My Bar Mitzvah
written by: Michael Natt
I hated going to Hebrew school. It was a huge sacrifice for me to miss an afternoon of stickball with my friends in the P.S. 82 school yard and attend another class after I had just completed a full day of 5th grade.
My parents forced me to learn some Hebrew, read Bible stories and learn about the culture and traditions of my people. My parents were mean.
On January 30th 1965 I read my haftorah portion at the Hebrew Institute of University Heights. Afterwards, I dropped out of the synagogue. I only went there when my parents forced me to go with them to The High Holy Day services at Riverdale Temple, where my mother worked as a secretary.
Oh, to be 13 again!
Michael worked in business for 40 years including 28 years as a systems engineer and project manager with IBM, and in various capacities for United Health Care, Grumman, and the YMCA. Michael has also served as a congregational and teaching leader in Minnesota, Arizona and New York. He earned a B.A. from Bethel University, and an M.A. in Human Resource Development from the University of St. Thomas. Michael is the author of three books: My Life in 125 Words, God Speaks in 125 Words, and Men Speak in 125 Words. He is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). He has also completed 15 marathons and 60 half-marathons in 10 different states. He lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with his wife Cheryl. They have been married for 49 years.
Latest posts by Michael Natt (see all)
- Grandparents’ Day - July 23, 2023
- My Bar Mitzvah - June 13, 2023
- Half Marathon Man - November 13, 2022
