I have spent many an hour with Chaim over the last 15 years, listening to his pain and hearing his sobs
When the bar mitzvah invitation arrived, I was surprised at the date. The seudas mitzvah would take place Thursday night, Erev Yom Kippur.
When I called the mother to wish her mazel tov, she explained that in her kehillah, having the seudah bo bayom was very important; therefore, the seudah would take place the night of Erev Yom Kippur.
I respected her adherence to her kehillah’s mesorah and informed her I would be coming. Sarah*, the proud bar mitzvah boy’s mother, had grown up in Passaic. I was involved when her parents divorced over 20 years ago and had done my best to make the separation as amicable as possible.
Her father, Chaim*, was advised at the time to allow Sarah to be primarily raised by her mother, and therefore, he limited his contact with Sarah.
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