Blessing for Son’s Bar Mitzvah

By the Grace of G-d
26th of Nissan, 5714
Brooklyn, N.Y.
[April 29, 1954]

Sholom uBrocho:

I have received your invitation to the Bar Mitzvah of your elder son Avrohom Josef, which will take place on Shabbos, p. Emor, 5th of Iyar, and I wish you Mazzal-Tov on this occasion.

It would be superfluous to speak of the importance of Bar Mitzvah to you, to whom Jewish traditions and customs are personal ex­periences. However, I would like to emphasize that there is a significance and a message in the fact that the Bar Mitzvah is taking place at this time between Pesach and Shovuoth.

The days of Sefirah connecting the Festival of Our Freedom with the Festival of Our Receiving the Torah, are a period of transition and preparation, from freedom to freedom. True freedom, to the Jew, cannot mean only freedom from external forces of evil, but also, and especially, inner freedom and harmony which only the Torah can give us and help to attain.

I trust that Avrohom Josef will fully realize that his Bar Mitzvah marks a transition from ‘slavery’, in a sense, to full freedom, from any childish inclinations and habits to a life in full accord with the Torah and Mitzvoth incumbent upon every fully grown Jew. I send him my prayerful wishes to walk along this happy path with determination and joy, inspired by the Chassidic way of life of his ancestral home. And may you have much Yiddish Nachas from him and your other children, bless them.

With blessing,

M. Schneerson