More Than a Party

I loved seeing the story on the b'nei mitzvah celebration we created for Logan Vitale and Danny Ostrow ("A Night of Special Effects," by Laurie Prince). I do, however, think several important points were missed.

In regards to the line in the article that compares this event to a sweet sixteen party, anyone who lives to be sixteen and wants to host a party can have one, but a bar or bat mitzvah must be worked for [Ed. note: the comparison was added during editing]. These thirteen-year-olds begin their studies for the occasion years before, in elementary school. The process culminates in an intensive year as the student learns to chant a portion of the Torah in Hebrew. On the day of the ceremony, the students must lead prayers in Hebrew and English for a congregation full of their closest family and friends. They are committing to community service and they are agreeing to step into the role of an adult member of the community. The party is merely the celebration of all the students have achieved.

The fact that these two families came together to host this party should not put them in the category of the "MTV Sweet Sixteen Party," as your story did. You correctly portrayed this party as fun, but comparing an event that honors an ancient religious tradition and celebrates two young teenagers' hard-earned rite of passage to a MTV party missed the mark on the party, its meaning, and its hosts.

Angela Gala
Rogers and Gala Creative Partners, Inc.

Corrections

The article, "Worth the Waste ," in the October issue, referred to the recycling program at times as a county and a city operation. The department and its employees work for the City of Charlotte. Also, it is indeed possible to call the city for a "special pickup" but only for trash, not recycling.

In "Bank vs. Bank," due to incorrect information provided to us, we listed the wrong number of board members from the two banks for the Arts & Science Council. There are two from Bank of America and three from Wachovia.

We regret the errors.