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 By Dr. Ron Wolfson
My nephew Avi was born with mitochondrial myopathy and cannot speak. A sweet, lovable, bear-hug of a boy, Avi has been a challenge for my brother, Doug, and his wife, Sara. Against all odds, they refused to institutionalize Avi and have raised him beautifully along with his brother, Aaron, and sister, Naomi. When our family received an invitation to Avi’s bar mitzvah, the time when thirteen-year-old Jewish children transition to “adult” status, we couldn’t believe it! How could Avi lead the congregation in prayer? How could he recite from the Bible? How could he give the bar mitzvah speech?
When the big day arrived, the sanctuary was packed. Avi strode to the pulpit in his brand-new suit and awaited instructions from his teachers. The rabbi explained that, although Avi could not speak, he would lead the service by interpreting the prayers. Before singing the prayer thanking God for the blessings of creation, Avi walked to the middle of the pulpit and proudly held up a painting he had drawn depicting the creation of heaven and earth. Before the prayer recalling ancestors, Avi held up a poster he had made of his family tree. When it came time to read from the ancient scroll of the Torah, his brother, Aaron, read while Avi followed along. For his bar mitzvah speech, Avi’s mother said: “If Avi could speak, this is what he would say: ‘Thank you to all of you for coming to share in my big day. Mom and Dad, sorry I got you up early this morning, but I was so excited. Aaron and Naomi, I love you, no matter what. To all my family, I keep photos of you near my bed and look at them every night. Thank you to my teachers for helping me prepare for this day. And, now remember, say “hi” to everyone like I do, hug everyone like I do, and love everyone like I do.’” There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
Then, when the last prayer was recited, a miracle happened! Avi said his first word: “Yesss!” We counted our blessings that day as Avi taught us the strength of a human soul.
The above excerpt, “Count Your Blessings” by Dr. Ron Wolfson, is from God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth © 2007 by Ron Wolfson. Permission granted by Jewish Lights Publishing, P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091; www.jewishlights.com.
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Dr. Ron Wolfson is Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles and co-founder and co-president of Synagogue 3000. He is author of The Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven: Reviewing and Renewing Your Life on Earth; God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth; Hanukkah, Passover, and Shabbat, all Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs Art of Jewish Living family guides to spiritual celebrations; The Spirituality of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community; A Time to Mourn, a Time to Comfort: A Guide to Jewish Bereavement and, with Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, What You Will See Inside a Synagogue (all Jewish Lights), a book for children ages 6 and up.
Ron Wolfson is available to speak on the following topics:
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Building Good Tents: Envisioning the Synagogue of the Future
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God’s To-Do List
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The Seven Questions You’re Asked in Heaven
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Blessings and Kisses: The Power of the Jewish Family
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A Time to Mourn, a Time to Comfort
Click here to contact the author.
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