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