The Bar Mitzvah Service At Chabad Of Summerlin

Left: Chabad of Summerlin's home (the building is just 2 1/2 years old).


Driving up to Chabad of Summerlin, I could see a rabbi on foot heading towards the building. I suppose I could have offered him a ride, but it would have broken Orthodox Shabbas practice for him to accept, so it was just as well.

In the parking lot prior to the bar mitzvah, I met a couple who knew Daniel Gershin through school. The fellow, C., builds sets, and sometimes acts and directs, for Las Vegas Little Theater. A non-observant Jew, he offered to steer me through the service.

The service started at 10:00 a.m. The bar mitzvah is incorporated into the service, so I figured it would take a while to get through. I was right: we broke for food at 1:00 p.m.

I was a bit intimidated by the full-blown Hebrew Orthodoxness of it all, and didn't want to make faux pas. As a non-believer, C. advised me not to wear a tallis, and to remain seated even when others stood.

Gabe helpfully located this definition of tallis:

Main Entry: tal·lith Pronunciation Guide
Variant(s): or tal·lit or tal·lis also ta·lith or ta·lit or ta·lis \täls, tl-, tal-, -t(h)\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural tal·li·thim or tal·li·tim or tal·li·sim \tälsm, -t(h)m\; or tal·lei·sim \tälsm\; also ta·li·thim or ta·li·tim or ta·li·sim \tälsm, -t(h)m\; or ta·lei·sim or ta·lai·sim \tälsm\
Etymology: Hebrew tallth cover, sheet, cloak, from Aramaic telal to cover: a woolen or silk rectangular or square shawl with fringes at the 4 corners and black or blue stripes at the ends that is worn over the head or round the shoulders by orthodox and conservative Jewish men and boys over 13 usually during morning prayers -- called also prayer scarf; see ZIZITH; compare ARBA KANFOTH [tallith illustration]

Still, we had to be prompted to stand when the Torah was brought out to congregation. But mine wasn't the worst mistake. One fellow at the very front was momentarily distracted by being asked to carry the Torah, and he removed his yarmulke in response.

For being very traditional, the congregation was nevertheless rather relaxed, and very spirited. Occasional blunders occurred: towards the end of the service, several little girls ran through the pews on the men's half of the floor, but there wasn't any profound irritation at the error.

It seemed to me that there were an unusual number of rabbis at the service - at least four, and maybe more. It was hard to tell for sure because so many others present just happened to look like rabbis.

Afterwards, I asked Ira how many rabbis there had been at the service, and he said he didn't know. His family knows people in both Conservative and Orthodox schools and synagogues, and so having a plethora of rabbis at this service was quite expected. Like many Jews of late, he has been gravitating to the Orthodox traditions. "I always worry about whether food is kosher or not, and here at Chabad, there is no question!"

Very nice service! Daniel's voice was clear and strong!