My 46th Birthday: Giving Gifts to Strangers.
I don’t really care much for gifts.
Vered says I’m horrible that way because she can never get me something that “comes in a box” that I’ll actually appreciate.
The truth is, I’m not into “stuff.” If I want something, I usually just get it myself.
But I do understand that gifts are a way to celebrate, and for many years, I’ve tried to give something back on my birthday – traditionally to our students or community.
In 2014, on my 46th birthday, I decided to do something a little different.
Vered and I spent the day before shopping around Amsterdam, buying 46 different gifts to give away to strangers the next day.
We picked out gifts for children, teenagers, adults – each carefully selected, wrapped, and blessed with a lot of thought and love.
The next day, we wandered through the streets, canals, and parks of Amsterdam, handing out the gifts.
The reactions were priceless.
Most people were surprised and grateful, engaging in conversation and wishing me a happy birthday.
A few were suspicious at first, but after a short explanation, they accepted the gifts warmly.
One memorable moment was when we approached three grumpy teachers in a park.
After receiving their gifts, they opened up about their tough day and how our gesture transformed their mood.
They even planned to turn it into a life lesson for their students.
We also encountered a homeless man who refused the gift unless I listened to his wise words – a philosophical exchange I won’t soon forget.
Towards the end of the day, we were tired, with a few gifts still left to give.
So, we decided to place them in the bicycle baskets of people shopping in a supermarket and quietly left.
That experience of giving without expecting anything in return meant a lot to me – it was pure, selfless giving, and I loved it.
It was a beautiful, sunny (though cold) spring day in Amsterdam – a perfect backdrop for our little adventure.
By the end of it all, we felt grateful and privileged.
We had met so many wonderful people, made them smile, and maybe even helped change a few minds from “people are assholes” to “people are nice.”
I’ve continued to do similar actions on my birthday, often focused on our community.
Many of our crowdfunding campaigns, aimed at supporting underprivileged communities worldwide, were launched as my birthday gifts.
But after sharing this video on Facebook, I received dozens of messages from people saying they were inspired to do the same on their birthdays.
That, for me, was the greatest gift of all.
The video below captures the experience.