| In the 1960s-80s, it was common for a | | | | mitzvah party. Look Now |
| bar mitzvah / bat mitzvah to "twin" with | | | | Twinning with a Rescuer - This program |
| a Jewish child in the Soviet Union who, | | | | of the Jewish Foundation for the |
| because of religious oppression, was not | | | | Righteous allows a child to help the |
| able to become bar mitzvah at his own | | | | Jewish community repay a collective debt |
| service. Today, the distress of Jews in | | | | of gratitude. The child selects a |
| Russia is somewhat eased, but many | | | | particular rescuer to be twinned with |
| children there still don't have the | | | | and makes a donation to the JFR. The |
| benefit of religious education. There | | | | suggested minimum gift is $180. The bar |
| are now also new opportunities to twin | | | | mitzvah / bat mitzvah receives a |
| with children in Israel, including | | | | Twinning Certificate and a presentation |
| recent Ethiopian emigrants, or with a | | | | can be made from the bimah if your rabbi |
| Righteous Gentile who helped to rescue | | | | approves. Look Now |
| Jews during the Holocaust. There are | | | | Holocaust Twinning - There is no |
| even a few programs of "Holocaust | | | | national program I'm aware of that is |
| Twinning" where the student shares his | | | | available to all, but you could easily |
| experience with the memory of a child | | | | do this yourself. Visit the website of |
| who perished in the Holocaust before | | | | the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles |
| reaching the bar mitzvah milestone. Here | | | | for biographies of children lost in the |
| are the details: | | | | Holocaust (Look Now); choose the child |
| Twinning with an Israeli AMIT Child - | | | | whose story most touches you. Tell his |
| For $250, your child can be twinned with | | | | her story at your child's service, make |
| a less fortunate Israeli child in an | | | | a donation in the child's memory to an |
| AMIT school. Your gift pays for an Oneg | | | | appropriate charity, and pledge that you |
| Shabbat for the Israeli bar mitzvah / | | | | will hold that child's memory in your |
| bat mitzvah; your child will receive a | | | | heart. |
| bronze State of Israel Medal and a | | | | A particularly good charity for |
| personalized certificate. Twins are | | | | Holocaust Twinning would be The Blue |
| encouraged to become pen pals. Look Now | | | | Card, the only agency in the United |
| Twinning with an Israeli Child through | | | | States that provides cash to needy |
| Emunah of America. This organization | | | | Holocaust survivors and, when necessary, |
| provides a broad range of social | | | | to their psychologically affected |
| services in Israel including housing, | | | | children. It was founded over 60 years |
| care and education of neglected and | | | | ago by a group of compassionate people, |
| abused children and settlement of | | | | themselves recent refugees from Nazi |
| immigrant families. They sell "Simcha | | | | tyranny. This financial aid is rendered |
| Share" certificates in multiples of $36; | | | | by check directly to the needy with a |
| a contribution of $360 or more earns a | | | | minimum of bureaucratic red tape. The |
| medallion in addition to certificate | | | | Blue Card is a nation-wide organization |
| recognizing the donation. Look Now | | | | that fills a need unmet by other |
| Twinning with a Russian Child - The Bay | | | | agencies and public programs. Visit |
| Area Council for Jewish Rescue and | | | | their website at |
| Renewal will match you with a child in | | | | Another good charity would be the Claims |
| the former Soviet Union. The twins get | | | | Conference - Conference on Jewish |
| to share experiences and learn from each | | | | Material Claims Against Germany. Their |
| other. When it is time to become a bar | | | | mission over their "50-year history has |
| mitzvah / bat mitzvah, the American | | | | always been to secure what we consider a |
| spiritually includes his/her twin in the | | | | small measure of justice for Jewish |
| ceremony. | | | | victims of Nazi persecution. We have |
| Twinning with an Ethiopian Child - The | | | | pursued this goal through a combination |
| North American Conference on Ethiopian | | | | of negotiations, disbursing funds to |
| Jewry (NACOEJ) matches children | | | | individuals and organizations, and |
| worldwide with Ethiopian Jewish children | | | | seeking the return of Jewish property |
| living in Israel. In addition to the | | | | lost during the Holocaust." |
| personal benefits of the friendships | | | | For more information on Holocaust |
| that often develop between twins, your | | | | Twinning from an organization running a |
| financial gift helps to improve quality | | | | local project in the Washington, D.C. |
| of life for all the Ethiopian Jewish | | | | area, contact Sam Spiegel, coordinator |
| children in the community. The council | | | | of the "Remember-a-Child Project", at |
| also offers handmade crafts and gifts | | | | (301) 881-2454. |
| that can be purchased for the bar | | | | |