Raphael Spencer’s Bar Mitzvah

Hi my name is Raphael. I am in the 8th grade at The Live Oak School, and am waiting to hear where I will be attending high school next year. I have a big, dynamic family here in San Francisco, and my mom, aunts and uncles all got Bnai mitzvah’d here at CBS when they were young. 

I am very excited to be called to the bimah for my bar mitzvah on 1/20/24. I have a very large family to celebrate this day with. 

I am proud to be the second oldest grandchild in my family. I have an older brother Josiah and six younger cousins who are participating in my bar mitzvah.

My Zady Harris helped me prepare for my bar mitzvah by taking me to Shul every Saturday morning this past year, and teaching me about our Jewish religion. My Baba Diane helped me develop my multicultural Jewish identity by providing the Be’chol Lashon community to me & other multicultural Jews. My nana Dana and nana Adele have helped me understand how to be a member of our larger Jewish community through service and participation. My aunties and uncles have taught me how to be a loving member of a big, diverse Jewish family. My cousins have taught me how to be patient and fun. My brother teaches me how to be a good brother & friend. My parents have supported me unconditionally and have taught me how to be honest, brave and proud of who I am. 

I am a proud Jewish, Afro Caribbean SF native. I love music, nature, a good joke, my friends, biking, my two dogs, and adventures with my family. 

Thank you Beth sholom for creating such a safe and loving space for me to get comfortable in Shul. Thank you Marilyn Heiss for helping me learn Hebrew, troupe and sharing your love of Judaism and Torah with me. Thank you Rabbi Russell for helping me explore my Torah portion, and holding a space for all of us to come together as a community.