David Wolpe Image by sinai temple

Rabbi David Wolpe has retracted elements of his previous screed against Sam Horowitz’s lavish bar mitzvah—but has stood by its substance.

In a piece published in the Washington Post, Wolpe copped to penning his previous piece in a “white heat,” the type of anger that might cause a well-respected rabbi to “appear to insult a child and those who love him.” He also acknowledged that his initial scathing piece might seem a bit incongruous for the Rabbi of Sinai Temple, a Los Angeles congregation, whose reputation is not necessarily synonymous with financial restraint.

David Wolpe Image by sinai temple

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

But Wolpe remains convinced that “pricey and lewd” bar and bat mitzvah parties indicate that “something is broken in our Jewish souls.”

Wolpe’s objection to these parties seems to be simultaneously aesthetic and moral. On the one hand, he objects to the “vulgarity” of the Horowitzesque displays, and says they make American Jews look like insecure “arrivistes.” On the other, they display a lack of awareness of Jewish values, which dictate that there are things more desirable than wealth, and that community should be placed above narcissistic displays.

Wolpe concludes with a call to “modesty, humility and gratitude” in light of the upcoming High Holidays. Given the protracted bar mitzvah scandal, we can safely assume that all services at Sinai Temple will be showgirl-free.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount