Stories

STORIES

My Birthday

Wednesday, November 25, 1992 - I share my birthday with steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie, reformer Carry Nation, baseball's Joe DiMaggio, and actors Ricardo Montalban and Jeff Hunter. I am a Sagittarian, which represents honesty and sincerity. Other events in history on November 25th include the first football radio broadcast in 1920, President Eisenhower suffering a mild stroke in Denver in 1957, and President John F. Kennedy's burial three days after his assassination in 1963 (Your Birthday.)

On this day in 1992, the U.S. State Department investigators found "new leads" linking the Bush White House to the search of President-elect Bill Clinton's passport records. Clinton said he will announce his first Cabinet appointments and meet with former President Reagan in Los Angeles on Friday. A research film said studies show films for general audiences are more profitable than R-rated films, but fewer PG movies were made in the last 8 years (Your Birthday.)

During these times, average U.S. income was $34,213; new homes cost $156,800; minimum wage was $4.25 per hour; the population was about 2.5 million; and gasoline cost $1.1 per gallon. Only 64% of Americans used seat belts, the average age of brides was 23 years old and 26 years old for grooms. Popular trends included single blade roller skating, coffee houses, platform shoes, western styles, and country music (Your Birthday.)

When my mom was going into labor, my parents told my two siblings that they were going to Disneyland. I was born early the next morning. When my brother and sister returned from school, my Dad picked them up from a family friend's house and took them to the hospital to see me. The next day, the 26^th, the five of us left the hospital to celebrate Thanksgiving with my extended family.

My Name

My full name is Spencer Michael Harris. I am named after my great-grandmother on my dad's side, Sophie Myers. If I was a girl, my name would be Sophie Michelle Harris. My parents did not really have another name for me other than Spencer Michael. In the Jewish religion, it is common to name a newborn after a deceased family member - Spencer and Sophie both start with the letter S. They liked the name Spencer a lot and did not really have any other choices. They also liked Michael for a middle name and did not have any other choices (Harris.)

Most of the time, I like my name, but there are times when I wish I had another name. When my name is said aloud, I think it sounds awkward and I do not like it. I wish I had a name that flowed smoothly and I liked all the time. I do not have any nicknames that people call me by except Spence. Only a few friends and some family call me Spence; I do not really care what people call me.

I think that names are very important in society. When a person is given a certain name at birth, it is a symbolic link between society and that individual. By allowing a person to identify him or her self by their name, society confirms their existence and acknowledges that the person has responsibility and importance. In many traditions a name also links family history. In society, every individual is uniquely identified because of their name. Through their name, a person will be remembered in history by their deeds or faults that separate them from the deeds and faults of others.

My Bar Mitzvah

On Saturday, January 7, 2006, I accepted the responsibilities of adulthood in the Jewish religion as I completed the ceremony of my Bar Mitzvah. This coming-of-age ceremony takes place when a Jewish child turns 13, as I was on January 7 of 2006. According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of majority, they become responsible for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah. At this ceremony, the young man is called to read from the Torah and Haftarah at a Shabbat service. Also, they give a d'var Torah, or a discussion of that week's Torah portion. Whoever becomes Bar or Bat Mitzvah has many responsibilities of an adult under Jewish law. They have moral responsibility for their own actions, the eligibility to be called to read from the Torah, may possess personal property, may be legally married according to Jewish law, and must follow the 613 laws of the Torah.

On the morning of the 7th, around 200 people gathered at my temple, Congregation B'nai Israel, in downtown Sacramento to celebrate my Bar Mitzvah. After reading from the Torah, I delivered a speech on my portion, the story of Joseph and his 11 brothers, the sons of Jacob. Joseph, the favorite son, is given a beautiful multicolor coat from his father. His brothers, extremely jealous, conspire to rid their family of Joseph by selling him off as a slave. When working as a slave, Joseph is wrongly accused of a crime and thrown in jail. While in jail, Joseph proves himself as a dream interpreter. The Pharoah learns of Joseph's talent, he releases him from jail and hires him. After many years, Joseph's success increases and the Pharoah puts him in charge of rations during famine. When Joseph's brothers return to Egypt seeking help, Joseph treats them with kindness and asks to see his father. The moral of the story is of forgiveness and reconciliation. The story teaches readers to know their values and live honestly by them, do what you know is right even when you have been treated wrongly.

Later that day, there was a major celebration party at the Hyatt Hotel in honor of my completion of my Bar Mitzvah. All of my friends and family joined in on the party which included wonderful food, glorious decorations, and dancing. In the beginning, everyone joined in on a traditional Jewish dance, the Horah, as my family and I were lifted high into the air on chairs. I had a great time at my Bar Mitzvah and it is one of the most memorable moments of my life.

Freddie

About 19 years ago, my Mom and Dad thought they had a wonderful family. Their first born Adam was 6 years old and their daughter Danielle was 3 years old. Everybody was happy. For some reason, Susan and Joel felt something was missing. Their family was not yet complete. After much thought, they decided to get a dog, Freddie, instead of having a 3rd child.

Two years later, my parents decided Freddie was not enough. When Adam was 8 and Danielle was 5, their third and final child was born, me. This story is brought up often whenever our family gathers. My brother always jokes that my Mom and Dad should have just stayed with Freddie and that the family was so much happier without me. Of course, Adam just loves to mess around and the family is happy about their decision, I think.

My Great-Grandfather, The Hero

On Monday, August 30, 1909, my 19 year old great-grandfather Phillip Harris was playing ball in Syracuse, New York when he witnessed a murderer trying to escape. After starting about 50 feet from the murderer, Phillip, a prizefighter who worked in the steel industry, speedily overcame the murderer and made a flying leap to bring him to the ground. He was a hero when presented in the Syracuse Herald.