A bar mitzvah dad called me before his son’s celebration asking my advice for how to make his son’s party more special.  Since he was already planning to show a video montage of his son on a small screen, I suggested he upgrade to our double plasma screens.  I felt that they would offer a more dramatic presentation of his video, which would enhance the viewing experience for his guests, and would add to the excitement of the party since we could play cool videos and pictures of his guests on the screens throughout the night! He felt uncomfortable about spending the extra money for this, so he consulted his rabbi to see what he thought about the situation.

“Rabbi” he said. “How in good conscious, can I rationalize spending extra money for video screens for my kids party? Am I going over the top?  Am I losing the spirituality of the moment? What will my friends think?”

The Rabbi replied, “Bob, how many times do you have the opportunity to have all the people who matter the most in your life, in one room, celebrating your son, your family, and your Judaism?   What better time is there to spend a few extra dollars? “

Bob added the plasma screens. He called me back the Monday following the party to tell me how wonderful the party was, and how much everyone loved the screens. He said that his rabbi was right.  The extra money he spent on the video screens was well worth it.

It was a night that his son, family, and his friends will never forget.