Learn about our members...

LARRY ROSEN
   69TH BAR MITZVA ANNIVERSARY SPEECH --  FINAL AMENDED COPY
    DELIVERED SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH 2005  SHABBAS NACHAMU
    OHEV SHOLOM SYNAGOGUE
    16TH AND JONQUIL STREET NW
     WASHINGTON, DC

        ON THIS SHABBAS NACHAMU, WHICH MARKS MY 69TH BAR MITZVA ANNIVERSARY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW MEMORIES OF MY BIG DAY, ALONG WITH SOME RECOLLECTIONS EXPERIENCED WHILE ATTENDING SERVICES AT CONGREGATION TALMUD TORAH, 467 E ST. SW, WASHINGTON D.C, DURING MY YOUNGER DAYS.
        TO PREPARE ME FOR MY BAR MITZVA, I HAD A GOOD TEACHER — MY FATHER, MOSHE AHARON ROSEN. IN ADDITION TO BEING A SHOCHET AND MOHEL, MY FATHER ESTABLISHED A CHEDER IN ONE ROOM OF OUR HOME, TEACHING FORTHCOMING BAR MITZVA BOYS HOW TO READ HEBREW AND PREPARING THEM FOR THEIR BAR MITZVA HAFTORAH.WE LIVED AT   713 4TH ST SW., WHICH WAS THE FORMER RESIDENCE OF RABBI YOELSON, FATHER OF THE FAMOUS MOVIE ACTOR, AL JOLSON.
HARRY GOLDBERG, A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF OST IS A GRADUATE OF MY FATHER’S CHEDER, WHERE THE TUITION FEE WAS $1.00 A WEEK.  .
        EMPIRE CHICKEN AND TURKEY PRODUCTS WERE NOT YET OFFERED FOR SALE ON MARKET SHELVES.  HOUSEWIVES HAD TO PURCHASE LIVE CHICKENS AND TAKE THEM TO THE SCHOCHET OF THEIR CHOICE—OR HAVE THE SHOCHET SLAUGHTER AND DELIVER CHICKENS TO THEIR HOME (NO DELIVERY CHARGE). I REMEMBER DELIVERING CHICKENS TO
RABBI JOSHUA KLAVAN’S RESIDENCE ON F ST SW.  SHECTEN AND FLIKEN A CHICKEN —TO SLAUGHTER AND PLUCK THE FEATHERS — THE CHARGE WAS 15 CENTS. GOING RATE FOR A BRIS WAS $10,00, AND CHARGE FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE POTOMAC RESIDENTS, $25.00.
         MY DAD WAS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF TALMUD TORAH—RECORDING SECRETARY FROM 1933 TO 1944,WHEN HE PASSED AWAY. HE READ THE TORAH EVERY SATURDAY, BLEW THE SHOFER ON THE HIGH HOLIDAYS AND DAVENED MINCHA EVERY YOM KIPPUR.
       THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN’T VISITED OUR MEMORABILIA ROOM CAN VIEW MY DAD’S RECORDED SECRETARIAL BOOK (IN YIDDISH) IN THAT ROOM.
        SOME TIME AGO, MRS. CHANA BENJAMIN, DAUGHTER OF LONG TIME MEMBERS, BARBARA AND LEONARD GOODMAN. WHO IS WELL VERSED IN YIDDISH, TRANSLATED THE YIDDISH-RECORDED MINUTES OF TWO MEETINGS INTO ENGLISH.  .
     I’LL JUST READ A FEW SELECTED SENTENCES  FROM THE TRANSLATED MINUTES.OF JANUARY 22, 1939 (TAKE NOTE, MEMBERS ARE REFERRED TO AS “BROTHERS”):  

BROTHER   BELIN OF THE E BIKUR CHOLIM (SICK COMMITTEE). COMMITTEE REPORTED THAT BROTHER JAY GRUTZ WASN’T WELL. BROTHER HOROWITZ WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEND POSTCARDS TO ALL OF THE BROTHERS, TELLING THEM TO VISIT BROTHER JAY GRUTZ. (APPARENTLY BROTHER HOROWITZ MAY NOT HAVE HAD A TELEPHONE)
      IT WAS PROPOSED THAT WE GIVE $5 TO THE SLONIM YESHIVA, $2 FROM THE SHUL AND $ 3 FROM THE “RELIGIOUS FUND”
      
DECEMBER 28, 1941.
“IT WAS REPORTED THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE LOST FOUR MEMBERS IN NEARLY A WEEK: BROTHRS KESSLER,TOLSTOY,YEGER AND SISTER WOLF.  THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR AN EXPRESSION OF SADNESS, CALLING FOR THREE MINUTES OF SILENCE  (NOT TODAY’S ONE MINUTE).TO HONOR THEIR MEMORIES.
