,Xe(Mat d Collection Of Day into Evening a guide to simchahs [he Gift Of Meaning These ideas for bar and bat mitzvah presents will teach children a life lesson or two. For all Your Special Occasions. Masada Siegel/jns.org 4 on the Boardwalk 248.932.5253 Partner, Associate Broker, ABR, CRS, CDPE, SFR FREE REPORTS & TOOLS For Buyers & Sellers... • VIP Buyers Club • Free Hot New Listings • Foreclosure & Real Estate Bargains • Stop Renting and Own Your Own Home Log in Today at bethborson.com 248.535.7888 • bethborson.com Short Sale/Foreclosure Specialist Re/Max New Trend — Bloomfield Hills, MI 1821170 assic P otography ......raftoldenberg/Marty Abrin '248-350-2420 , / '\• *‹.> () T^Tik e , /\ r, ention this 2 1Z0 Discount* .1 e restrictions apply. - '4 Birthday Parties and Private Parties '4 Classes For All Ages 4' 1000's of Gorgeous Beads 4 HUGE Selection of Swarovski Crystals Appliques and Trim — Fabrics too! Jr All Kinds of Beading Accessories '4 Gemstones — Sterling — Repairs — and More 248-960-2216 1123 E. West Maple Road – Walled Lake Visit us at www.shopbeadboutique.com Mon-Fri 10am — 7pm I Saturday 10am — 5pm I Sunday - Closed **Owners also t- . at the JCC Su C48 celebrate! I very few months, we find ourselves behind the newest gadget. That's why gifts of technology are a huge hit for bat and bar mitzvah gifts. But while those gifts are useful and fun, perhaps the best gifts — especially in the spirit of the bar mitzvah — are those that are meaningful. Rabbi Kenneth Brander, the David Mitzner Dean at Yeshiva University in New York City explains, "The whole idea behind a bar and bat mitz- vah is not about a fancy party, but about using this moment as an occa- sion for parents to help their child realize that each one of us can have our own unique relationship with God." While material gifts are often fun and fabulous, there is a trend of focusing too much on the individual and not on the spirit of the event that celebrates entering into adulthood and a greater community. "Society too often focuses on the 'I'—it's the iPad, iPod, iTouch." Brander says. "Even the game Wii is spelled with two l's. A bar or bat mitzvah young person needs to realize life is about more than 'I.' There is our Jewish community and larger society, and by giving we grow and feel a sense of purpose." Here are a few ideas for meaningful gifts. They are just some of the ways you can allow your bar or bat mitzvah to engage with the depth of the experience. There are many areas of need in the world. Discuss locales across the world in which your child may have a particular interest, and then find a program where you can volunteer together as well as plan some fun activities on the side. Many programs offer the opportunity to spend time building homes or schools, while also touring the country and getting to know a new culture. Donating to an organization does not have to be a mere money event — it can be an interactive learning experience of understanding the power of giving ' '. 11111/ and its positive effects. Many organizations have A young girl in Israel celebrates her "mitzvah projects." The birthday as part of the Birthday Angels Birthday Party Project. American Friends of Magen David Adom, for example, have a program called the "Red Bag of Courage." The Red Bag is a replica of the paramedic's kit used by all MDA volunteer "first responders" when racing to the scene of a medical emergency. Participants raise $1,000 — which is the price of a fully outfitted red first responder's bag filled with emergency equipment that is used to save lives in Israel. The organization thanks the participants by sending them their own monogrammed red bag. To many young adults, a celebratory party is an important part of the occasion. A way to spread the joy is to ask for gifts for others. Birthday Angels Birthday Party Project is a nonprofit that provides underprivi- leged children in Israel with their own birthday party. Only $36 will buy the party kit necessary to celebrate the child's birthday. Director Ruthie Luttenberg explains, "A $36 donation puts a million- dollar smile on the face of a child. There are not a lot of charities that make your donations go as far as this one. Our Circle of Giving is designed to make a far-reaching difference in the lives of literally thou- sands of children at at tiny cost! Because we mass produce our party kits, recruit volunteers to give the party, we bypass the most expensive costs entailed in throwing a party." -F March 2013 • Camp Programs ❑