Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Congregants ‘come of age’ again

Second Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

Courtesy Robert Mirisch

Family and friends surround Stewart Miller (center, left) and Rabbi Hershel Brooks (center, right) during Miller’s reading.

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Rabbi Hershel Brooks joins Murray Silver and Irving Bonn during Silver's reading from an ancient Hebrew text.

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Eleven members of Temple Bet Knesset Bamidbar in Sun City Summerlin joined Rabbi Hershel Brooks in a "Second Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah" on Saturday. Sitting is Rabbi Hershel Brooks. Standing in the front row, from the left, are: Bernard Sipelstein, Alex Kuechel, Selma Soriano, Claire Bass and Murray Silver. Standing in the back row are: Harry Sipelstein, Vic Soriano, Ed Kaplow, Philip Seidman, Irving Bonn and Stewart Miller.

It was a celebration of life and longevity in Sun City Summerlin on Saturday as Temple Bet Knesset Bamidbar, a synagogue for residents age 55 and over, added a new twist to the traditional Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah — the "coming of age" celebration for a boy or girl, respectively, that is held on a child's 13th birthday.

Rabbi Hershel Brooks, who has been the spiritual leader of the 1,100-member congregation since 1995, coordinated a "Second Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah" for 11 of its members who are at least 83 years old.

The event was held in the Desert Vista Community Center, where the congregation holds services at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month.

"In America, we often use the term life expectancy," Brooks said. "In the ancient Hebrew text, King David died at age 70. Therefore, if one surpasses the age of 70 it is seen as great strength. And if you reach 83, it is 13 years beyond that and the beginning of a new life."

One by one, each of the 11 members — surrounded by family and friends — went before the congregation and joined Brooks in reciting many of the same prayers and blessings they did when they were 13 years old.

In early August, Brooks began hosting weekly classes with the participants to review the customs and ancient Hebrew that would be recited at the event. Some were assigned readings from prophets while others had their own personalized speeches.

Brooks will retire as the synagogue's rabbi on June 30, 2009. He said he feels it will be the right time to step down from the daily obligations of creating sermons and hosting various community events.

"I felt it was time for me to sit back and enjoy myself," Brooks said. "Maybe take a cruise somewhere and not have to worry about my schedule. But I still hope to be active in the community giving occasional lectures or volunteering."

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