LIFECYCLES
LIFECYCLES from page 51
Being the parent of a bar or bat
mitzvah is a time for ceremony and
sheppiug //aches (gleaning great joy). It
is also prime time for shepping per-
spective. By the time a child's 13th
year rolls around, parents may be
thinking of selling rather than taking
stock, but it is impossible to look
back across the miles of diapers,
homework assignments and field
trips and not feel that one has arrived.
From this vantage point of 13
years, parents begin to put those
early years into some kind of order.
Children still need their parents,
they simply need them differently.
B'nai mitzvah heralds a time of
growth for adolescents and for their
parents as well.
The family is on the threshold of
a new stage — letting go while hold-
ing on just enough. It was much less
tricky steadying a two-wheeler. But
one learns in time to steady an ado-
lescent. One also learns to steady
one's self. And, with perspective,
one remembers that as teething
passed, as the terrible two's passed,
so, too, will the trials of adolescence.
Bringing a child to the chuppah,
wedding canopy, fulfills the pledge
parents made to their community
during their infant's bris or simchat
bat. It is a time of major looking
hack. One's job is truly done. If fate
smiles, there will be grandchildren
and the cycle of simchas begins to
turn once again.
Inevitably, one faces the final
turning of the wheel. I cannot imag-
ine what it feels like to look back
Over an entire life. I am cautious
enough to spit three times —
ppp...ppp...ppp... — and hope that I
will have an entire life to look back
upon, that I will eventually be
blessed to receive what I prayed for
so fervently nearly two decades ago
— perspective.
Debra B. Darvick, a Birmingham free-
lancer, is the author of "This Jewish Life:
Stories of Discovery, Connection and
Joy." Her Web site is: debradarvick.com
5 2
• SO1T RCI BOOK
2003 - 2004
BIRTHS from page 51
Brodsky, Felix Irving 9/20/2002
Brooks, Natalie Estelle 8/13/2002
Brown, Jason Reese 7/12/2002
Brown, Camryn Elixis 12/23/2002
Brown, Justin Lev 6/8/2003
Bryans, Amelia Alexandra 11/22/2002
Byck, Noah Daniel 10/22/2002
Bylinowski, Jacob Logan 12/29/2002
Carlson, Joshua Frederick 6/4/2003
Carrick, Ava Rose 3/31/2003
Carson, Sabrina Anne 7/9/2003
Char, Darin Jacob 6/20/2003
Chimovitz, Yael Chaya and
Shayna Malcha 7/21/2002
Citron, Annie Fran 1/30/2003
Coden, Megan Lynne 10/16/2002
Cohen, Shelby Brooke 9/14/2002
Cohen, Andrew Eli 11/29/2002
Cohen, Talya Faith 12/16/2002
Cohen, Allison Brooke 1/27/2003
Cohon, Shayna Ariel 2/24/2003
Contorer, Maya Bryn 1/5/2003
Cooke, Justin Michael 11/28/2002
Cooper, Elisha Leora 9/9/2002
Cooper, Lindsey Samantha 12/12/2002
Cooper, Ian Corey 3/3/2003
Copley, Jack Logan 4/24/2003
Crisp, Nolan Paul 6/26/2003
Davids, Jonas Julius 1/20/2003
Dembs, Dylan Charlie 12/20/2002
Demeter, Ryan Maxwell 9/14/2002
Doctoroff, Matthew Martin 5/9/2003
Dolinka, Thomas Steven 9/26/2002
Dorfman, Hayden Pierce 7/1/2002
Dubrinsky, Madeleine Isabel 7/13/2003
Dwoskin, Jacob William 2/13/2003
Eaton, Noah Benjamin 5/19/2003
Edelman, Jonah Leo 10/5/2002
Efros, Joshua Brett 6/8/2003
