My Son’s Bar Mitzvah
I am a mother of 4 sons. Any Jewish mother can tell you that celebrating a son’s Bar Mitzvah is the highlight of our lives because after the party we get to take our son home, not so much on their wedding night.
I found out about my son’s Bar Mitzvah through my aunt that saw his invitation on the Temple Bulletin Board for the congregation. My name was on the invitation as if I knew about it. I asked for a copy of it, not an easy task in 2005, there were cell phones but there were no smartphones. I got a copy and I just kept staring at it. He put my name on it, that’s all I kept thinking. I was appalled and heartbroken.
I contacted the PI that was helping me with my abduction case and I cried and cried into the phone. I needed to be at my son’s Bar Mitzvah. He assured me that he would do what he could to get me there and protect me but under no circumstances could I attend the reception. The Bar Mitzvah at the temple was open to any congregant, the reception was a private affair.
I bought my plane ticket and arrived with my beautiful mother of the bar mitzvah boy suit and not on sale silk satin Giuseppe Zanotti shoes. I never wore the suit but I did wear the shoes to his wedding :)
I wanted to feel normal and pretend I was going to my son’s Bar Mitzvah like any other Jewish mother. This was anything but normal. I wore a satin top with a regular skirt, suede shoes and small bag, not something I would wear to work but definitely not what I imagined I would wear to my son’s Bar Mitzvah.
The PI picked my mother and me up from the hotel at 7:00am and before we arrived at the temple he let me know that there were 3 police officers waiting for me to arrive to ensure I did not enter. My PI contacted the chief of police and he met us at the entrance of the temple. The chief of police came straight up to me, congratulated me on my son’s Bar Mitzvah and said “this will cost you $1000 or dinner with me tonight” I paid him $1000. I never felt so humiliated in my life but I got in and until this day I will NEVER EVER EVER forget the look in my son’s eyes and the smile on his face when he saw me. His look said to me “I knew you wouldn’t miss my Bar Mitzvah” and of course I didn’t. I am a MOM and I will do anything for my boys.