A MOTION BY BROTHER GOLUBETSKY, SECONDED BY BROTHER BELLIN, THAT THE SHUL SHOULD BUY THREE BONDS FOR $75 EACH WAS MADE, COUNTED, PASSED AND REGISTERED”.
    SIGNED A ROSEN, SECRETARY.
     I HAVE THE COMPLETE MINUTES OF THESE 2 MEETINGS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM.
     I FORGOT THE SUBJECT OF MY BAR MITZVAH DVAR TORAH, BUT DEFINITELY RECALL THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO DODGE ANY CANDY SNACKS, USUALLY FIRED AT TODAY’S BAR MITZVA BOYS. IN THE 30’S, CANDY, IF AVAILABLE, WAS ONLY EATEN, NEVER THROWN.  THE FOLLOWING CUSTOM WAS FOLLOWED BY ALL BAR MITZVAS AT TALMUD TORAH.IMEADIATELY FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE HAFTORAH: THE “NEW MAN” WOULD WALK  BACK TO THE REAR OF THE SYNAGOGUE, THROUGH THE  LOBBY, PROCEED UP THE STAIRS TO THE WOMEN’S SECTION, LOCATED IN THE SHUL BALCONY, LOCATE AND KISS HIS MOTHER, AND THEN REJOIN THE MEN’S SECTION.
        ALL THE BAR MITZVAS WORE THE PLAIN SQUARE YARMALKE, NOW OUT OF STYLE, RATHER THANB THE PRESENT IMPRINTED KIPPA. I’M STILL RESEARCHING WHO CHANGED THE STYLE , WHEN.AND WHY..
          THE STANDARD BAR MITZVA KIDDISH MENU FEATURED HERRING AND ONIONS, KICHEL, WINE, LIQUOR AND  USUALLY TOMATO  SARDINES. FOR THE SHALA SHUDAS MEAL BETWEEN MINCHA AND MAARIV.
DURING MY YOUTH I CAN’T RECALL ATTENDING ANY GALA BAR MITZVA CELEBRATIONS, LIKE TODAY’S EVENTS, FEATURING A GOURMET MEAL FANCY DESERTS WITH DANCING, CALNDLELLIGHT SERVICES, GAMES, BALLOON TABLE SETTINGS ETC.
      THE OFFICIATING RABBI FOR  MY BAR MITZVA AT TALMUD TORAH WAS RABBI JOSHUA KLAVAN, FATHER OF OHEV SHOLOM’S RABBI EMERITUS, RABBI HILLEL KLAVAN. RABBI JOSHUA KLAVAN’S SERMONS WERE DELIVERED IN YIDDISH AND WHEN HE WALKED PAST A SEATED CONGREGANT, THAT CONGREGANT WOULD SHOW  RESPECT BY RISING UP FROM HIS BENCH.
RABBI KLAVAN CAME TO WASHINGTON FROM VERMONT TO VISIT HIS SON HARRY WHO WAS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL. HE GOT ILL AND COULD NOT RETURN HOME. WHILE ATTENDING SERVICES AT TALMUD TORAH,,HE LEARNED WITH THE CONGREGATION AND THEN WAS ASKED TO BE THEIR RABBI, BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS RABBI HORWITZ HAD PASSED AWAY. .(RABBI HORWITZ’S SON, ALEC,WAS RECOGNIZED AS A TOP SURGEON IN THE DC AREA) .
         THERE WERE TWO ITEMS ALWAYS ON THE TALMUD TORAH BEMAH, TABLE THAT HAVE VANISHED.  FIRST WAS A CONTAINER OF SNUFF (PULVERIZED TOBACCO INHALED THROUGH THE NOSTRILS.) IN YIDDISH SNUFF WAS CALLED A” SMEK TABAK.” PERHAPS SNUFF WAS POPULAR BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY NO ONE COULD LIGHT A CIGARET ON THE SABBATH..THE SECOND BEMAH ITEM NO LONGER PRESENT WAS A LEATHERY TYPE PADDLE RESTING ON A LEATHERY BASE.ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH NEW MONTH AND ON SPECIAL FESTIVALS. THE SHAMAS (SEXTON) WOULD VIGOROUSLY STRIKE THE BASE WITH THE PADDLE ,ANNOUNCNG A SPECIAL PRAYE,R “YALEH VI YOVAH”  !! OR CERTAIN ADDITIONS  ,LIKE “ MASHEV HARUACH” BEGINNING FROM THE HOLIDAY OF SMINEH AJARIS UNTIL THE FIRST DAY OF PASSOVER.