Eisenberg, Maggie Erin 2/25/2003
Eisman, Evan Hayden 8/12/2002
Eizen, Sophie Rose 12/14/2002
Elias, Marlee Hannah 7/9/2002
Ellenbogen, Jacob Kramer 9/29/2002
Engelman, Levi Asher 3/24/2003
Erlich, Molly 11/5/2002
Ersher, Dean Edward 8/3/2002
Ettinger, Sevillana Del 9/4/2002
Feigelson, Liana Betty 5/13/2003
Fenton, Mitchell Alec 10/11/2002
Figueroa, Marcos S. 11/18/2002
Finn, Shay Bria 12/8/2002
Fisher, Ethan Gabriel 10/16/2002
Fogelman, Tehila Yona 11/7/2002
Foltyn, Abby Goldin and
Lilly Goldin 12/19/2002
Forman, Zachary Harrison 8/21/2002
Fox, Jenna Michelle 1/2/2003
Frances, Miriam Avigayil 11/11/2002
Frank, David Harris 12/3/2002
Fredson, Yael 12/31/2002
Freedman, Julia Ellyse 4/15/2003
Fried, Avrohom Yaakov 12/14/2002
Frommer, Jenna Rose 7/3/2002
Gabriel, Jenna Elise 5/23/2003
Gamily, Benjamin Ezra 5/18/2003
Gaydos, Owen Bentley 4/15/2003
Geesin, Adam Joseph 4/27/2003
Geller, Arieh David 12/25/2003
Gerbs, Ethan Jacob 6/28/2003
Gesund, Riley Elizabeth 4/5/2003
Gitler, Jordyn Hope 11/6/2002
Glassner, Joseph Ryan and
Pierce Michael 12/27/2002
Gold, Bradly Hy 5/20/2003
Gold, Avery Elizabeth 7/19/2003
Goldberg, Sloane Elisabeth 5/12/2003
Goldman, Sarah Beth 10/14/2002
Goldman, Rikki Fay 10/15/2002
Goldman, Benjamin Merrick 5/3/2003
Goldschmidt, Emma Mary 10/23/2002
Goldsmith, Lucy Madeline 3/6/2003
Goldsmith, Bella Raquel 5/19/2003
Goldstein, Miles Barit 7/18/2002
Goldstein, Max Rautbort 7/5/2003
Goodman, Ryan Michael 12/29/2002
Gordon, Jessica Brooke 10/25/2002
Gordon, Bryce Lynn 1/14/2003
Gould, Isaac Jerome 4/5/2003
Green, Samantha Ellie 12/9/2002
Green, Allison Fanya 2/18/2003
Green, Noa Abigail 11/17/2003
Green, Samuel Maxmillian 7/2/2003
Greenbaum, Noah Lev 11/23/2002
Greenberg, Gracie Bryn 3/6/2003
Greenstein, Maya Ani 5/15/2003
Gretzinger, Amanda June 10/11/2002
Grimes, Lindsey Joelle 2/26/2003
HalfenSchiff, Max Willy Paul 4/25/2003
Hantgan, Sara Lindsey 12/18/2002
Harden, Joseph Elijah 4/9/2003
Harris, Jackson Elliot 3/21/2003
Hart, Sophie Gayle 11/19/2002
Herold, Kayla Nicole 10/22/2002
Hersh, Ari Samuel 6/21/2003
Hicks, Jonah Robert 4/8/2003
Hirsch, Elena Kay 9/18/2002
Hitsky, Evan Zane 12/22/2003
Hoskow, Aidan Jakob, Shayne Taylor
12/21/2002
Hubert, Molly Sarah 5/11/2003
Huizenga, Audrey Jane 8/7/2002
Hurshe, Allison Julia 8/26/2002
Hurwitz, Eli Benjamin 7/17/2002
Hyman, Hannah Lillian 3/14/2003
lngber, Andrew Tyler 1/20/2003
Isaacs, Gabriel Shlomo 2/18/2003
Israel, Micah David Frank 3/23/2003
Isser, Daniel Andrew 1/13/2003
Jacobson, Isabel Anne 1/16/2003
Jaisinghani, Noah Adam 3/20/2003
Jaron, Samuela Raizel 1/12/2003
Jennings, Marki Paige and
Madison Olivia 11/7/2002
Joseph, Ezra Solomon 11/29/2002
Joyrich, Ava She'era Hamilton 6/10/2003
Kaftan, Amelia Josephine 6/27/2003
Kahn, Alexandra Madison 4/20/2003
Kales, Andrew Reed 3/19/2003
Kantor, Alexis Whitney 4/11/2003
Kapen, Rome Yosef 7/23/2002
Kaplan, Samantha Ryan 9/24/2002
Kaskel, Albert Gordon 10/14/2002
Katkowsky, Emma Jane 12/22/2002
Katz, Joseph Samuel 11/4/2002
Katz, Lillian Sophia 1/5/2003
Katzen, Brett Reid 6/23/2003
Kaye, Elijah Alexander 7/14/2002
For complete listings go to www.detroitjewishnews.com/lifecycles