The bar mitzvah with atmosphere

A wealthy businessman wanted the most lavish, unique, memorable bar mitzvah for his son that money could buy. He'd already been to the Cohen's safari bar mitzvah and realized there was little in this world that hadn't already been done. So he called NASA and arranged to have the space shuttle take the rabbi, his entire family, friends and business associates to the moon. Naturally, this was an affair the press wanted to cover. Reporters were rabidly waiting at the landing site for firsthand accounts from attendees. The first person off the shuttle was the grandmother.
"How was the service?" one reporter asked.
Grandma answered, "OK."
Another reported wanted to know, "How was the bar mitzvah boy's speech?"
"OK."
Someone else asked, "How was the food?"
"OK."
Finally, a reporter says, "Everything was just OK? You don't seem very impressed. Was there a problem?"
Grandma shrugs her shoulders and says, "Personally, I didn't like the atmosphere."
http://www.jewishmag.com/96mag/humor/humor.htm

My husband attended a bar mitzvah dinner last night. The dinner was held at the bar mitzvah boy's home. Twelve men were present, including the boy's father, grandfathers, two rabbis and a few family friends.

My husband left the house and returned two hours later, sated from a heimische meal replete with divrei torah and good company.

And do you know what? Even without a lavish bar mitzvah for hundreds of guests and even without receiving four Ipods and three sets of machzorim, the boy is still bar mitzvah. And he is entitled to put on tefilin for the rest of his life and fulfill all the mitzvot incumbent upon him upon reaching the age of thirteen.

I received an invitation through email to attend the davening to be followed by a kiddush this coming Shabbos. This Saturday, I will, G-d willing, be present when the boy is called up for an aliyah to the Torah. And afterwards, I will wish a hearty mazal tov to his mother along with a yasher koach for being a trend setter. I hope others will follow suit, especially in such financially challenging times.