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, I CAN REMEMBER THE HISSING OF THE SHUL RADIATIORS AND IN THE SUMMER I RECALL THAT THERE WAS NO AIR CONDITIONING.           
TO REACH THE TALMUD TORAH REST ROOMS, .ONE HAD TO EXIT THE MAIN SANCTUARY THROUGH A SIDE DOOR AND PROCEED INTO AN OUTSIDE NARROW COURT YARD  THAT LED TO THE ENCLOSED BATHROOMS.(NOT OUT HOUSES) BUT INSTALLED IN THAT LOCATION  FOR SOME REASON ..
       FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW TALMUD TORAH BECAME OHEV SHOLOM, THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST AREA UNDERWENT REDEVELOPMENT IN THE 50’S,DURING WHICH TIME TALMUD TORAH  WAS DEMOLISHED. AFTER MOVING TO 14TH AND EMERSON ST NW, TALMUD TORAH  MERGED WITH OHEV SHOLOM, AT THAT TIME LOCATED AT 5TH AND EYE NW.  LATER THE COMBINED SYNAGOGUE RELOCATED TO OUR PRESENT LOCATION--16TH AND JONQUIL ST NW ,OFFICIALLY DEDICATED IN 1960.
        I CHECKED WITH SOME HISTORIANS AND AN OLD OHEV SHOLOM MEMBER PAUL SPERLING, TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN ANY OBJECTIONS VOICED TO THE DESTRUCTIONOF THE SYNAGOGUE BY ANY GROUPS. NEITHER PAUL OR THE JEWISH HISTORIANS WERE FAMILIAR WITH ANY HISTORY OF OBJECTIONS TO THE DEMOLITION OF TALMUD TORAH.  AND PAUL FELT THAT MANY SW RESIDENTS HAD MOVED AWAY. AND ACCORDING TO ONE LONG TIME HISTORIAN, “WHAT WE CONSIDER THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION MOVEMENT REALLY DIDN’T EXIST IN THE EARLY 50’S AND GOT GOING IN THE 60’S, IN PART, BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO PLACES LIKE SOUTHWEST. ST. DOMINIC CHURCH, NEAR TALMUD TORAH AT 7TH AND E ST SW, WAS PRESERVED BECAUSE IT DREW FROM A MUCH LARGER AREA THAN SW.  ONE  FORMER TALMUD TORAH MEMBER,  IN A BOOK, ‘THE JEWS OF WASHINGTON,D.C,”.EDITED BY DAVID ALTSHULER, IS QUOTED AS SAYING ‘THE SW JEWS HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SHUL. IT WAS THE HUB OF ACTIVITES,THEIR CENTER AND THEIR COUNTRY CLUB.  HERE IS A PHOTO OF OSTT BEFORE AND AFTER ITS DESTRUCTION, THAT CAN ALSO BE SEEN IN THE MEMORABILIA ROOM. HERE IS A RECENT PHOTO I TOOK OF THE APPROXIMATE SPOT WHERE TALMUD TORAH WAS ONCE LOCATED, AT 467 E STREET SW.
       LAST AUGUST WHEN I CHANTED MY BAR MITZ VA HAFTORAH, THE  ATTENDANCE WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN TODAY.  THE KIDDISH WAS HELD IN THE SISTERHOOD ROOM,.AND VERY SELDOM, DID WE EVER DESCEND THE STAIRS FOR A KIDDISH IN  OUR PRESENT RECEPTION HALL.
 BUT THANKS TO THE EXCELLENT EFFORTS, PROMOTIONAL IDEAS AND INTERESTING UNIQUE PROGRAMS, INSPIRED AND DIRECTED BY OUR NEW SPIRTUAL LEADER, RABBI SHMUEL HERZFELD, OHEM SHOLOM IS ALIVE AND WELL. MANY NEW FAMILIES HAVE JOINED OUR SHUL,AND OUR SYNAGOGUE IS STILL GROWING (WITH  A NEW ROOF AND AN ASSISTANT RABBI ON THE WAY).
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS JOINED ME IN CELEBRATING MY BAR MITZVA ANNIVERSARY. A SPECIAL WELCOME TO MY GRANDSON  DANIEL,WHO FLEW IN FROM PORTLAND OREGON TO BE PRESENT AT HIS ZADE’S BAR MITZVA ANNIVERSARY, MY SON STEVE, AND ALL FORMER SW RESIDENTS.,AND LONG TIME FRIENDS.  WITH GOD’S HELP, LET’S GET TOGETHER NEXT YEAR, SAME PLACE ON SHABBAS  NACHAMU!