My SpeCiAl Frie\d

A Lesson For Life

Thank you to all those who sent in an essay for the
'My Special Friend" contest, in which we invited
young readers to tell us about what they learned from
a special-needs friend.

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

The winner of the contest
is Tamar Meer of West
Bloomfield, a 10th-grader
at the Sally Allen Alexan-
der Beth Jacob School for
Girls. Tamar, a volunteer
with the Daniel Sobel
Friendship Circle, wins
$100 and will read her
winning essay, "A Lesson
For Life," at the Friendship
Circle's dinner next week.
Congratulations, Tamar!

By Tamar Meer

271 WEST MAPLE
DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM
248.258.0212

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DIMWIT
JEW= NEWS

5 /21
1999

eTN

78 Detroit Jewish News

,prepared
a lam-packed
I
schedule for the next
hour to spend with my
special friend, \adine. I
hoped she was alert and
ready for the fun she was in for.
Every detail of our time together was planned to
the minute. First, we would talk, then play two
games, sing our favorite Jewish songs and read a
book. I was excited. The hour would oe perfect ... or

so I thought.
The aide brought Nadine back into our room,
where we would spend our time for the next hour.
Nadine sat back comfortably on the couch next to

me.
After two big hugs, some "how are yous" and
small talk, I proceeded to remove the first game from

my bag.
I opened up the board of the game and took out
three pennies. I knew how much Nadine loves pen-
nies, so I figured she would be thrilled to play a

game with pennies.

As soon as Nadine caught sight of the pennies she
reached out, and before I could say or do anything,
she had those pennies in her hands.
When Nadine has something in her hands, you
must know, it is not the sim-
plest thing to release them.
So I decided to explain the
game before attempting to
get the pennies.
"Look, Nadine," I said.
"You will roll the pennies
like dice! It's so much fun!"
She looked up and shook
her head slowly from one
side to the other.
I gently asked her to give
me the pennies.
She refused with a small,
o.
I tried prying her hands
open with mine, but to no
avail. She was adamant.
Suddenly, she held her
clutched hands up high
and, swaying back and
forth, she said loudly,
"Tamar! I beg of you! Let
me give them to tzedaka!'"
I was shocked! Every
i week I bring pennies for tzedaka, and we sing songs

about it and talk about the mitzvah of giving to the
poor. This week, - I was so preoccupied with planning
a perfect schedule that I had forgotten the most

important part.
How could I refuse such a request? I let Nadine
give the pennies to tzedaka and let the game pass.
"So much for the perfect hour," I thought.
But then I realized that the lesson Nadine taught
me was more valuable. She taught me that some-
times we may get so caught up in details and small
things that we forget the big things and concentrate

on what is the least important.
I continuously learn lessons from Nadine, and I
hope that by sharing this story everyone will learn

something, too. ❑