Teen Donates Children's Collection to Library

For a 13-year-old, Max Hechtman of East Meadow has been through a lot throughout the past year.

Hechtman lost his father to leukemia, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, and most recently completed his Bar Mitzvah project. Hechtman collected 50 books and movies that reflect character building and dedicated them to the East Meadow Public Library on Wednesday.

"During this experience, I realized that books and movies were great ways to increase student awareness about values such as kindness, compassion, friendship, teamwork and taking care of the environment," he said.

The idea for the project was inspired by Hechtman's involvement in the Barnum Woods Character Education Committee several years ago. When Hechtman suggested a kindness and compassion-themed movie night, more than 300 people attended, and he said he realized the impact he could make on others.

"It was a great night," Hechtman said. "I saw how even I, as one individual, could make a difference by bringing an idea to life."

Carol Probeyahn, the library's director, was touched by Hechtman's generosity.

"Last fall, a young man came to me with an idea," she said. "He wanted to donate a collection based on character building, and I thought it was such an honor."

Hechtman used some of his own Bar Mitzvah money, as well as donations from publishers and movie production and distribution companies, to complete the collection. He presented a short movie that was created for his Bar Mitzvah, which was dedicated to Max Klapholtz, a Holocaust victim who died at the age of 12 at the Belzec Death Camp in Poland.

"We had to do plenty of research before Max could put that video together," said Meryl Hechtman, Max's mother. "He worked so hard, and it was hard to look at some of those images from that time. We did it together and I am so proud of him."

Legis. Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, presented Hechtman with a citation from the Nassau County Legislature in honor of the work he had done.

"I'm very seldom speechless," Gonsalves said. "I think your project is very thoughtful and I think you are going to be a great filmmaker."

Hechtman has great aspirations as to his future in the film industry.

"One day, it is my hope to produce, direct and edit movies that will influence the kind of people we become by using film media to translate stories from library bookshelves to the big screen."

Now attending Woodland Middle School, Hechtman has been asked to be the video manager for the sports teams.

"I'm excited," Hechtman said. "I am really looking forward to it."