Poised boy-cantor upstages tense bar mitzvah celebrant

On approaching my 13th birthday, I went to classes to learn my haftorah. This was at the Talmud Torah Aterith Israel down the street on Fountain Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn. I enjoyed reading and writing Hebrew, which I can still do to this day.

But the day of my bar mitzvah in July 1932 was a traumatic one. A famous boy-cantor from Palestine -- then under British rule -- was on his American tour and, as luck would have it, our local shul was on his itinerary. And today, on my big day, he was scheduled to lead the prayers!

I looked up and saw this fat kid, about 10 years old, with olive skin and an aquiline nose, a miniature cartoon of the Middle East Semite. I had peach fuzz on my cheeks, but Moshe something-or-other was already sprouting a little dark mustache.

When he opened his mouth, out came a beautiful soprano voice with an amazing lyrical interpretation of the Torah. Then I stepped forward to sing my portion. My pathetic voice broke twice, not only due to teenage cracking, but mainly because of my nervousness.

The day was completely marred. Not even the two $5 gold pieces and the six fountain pens could make up for it. Thanks a lot, Moshe, wherever you are.