The High-Tech Bar Mitzvah Gift
from Bubbe's Porch


20 June 1999
I just got back from Zachary Paul-Brock's bar mitzvah. I've known
him since he was 2 days old. Did I kvell! Such wisdom comes out of
his mouth. And poise. Oy, was he poised.


So, his mother tells me he wants RAM for his computer as a gift.
I'm thinking I want to get him something that will last a little
longer, maybe have a little more personal meaning.

Keeping somewhat with the ram theme, I decide to get him a shofar.


A friend of mine says, "a shofar, what will a 13 year-old do with
that? That's not a good gift. Get him a fountain pen, or an id
bracelet."


So what do you think happens? I tell him, "I got you the ram you
asked for, only it's not made out of silicon chips." Wise yes.
But still a little gullible. So, he's looking at this big box I
hand him, shaking it, no noise, "what kind of ram could this be?"
he asks as his voice cracks on the "be."


But before I can continue my joke, he shreds the wrapping paper,
rips open the box, and puts the shofar to his lips. First time,
he just blows spit all over the place. Next, he takes a big
breath, and lets out a deep, long, resonant shofar blast that
probably woke the neighbors or the dead or somebody.


He puts the shofar up to his nose and takes a big whiff and then
gags. "Now, I get it. The shofar is made from a ram's horn. That
is sooooo cool. I'm gonna hand this to my dad and ask him to
install my new ram in my computer"


You can trust Bubbe. She knows from gifts.