Since Temple times, a Simchas Beis Hashoeivah (lit. “a water drawing ceremony”, which is always a joyous occasion) is held every Sukkos. This year, this custom was especially meaningful in Almaty when two bar mitzvahs were held as well, one day after the other. On Sunday Adam Molashvili, son of Zorab and Ella Molashvili, celebrated his bar mitzvah in the large sukkah of the local shul, and the next day everyone met again for the bar mitzvah of Moshe Mikhailov, son of Avraham (Alik) and Sveta Mikhailov. The sukkah was decorated with cakes in the shape of the number “13”.
The boys prepared for their bar mitzvah with shliach Rabbi Betzalel Lifschitz, who taught them everything that a Jewish boy needs to know before he reaches the age of mitzvah fulfillment.
Young shliach Avrahami Cohen played cheerful Chassidic melodies, while Rabbi Lifschitz emceed both events. Both bar mitzvahs began with the boys being called up to the Torah after the sefer Torah was brought into the sukkah with full honor.
After the reading, Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan Rabbi Yeshayah Elazar Cohen blessed each boy, and Rabbi Lifschitz asked their parents and family members to give them their own blessings. At each celebration, the bar mitzvah boy then asked everyone to perform the mitzvah of shaking the lulav.
At the bar mitzvah of Moshe Mikhailov, who attended the Ohr Avner kindergarten when it first opened and then studied at the school until it closed, the principal of the Jewish school Rabbi Shevach Zlatopolsky was an honored guest. He blessed Moshe that he should continue along the path of Torah and that everything he learned in school should accompany him through life. Afterwards, there was much lively dancing that developed into a Simchas Beis Hashoeivah.
At both celebrations, the dancing and singing lasted a long time and afterwards there was a farbrengen with the shluchim, where there was much encouragement in mitzvah observance. The community gave the bar mitzvah boys generous gifts, including religious books and other items.
We would like to wish the Molashvili and Mikhailov families a hearty mazal tov and we hoiep that their sons will continue along the path of Torah, giving them much happiness.
