Getting and Giving a Second Chance
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
By: Chava Yelloz

Florida Bat Mitzvah Shares Gifts ~ An exclusive interview with Becky Klipin by Chava Yelloz

Someone once asked me if it was easy interviewing kids. My answer was that it’s a mixed bag depending on the child. If I was asked this question about Becky Klipin of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, my answer would be, “It was a breeze!”  But actually, I knew it would be after I read her gift insert that she placed in her Bat Mitzvah invitations. It read:
Becky’s Bat Mitzvah pic here (with parents in background) 
This note can be placed in a simple frame
Dear Family and Friends, 
In life we are often given second chances. What you do with those chances can change you forever. Sometimes you do not appreciate and deal with the first chance as you should and often times you do not have control and choices are made for you. If you are given a second chance it is important to accept them as a gift. As an adopted child I was given a gift of a wonderful loving family. This is something I value and cherish every day. In my Torah portion Ki Tissa, I learned that Moses was given a second chance to receive the Ten Commandments after having destroyed the first set. The Israeli people showed a lack of faith therefore were not worthy of them at first. After proving their devotion they were offered the commandments again and this time cherished and embraced them. 
Lev Lalev, meaning Heart to Heart, is an organization in Netanya, Israel that offers second chances to orphaned and disadvantaged girls. These girls have no families to nurture and care for them. Lev Lalev provides tutoring, health services, food, clothing, shelter, educational, emotional and spiritual guidance. I feel that becoming a Bat Mitzvah isn't just about a party and gifts. It's about become spiritually connected to yourself, G-d and Israel. In lieu of gifts I would love for you to donate to this charity, because these girls need the money more, I have all that I need. I will also be donating my personal money to this charity. Any amount of money will help, from one dollar to one hundred dollars; it all goes to improving these girls' lives. To learn more about this program please visit www.levlalev.com/bm/beckyklipin/home. Thank you for helping me improve these girls' lives and give them a second chance.     
Becky w/LLL plaque here 
When a 13-year-old girl possesses such maturity and benevolence, an adult takes the back seat. Becky told me that when she was planning her Bat Mitzvah, she went on line to search for a noteworthy cause where she could contribute her Bat Mitzvah gifts. She further explained that since she was an adopted girl, finding Lev LaLev and the Rubin-Zeffren Children’s Home in Netanya gave her a personal connection to the plight of our girls. 
About Becky…
Becky and her brother Aaron here 
Becky, quite an articulate seventh grader, is a serious and well-rounded student who’s the president of her school’s Thespian Club. Besides acting in school plays, her favorite reads are the historical fiction genre. Her Bat Mitzvah took place in March at Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens, where she also prepared for her life cycle milestone. 
Doggies (2) here 
Becky spends time enjoying her three (yes 3!)  Boston Terriers, Charley, Katie and Lily. She’s the younger sister of 16-year-old brother Aaron and the loving daughter of Renee and Colin Klipin. 
Becky loves attending the Bak Middle School of the Arts, a magnet school in West Palm Beach. Students who attend Bak may audition for two out of five art areas: communications, dance, music (consisting of band, keyboard, strings, and vocal arts), theater, and visual arts.
Becky & Renee Klipin here 
Becky told LLL that her mitzvah project was geared to raise funds to help our special girls have their very own Bat Mitzvah celebration commemorating their right of passage.  Before connecting with Lev LaLev, Becky and her parents enjoyed a week in Israel. Now that she’s part of the extended Children’s Home family, she hopes to visit the girls in Netanya on her next trip.
All of us at Lev LaLev, along with the girls at the Home, wish to offer our deepest heartfelt thanks to Becky and her family for choosing to share her gifts with them and for giving them a second chance that will change their lives for the better.
To become a donor/sponsor and help our girls have a fun Bat Mitzvah celebration, click here.

Klippin parents

 

Someone once asked me if it was easy interviewing kids. My answer was that it’s a mixed bag depending on the child. If I was asked this question about Becky Klipin of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, my answer would be, “It was a breeze!”  But actually, I knew it would be after I read her gift insert that she placed in her Bat Mitzvah invitations.

It read:

 

 

 

Dear Family and Friends, 

In life we are often given second chances. What you do with those chances can change you forever. Sometimes you do not appreciate and deal with the first chance as you should and often times you do not have control and choices are made for you. If you are given a second chance it is important to accept them as a gift. As an adopted child I was given a gift of a wonderful loving family. This is something I value and cherish every day. In my Torah portion Ki Tissa, I learned that Moses was given a second chance to receive the Ten Commandments after having destroyed the first set. The Israeli people showed a lack of faith therefore were not worthy of them at first. After proving their devotion they were offered the commandments again and this time cherished and embraced them. 

Lev Lalev, meaning Heart to Heart, is an organization in Netanya, Israel that offers second chances to orphaned and disadvantaged girls. These girls have no families to nurture and care for them. Lev Lalev provides tutoring, health services, food, clothing, shelter, educational, emotional and spiritual guidance. I feel that becoming a Bat Mitzvah isn't just about a party and gifts. It's about become spiritually connected to yourself, G-d and Israel. In lieu of gifts I would love for you to donate to this charity, because these girls need the money more, I have all that I need. I will also be donating my personal money to this charity. Any amount of money will help, from one dollar to one hundred dollars; it all goes to improving these girls' lives. To learn more about this program please visit www.levlalev.com/bm/beckyklipin/home. Thank you for helping me improve these girls' lives and give them a second chance.

Klippin with plaqueWhen a 13-year-old girl possesses such maturity and benevolence, an adult takes the back seat.

Becky told me that when she was planning her Bat Mitzvah, she went on line to search for a noteworthy cause where she could contribute her Bat Mitzvah gifts. She further explained that since she was an adopted girl, finding Lev LaLev and the Rubin-Zeffren Children’s Home in Netanya gave her a personal connection to the plight of our girls. 

About Becky…

Klippin with brother

Becky, quite an articulate seventh grader, is a serious and well-rounded student who’s the president of her school’s Thespian Club. Besides acting in school plays, her favorite reads are the historical fiction genre. Her Bat Mitzvah took place in March at Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens, where she also prepared for her life cycle milestone. 

Becky spends time enjoying her three (yes 3!) Boston Terriers, Charley, Katie and Lily. She’s the younger klippin dog 2sister of 16-year-old brother Aaron and the loving daughter of Renee and Colin Klipin. 

Becky loves attending the Bak Middle School of the Arts, a magnet school in West Palm Beach. Students who attend Bak may audition for two out of five art areas: communications, dance, music (consisting of band, keyboard, strings, and vocal arts), theater, and visual arts.

Becky told LLL that her mitzvah project was geared to raise funds to help our special girls have their very own Bat Mitzvah celebration commemorating their right of passage.  Before connecting with Lev LaLev, Becky and her parents enjoyed a week in Israel. Now that she’s part of the extended Children’s Home family, she hopes to visit the girls in Netanya on her next trip.Klippin 1

All of us at Lev LaLev, along with the girls at the Home, wish to offer our deepest heartfelt thanks to Becky and her family for choosing to share her gifts with them and for giving them a second chance that will change their lives for the better.

To become a donor/sponsor and help our girls have a fun Bat Mitzvah celebration, click here.