Weekday Bar Mitzvah

A boy is bar mitzvah'd automatically on his thirteenth birthday, no ritual required. Still, it's customary to have the young man called to the torah. It can be done on any day of the week that the torah is read - Monday, Thursday, or Shabbat (Saturday).

 Grandpa holding the torah:

Rabbi instructing on wearing tefillin:

Bar Mitzvah lad at the torah:

Dad lifting the torah at the end of the ceremony:

Random Shots

Going back through my library I found these three shots.

Shot in the Diamond District of Manhattan, West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. The guy's expression just grabbed my attention.

In lower Manhattan, City Hall Park. The play of hands.....

At Chabad World Headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway. Waiting for the Hanukah Menorah to be lit.