Said to Myself

Emunah’s Speech that she read for her Yishama’s Bar Mitvah:

Shabbat Shalom. Yishama , I wanted to share with you a poem by Marianne Williamson:

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us;
It’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Yishama, while I might not have needed your help to feel brilliant, gorgeous, talented, or fabulous, sometimes I do feel inadequate. Like my Aba I have some challenges with reading. Seeing you play basketball or run cross country with people much bigger than you, I see that you never shrink, slow down, or play small. You always give it your all. It was amazing seeing you take down Jordan Tucker– Who was literally twice your size.

Seeing your work ethic inspires me to do the same. Be that reading or running, you are a role model of rigor and the benefits of having a regiment. Mazel Tov on becoming a Bar Mitzvah today. I am so proud of having you as my brother, what you have done, who you are, and the impact you will have on the world. Thank you for always being there to encourage me. You inspire me to be better. You give all of us permission to shine. Thank you.

I am so proud of my children.