Bar Mitzvah on Masada

I'm Kirill and I had my Shorashim Taglit Bar Mitzvah on the summit of Masada. Coming to Israel for the first time was a very spiritual connection. I made a personalized speech that outlined all the reflections and revelations I had about my own Jewish identity during the trip. I told everyone about my family's life in the Soviet Union, the oppression and persecution the Jews faced , and the hard life of all Russians. I talked about the life-changing transition of moving to the United States, assimilating into American culture, and creating a new home in a new country with a different language. I connected the day I was born (18th of Adar 1, 5749) with the construction of the golden cow by the Jews after they lost faith when waiting for Moses to come down Mount Sinai. The night I was born was right in between this moment and the day Moses came down with the 10 commandments from God, In a way, this symbolized my own social and community-based reasons for getting more involved with the Jewish community near my home in the U.S. but not having true faith for Judaism. It wasn't until coming to Israel for the first time on this trip that i felt a true spiritual and religious connection to Israel, Judaism, and my identity as a Jew. This is why having a Bar Mitzvah on Masada, researching the origin of my birthday, and choosing a Hebrew name was so significant to me. The name I chose was "Gavriel" the archangel and messenger of light who told Sarah she was pregnant in the Old Testament and also played significant roles in Christianity and Islam as well. In the way that Gavriel transcended all eras, religions, and periods of western civilization, I feel that I'm constantly in a stage of change, traveling from one place to the next, experiencing new cultures, learning new languages, and meeting new people. As the messenger of light, I feel that it is my purpose in life to help create peace and end suffering by opening all the different nations of the world to different cultures, perspectives, innovations, and ways of life. This Bar Mitvah will be made even more meaningful as I go forth in my pursuit of learning Hebrew fluently and studying Jewish history.