Lawrence Baron List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings by Lawrence Baron
2002— Lawrence Baron "Rebels with an Aryan
Cause:
2003—Lawrence Baron, "From Minyan to Matriculation: San Diego Jewry and Jewish Studies at
San Diego State University, or "Funny You
Don't Look Aztec," California Jews, Editors Ava F. Kahn
and Marc Dollinger, Hanover, N.H. (Brandeis University Press, 2003), 135-142.
2003—Lawrence Baron, "The Holocaust and American Public Memory, 1945-1960," Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 17:1 (Spring 2003), pp. 62-88; reproduced on Public Muse, http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/holocaust_and_genocide_studies/v017/17.1baron.pdf
2005—Bonnie and Laurie Baron, invitation for Nov. 12,
2005: In the tradition of our ancestors, and with pride and love, we
invite you to worship with us as our Son, Ari Isaac, is called to the Torah as a
Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, the twelfth of November, Two Thousand five at ten-thirty
in the morning, Temple Emanu-El, 62999 Capri Drive, San Diego, California—Bonnie
and Laurie Baron.
November 12, 2005—Bonnie and Laurie Baron, "A Shabbat Service in
which Ari Isaac Baron, will become a Bar Mitzvah," printed program and
explanation distributed at Temple Emanu-El, San Diego, California: Torah
Portion: Lekh L'Kha, Genesis 17:1-14. Haftarah Portion: Isaiah
41:1-10. Temple Emanu-El, 6299 Capri Drive, San Diego, California, Rabbi
Martin S. Lawson, Cantorial Soloist Myrna Cohen. Dear Congregants, Family
and Friends, Welcome to Temple Emanu-El! We are so thankful that each of you are
here today. We know that many of you have traveled a distance to help us
celebrate this simcha (joyful occasion) as our beloved son, Ari Isaac,
takes on the commitment of becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Today, Ari will read from the
Torah for the first time before his community and will subsequently step from
his Jewish childhood to the beginnings of Jewish maturity. It is at this moment
when he will establish his independent connection to God, the Torah and the
Jewish People. To prepare for this day, Ari has been studying Jewish
values, history, laws and customs (Judaica). He has committed himself to
practicing tzedakah ("What is just or right" and is generally
used to mean giving charity), the gemilut hasidim (acts of loving
kindness). To prepare for his reading of the Torah, Ari has been studying since
the age of 9. This day does not represent the culmination of Ari's Jewish
education, but rather a milestone in a lifelong commitment to learning and
observance. We are aware that this may be your first experience to this Temple
or perhaps in any Temple. This brief guide has been prepared in the hope that it
will make Ari's Bar Mitzvah ceremony more meaningful to you. It is yours
to keep as a remembrance of this day. When you entered Temple Emanu-El this
morning, you were welcomed with the greeting "Shabbat Shalom" which
means both Sabbath Welcome and Sabbath Peace. The Sabbath is a time of rest,
reflection, a time to refocus ourselves spiritually and to distance ourselves
from the week gone by. We hope you find peace in our prayer and joy in our
music. SHABBAT LITURGY—The service begins with songs and prayers, which
help to set the mood for our worship. This section of the service concludes with
the Reader's Kaddish, which is a special prayer in praise of God. The
next part of the service begins with the Barkhu, a call to prayer. Our
Cantorial Soloist, Myrna Cohen, will begin this prayer to call the Congregation
to worship. The prayers which follow recall God's role as Creator and Ethical
Guide. The Shema, sometimes called the "watchword" of Judaism,
states the unity and the uniqueness of God. You may see some people cover or
close their eyes as they recite this prayer. Some Jews feel it helps them to
concentrate as they connect with God. The Shema is the most central
prayer of Judaism and the declaration of our faith. This prayer is repeated at
several points in the service. Translated it means, "Hear O Israel, the
Eternal our God, the Eternal is One." The word Adonai, which you
will hear throughout the service, means Eternal One. The next prayer is
the Veahavta which speaks of our love of God, our duty to teach our
heritage to our children and our obligation to perform righteous deeds. The
prayers which follow speak of God as the source of Redemption. We act in
partnership with God for tikkun olam, the repair of the world. This
service continues with the Amidah (standing prayer), which reminds us of
the antiquity of our religious heritage, the sanctity of God, the special nature
of the Sabbath and our gratitude for all our blessings. This section of the
service concludes with a few moments of silent prayer, meditation and a prayer
for peace. THE TORAH SERVICE—When the Torah is initially taken from the
Ark, there will be a "passing down" ceremony which symbolizes the
passing of Jewish traditions and laws from generation to generation. Today, the
Torah will be passed down from Ari's grandmother, Gertrude Rubin, to his parents
Bonnie and Laurie Baron and then into Ari's arms. {DHH note: unfortunately
Grandma Rubin was ill and unable to participate in person}. We then
turn to the Torah service which is the central part of our worship. The
Torah, or "teaching" consists of the first five books of the Bible:
genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It is considered the
foundation of Judaism which embodies the history, teachings and doctrines of
Judaism. The Torah is often referred to as the "Tree of Life" because
of its importance to us. These scrolls are inscribed by hand on parchment in a
manner carried down through the centuries. They are the holiest writings in
Judaism and their handling is a reverent ritual. The scroll is removed from the
Ark and carried through the congregation. This act demonstrates that God's
teachings are accessible to all people and not the special property of one
group. It is customary not to turn your back on the Torah but to turn and face
the scroll as it is carried through the Sanctuary. Traditionally Jews standing
near it touch the Torah with the Tallit or their prayer book as a mark of
reverence. The Torah is divided into fifty-four parts each called a parashah.
