Looking Forward to Christ: A Bar Mitzvah Moment

Jan. 28, 1989, Temple Beth Sholom, Miami Beach, Florida. As a typical pre-teen, I didn't connect with nor care to understand - let alone apply - the passages I was chanting from the Holy Scriptures. It was tradition — a good tradition — but bereft of meaning, to me at least. My Torah portion was Yitro (Jethro) in the Book of Exodus (18-20), where Moses' father-in-law advises him to delegate the task of judging the everyday disputes between the people, lest he wear himself and the people out. Only as Moses' judicial burden is lightened does God entrust him with the giving of the Ten Commandments, establishing His people Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. A portion of the Writings or Prophets is traditionally chanted after the Torah. My portion began with Isaiah 6-7, including the prophet's remarkable commission, and ended with just two verses from Isaiah 9. These verses, Isaiah 9:6-7 in most translations (9:5-6 in the JPS translation), are shown here in the clip. One line reads: פלא יועץ אל גבור (Pele Yoetz El Gibor). You might recognize the translation: "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God." The updated Jewish Publication Society translates this phrase as "the Mighty God is planning grace." Indeed, He was and is. As I chanted them, I'm sure I was just thrilled to be wrapping up many months of study and practice and looking forward to the rocking party to follow that afternoon. However, they would resonate in me 21 years later, when I was humbled and broken, when God's hand lifted me up and revealed to me the riches of Christ...

21 years passed in darkness, and then I saw a great light. I lived in a dark land, and then the light shined on me. I will never cease to praise God and thank Him for His mercy and forgiveness, for His blessings and His grace, for His work of salvation in מָשִׁיחַ‎ ישוע -- Christ Jesus. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

"But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles." Isaiah 9:1

You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.
Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

The LORD has disciplined me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
The righteous will enter through it.
I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.

Ps 119:65-68; Ps. 119:71-72; Ps. 118:18-21

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