LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A 93-year-old Las Vegas man celebrated a special milestone in the Jewish faith with his very own Bar Mitzvah.
Dr. Larry Rothstein turned 93 on April 4 and held his Bar Mitzvah during Saturday’s Shabbat Morning Service at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson. His five children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were there to celebrate the occasion.
A Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish rite of passage of growth and maturity, held when a boy turns 13 years old; girls, alternatively, celebrate a Bat Mitzvah.
“If you get this far, certainly celebrate. You’ve got to be grateful to God to be able to do it, to be still alive and able to do all these things that you have to, for the celebration,” Rothstein said.
Rothstein’s celebration is unique: it’s his second Bar Mitzvah, eligible to those who reach the age of 83; 70 years after a man’s first Bar Mitzvah, a person has a new start or “second life,” a reference to Psalm 90 in the Torah.
Just like he did at 13 years old, Rothstein must once again rehearse all readings and ceremonial steps with the congregation’s Cantor. “It’s not easy,” Rothstein said, during a rehearsal. “There’s a chance of stage fright,” he said.
“In ancient times, if a person lived to 70 years old, they lived a full life,” said Cantor Jessica Hutchings. “I believe, at a certain point in our life, every year, every day is a milestone. To be able to read from the Torah and still have the ability to read from the Torah at this age, and the ability to celebrate it is quite special,” Hutchings said.
Rothstein’s first Bar Mitzvah was held 80 years ago in St. Paul, Minnesota. He married his sweetheart, Lilly Ann, at the age of 19; the two were married for 64 years before she passed in 2016.
The couple volunteered for decades together, leading Jewish holiday services on more than 50 cruise ship excursions (his wife would serve as Cantor and he would act as Rabbi), and at the North Las Vegas retirement community Sun City Aliante.
“There are two words that come to mind: gratitude and honor. I’m very grateful to be able to be here at this age, to be able to do what I’m doing. I’m going to honor those in the family that are no longer with us,” Rothstein said.
Rothstein said his “Bar Mitzvah Project” will be to continue his volunteer work in the Jewish faith and heritage.
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