By Jonathan Kay
Gil Aldad, bar and bat mitzvah party-giver extraordinaire and founder and president of Jewish D.J. Service Inc., brought a special guest with him to Temple Torah in Little Neck last week for the official donation of 1,100 Mets tickets to Jewish children throughout the tri-state area.
Mr. Met, the Mets’ half-baseball, half-human mascot, danced the hora and signed autographs for the 17 children in attendance, while several adults received tickets on behalf of their communities. All 1,100 tickets are for Shea Stadium’s Jewish Heritage Day, July 28.
“The people I work for are the kids,” said Aldad, whose company has made a name for itself combining Top 40 dance hits and Jewish rituals for families who do not want to confine the spirituality of bar and bat mitzvahs days to the synagogue.
“I like this idea because you get to see the kids’ expressions,” Aldad said. “Everyone’s smiling and happy to be there.”
Aldad brought 400 children to Shea for last year’s Jewish Heritage Day.
“I’m just trying to make the right fit,” he said. “I’m the Jewish D.J., and I found Jewish Heritage Day and it was the right fit.”
Before the game, dancers from Jewish D.J. Service Inc. will perform Israeli dances for the crowd, and 300 to 400 of the children Aldad brings will be on the field for the playing of the U.S. and Israeli national anthems.
The festivities will also feature Jewish music instead of popular music between innings and a video presentation of Mr. Met’s visit to Temple Torah.
Aldad said the tickets are his way of giving back to the people who have supported his dream career.
“This is taking 1,100 kids and giving them a time-out in life,” Aldad said.
Aldad said he hopes to make the day a magical experience the children will never forget.
