For those of you who grew up in areas like Scarsdale or Massapequa you probably went to a lot of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs between the ages of 12 and 14. For those of you who grew up in less Jewish areas these coming of age commemorations were nothing more than lavish parties that parents spent enough money on to buy a new Lexus.
Going to bar/bat mitzvahs in my town was a cool thing to do, you had to look sharp in your fancy dresses even though you’d be swapping off your high heeled shoes for bobby socks when you switched from dancing the Hora to dancing the Electric Slide. Some of the rich obnoxious girls my age would have to buy a new dress for every party. If you were truly popular (which I was not) you might have had two of these fiestas to attend on any given week. But even the dorks could at least count on everyone in their Hebrew School class being obligated to invite them so you'd be assured at least one every other week throughout 7th and 8th grade.
Well, at every single one of these parties, some of the guest of honor’s closest friends (or geekiest friends, cuz they weren't getting asked out on the dance floor) would hang out in the bathroom and make a "Memory Glass." Then you'd present this glass to the Bat/Bar Mitzvah up at the DJ stand in front of everyone and get your picture taken.
I still remember my memory glass. I had so many dorky friends at 13 that I got 3 of them at my Bat Mitzvah! They were so ugly and the seal on the wax broke real fast and the water turned gray and they sat on my dresser for about 3 months till I threw them out. I highly recommend learning the Electric Slide as an alternative to this arts and crafts activity, but if you still would like to partake in this ancient Jewish tradition, follow the instructions below.
How to make a Memory Glass:
1. Steal a big water glass from the caterers and fill it with souvenirs from the party, table glitter, decorations, seating cards, mint wrappers, etc.
2. Fill the glass with water.
3. Seal the glass with a wax cover.
This is the tricky part. You have to find a candle and a lighter. You can usually find a candle somewhere in the catering hall. If you are geeky enough to making the memory glass then you probably don’t have access to a lighter. You will have to find a cool kid who smokes and is nice enough to share their lighter. If this proves too challenging look for a creepy geeky boy who is also a pyro-maniac, every Hebrew School has one.
4. Make sure to present it in a group to the Bat/Bar Mitzvah girl/boy in front of their family and make a big mushy speech.
