L’chi lach, to a land that I will show you
Lech l’cha, to a place you do not know
L’chi lach, on your journey I will bless you
And (you shall be a blessing)3x L’chi lach

L’chi lach, and I shall make your name great
Lech l’cha, and all shall praise your name
L’chi lach, to the place that I will show you
(L’sim-chat cha-yim)3x L’chi lach

Lyrics by Debbie Friedman from the parsha Lech Lecha about Abraham and Sarah

Occasionally an off-handed remark becomes a really good idea. Several months ago an older member of my congregation mentioned that he would be 83 this year. I said that he should celebrate his second Bar Mitzvah. He demured. We planned it anyway and celebrated it this past Shabbat, Shabbat Lech Lecha.

Sometimes it is impossible to capture in words the feeling of a morning. His family sponsored the kiddush. His son-in-law designed centerpieces with his Bar Mitzvah photo from 70 years ago mounted on baseball posters with Cubs flags. Each member of his family had an honor. Little Mandy, his second grade granddaughter read the prayer for the congregation so lovingly and perfectly. Every nephew and some grand and great-grand nephews and nieces were there. Perhaps my favorite moment was watching the grandfather and the grandson daven the kedusha together.

Why a second Bar Mitzvah at 83? 83 years. An average lifetime according to Psalm 90:10 plus 13. A new start. Time to celebrate again. And the more things we can celebrate in a congregation, the better!

Abraham was already old, 75 years old, when he left his land, the place of his birth, his father’s land to the land that G-d would show him. Now maybe in today’s world that would not be considered so old. But how many of us would have the courage to listen to that voice, pick up everything and leave with our spouse and our nephew?

The rabbis have a field day with this phrase, lech lecha. Why not just say, lech, go? The rabbis teach that this lech lecha really means go to yourself, to find your own authentic self. Abraham, in choosing to listen to that voice, is exhibiting that courage. The courage of his convictions and his integrity.  This celebration of a second Bar Mitzvah seems especially appropriate. It is said that every Bar Mitzvah kid gets just exactly the right parsha. I think that was definitely the case here. The midrash teaches in Pirke Rabbi Eliezer that Abraham was 13 when he rejected his father’s idolatry and professed a belief in the one true G-d, giving birth to monotheism. That too took courage and integrity. In Peretz’s long life, I have only known him for a short time. But I have come to know him as a person like Abraham, a man filled with integrity, a man who has found himself, his authentic self

At a recent meeting of the ritual committee, he explained, patiently, that when a kippah or headcovering touches the ground, unlike a siddur which has the name of G-d in it, people don’t have to kiss it. He said, “Nah, it’s just a piece of cloth. Unless it is a Cubs hat. That’s a different story.” His humor broke an otherwise heated conversation, and coming from him, made everyone chuckle. You see, Peretz is our most observant congregant. He says he is not Orthodox, because he drives to get to shul, but he davens out of the ArtScroll siddur while we use Siddur Sim Shalom and he cares passionately about the halacha.

Congregation Kneseth Israel’s vision statement says that we embrace diversity. Often that means that we welcome interfaith families. I talk frequently these days about the range of normative Jewish expression (and observance). Peretz is part of that range of normative halachic Jewish expression. So when he davened Shacharit, from Shochan Ad on we did it all in Hebrew, with a full reader’s repetition, he using ArtScroll and me trying to call out matching page numbers. I say trying, because sometimes when someone davens, they are in a zone–oblivious to everything around them, praying, having a conversation with G-d, not to be interrupted or distracted.

This is way Peretz approaches his life here at Congregation Kneseth Israel. He participates fully and when it doesn’t quite match his own understanding of halacha, he explains and teaches—lovingly and compassionately. He listens and learns what other people have to say with respect and care. He consults other sources, then in that embracing diversity moment, he decides what is right for him–and does it. Whether that is standing for every Kaddish, not coming on Shabbat evenings when we have instrumental music, or asking questions about various kashrut hucksters. Like Abraham he is a man of integrity.

Like Abraham he has raised a family. Now he gets to see the fruits of his labor. It was a very special moment this week when I was sitting between him and Shane while practicing L’dor v’dor. It was a true L’dor v’dor moment and expressing that kedusha, holiness he has come to embrace. He has passed on that sense of kedusha, holiness, and integrity, not only to your son and daughter, your son-in-law, and your nephews who are here today, but also to your grandchildren. I love watching him beam on a Saturday morning, when the kids arrive. They make him so happy—and he they.

This parsha, his unique parsha, one that he has studied for 70 years is exactly right for him. It begins with blessing and it ends with promise, a blessing. “You shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” Abraham left a lasting legacy–the belief in One G-d and descendants as numerous as the stars in the skies and the sand of the sea. He left the legacy of a good name.

He chanted his haftarah beautifully. Not flawlessly. Even with his glasses and the big print book, I am not sure he could see the difference between a tzade and an aleph. It didn’t matter. In the old Ashkanasi Hebrew. It sounded so good. His Haftarah said, “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, seed of Abraham, My friend, You whom I drew from the ends of the earth, and called from the four corners…I chose you, I have not rejected you. Be not frightened, for I am your G-d.” That’s who Peretz is, Seed of Abraham, G-d’s friend. We don’t have to be afraid.

We concluded the Torah service with this blessing, in Debbie Friedman’s words, written about this very parsha. May Peretz be blessing, continue to be a blessing, as we pray he lives to be a 120 years old–or at least until his Cubs win a World Series.