

A NEW BEGINNING
For many Jews, these words 
are a reminder that each year 
after 70 is a special gift, a new 
beginning, and so they start to 
count anew — 70 plus 1, 70+2, 
etc. For those who live 13 years 
beyond 70, at age 83, there is 
the opportunity to renew their 
covenant with G-d at a second 
bar/bat mitzvah. 
So, I stand to publicly affirm 
my lifelong commitment to 
the mitzvot and avow both 
my strong faith in G-d and 
my deep gratitude for the gift 
of life. Perhaps many of you 
or your parents will choose to 
recognize your 83rd birthday 
by coming to synagogue, 
ascending the bimah, chanting 
haftorah and celebrating the 
gift of life with your second 
bar/bat mitzvah. 
As an adult, you can study 
the text and commentaries 

with the wisdom of age and 
life experiences, gaining new 
insights and deeper meaning 
from the words of prophets. 
This is the opportunity to be 
self-reflective, but the essence 
is being in synagogue with 
family and friends to publicly 
express gratitude.
As my way of reaffirming 
this commitment, I chose to 
chant the same haftorah on 
Shabbat Pinchas that I first 
chanted at B’nai Israel of 
Linden Heights in Brooklyn on 
July 24, 1954, Shabbat Pinchas. 
At that time, I, like all of you, 
did what was expected. I led 
the Musaf service, I chanted 
Torah and haftorah; but I was 
too young for Jeremiah’s words 
to touch my soul. Jeremiah 

said it well when he was called 
to prophesy — “Na’ar anochi” 
(Jeremiah 1:6), “I am just a 
child.” At 13, I was too young 
to understand Jeremiah’s 
message in my haftorah. With 
age comes understanding. 
Jeremiah’s prophetic message 
is timeless. The prophet’s 
message has great meaning 
and special relevance to today.
Jeremiah answered the call 
to prophesy. It was a time of 
great danger as Judea was 
threatened by the armies of the 
north with potential danger 
from the south. Beyond the 
political threats, there was 
great internal danger with the 
resurgence of pagan idolatry 
that threatened to overcome 
the teachings of Judaism 
and supersede the people’s 
covenant with G-d.
The people were engaging 
in immoral behavior. They 
turned away from their faith 
and were caught in the vortex 
of power, pleasuring the body 
and abandoning the life of 
the soul. Babylonian Talmud 
Sanhedrin, page 52A, clearly 
states “serefat neshama v’guf 
kayam”— “their souls were 
consumed but their bodies 
remained as they were.” The 

Rabbi 
Herbert A. 
Yoskowitz

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continued on page 6

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Rabbi 
Yoskowitz 
at his 
first bar 
mitzvah.