A portion of one parashah is read each Sabbath. During the course of a
year, the entire Torah is read or chanted by the Rabbi, a congregant or a young
person becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The Torah portion that Ari will read today
is Parasha Lekh L'Kha, Gen. 17:1-14. During the Torah reading, adult Jews
are given the honor of being called up for an aliyah, that is "going
up" to the Torah lectern to chant the blessings before and after reading a
number of Torah verses. Following the reading of the Torah, Ari will read a
portion of the Haftarah, a selection from the prophetic writings in the
Bible, which is linked by content with the weekly Torah portion. The Torah
service concludes when the Torah is returned to the Ark. CONCLUSION OF THE
SERVICE — The service concludes with the Aleinu (adoration) and the
Mourner's Kaddish when we praise God for life as we remember loved ones
who have died. The service ends with a song and a few words of blessing. After
the service, we all join in blessings over wine and Challah (braided egg
bread). These acts give thanks to God for our many blessings and are a symbol of
our strong sense of community. ABOUT THE SANCTUARY— At the entrance of
the Sanctuary is a stand containing Kippot pronounced Kee-pot, sometimes
called yarmulkes. Traditionally this head covering is worn by men
and women during the service as a sign of reverence to God. Feel free to wear a kippah
if you would like to do so. You may also notice that the Rabbi, Ari and others
are wearing traditional prayer shawls. This fringed garment is called a tallit
pronounced ta-leet. The tallit has four corners that are adorned with
special fringes called tzitzit. The tzitzit remind us of the 613 commandments of
God which Jews are to live by. The four corners of the tallit represent
the four corners of the earth. The Eternal Light, the Ner Tamid, is above
the Ark and is always lit, according to Biblical command (Exodus 27:20-21 and
Leviticus 23:2-3). It is a symbol of the radiance of faith and the nearness of
God. The raised platform at the front of the Sanctuary is called the bimah.
The Torah is read from here during the service. The Holy Ark houses the Torah
Scrolls when they are not in use. It is generally located on the eastern wall,
so that by facing it, you are facing toward Jerusalem. The stained glass
window in our sanctuary represents Jacob's ladder and the messengers of God
going from earth to heaven and from heaven to earth. Your presence has made this
Jewish passage for Ari and our family very special. Thank you again for spending
this day with us—Bonnie and Laurie. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SHABBAT
SERVICE—Opening of the Ark: Carol Pierce and Amy Hyler-Essig (Friends); First Aliyah—Karen
Eisman and Aviva Brin (Congregant and Teacher). Second Aliyah—Barbara
and Carl Gold, Michelle and Stephen Grybowski and Ann Mortimore and Lisa Garcia
(Godparents, Friends and Havurah Friends). Third Aliyah—Jimmy and Lisa
Baron, Gerald Hoffman, Robert Hoffman and David Rubin (Cousins); Fourth Aliyah—Bonnie
and Howard Weisman and Gail and Arnie Baron (Aunts and Uncles); Fifth Aliyah—Bridget
and Michael Rubin (Aunt and Uncle); Sixth Aliyah—Bonnie and Laurie
Baron (Parents); Seventh Aliyah—Ari Isaac Baron (Bar Mitzvah). Hagbah—Shane
Saenz (Havurah Friend); Torah Dressers—David Walters and Max Hegler.
Ushers—Shelley Walters and Roz Hegler (friends) Wine/ Grape Juice
Servers—Shannon Downey and Mary Silvio (cousins); Leah Rosenthal and Roni
Breite (Havurah Friend and Friend).
-2006-
Spring 2006—Lawrence
Baron, editor, Lipinsky Institute for Community Jewish Studies, newsletter.