Rebeka and her baby. | 
Nina and grandson. | 
Grandparents Lois (right) and Nina
with baby Johnathan. | 
Tim gets acquainted with his first
grandson. | 
Aunts and uncles of the David clan
cheer Gabriel and son Johnathan. | GETS A SLICE OF LIFE
It’s All in the Numbers
As JJJ Enters the World Story and Photos by Grandpa Tim  VERY baby born in America is endowed with life, liberty and owes a quarter of a million toward the national debt. Those are the prospects of Johnathan Jeremiah Jakob who was brought into the world by Rebeka and Gabriel Boxer at Good Samaritan Hospital in East Islip, Long Island, on Saturday, July 20, 2002, at 2 a.m.
Note the numbers: 07/07/20/2002/0200. As Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said, “Behold, a man loves nothing more than his own son, yet he goes and circumcises him.” Go figure. Little (8.7 lbs.) Johnathan was initiated into the congregation through the sign of the covenant. I had the honor being the sandek, whose duty is to hold the baby at the cutting edge. I’m proud to report that I didn’t faint. (I didn’t look, so I didn’t faint.) The mohel, Rabbi Coleve Zafir, did the deed in front of a packed house after Saturday morning services at Young Israel of Merrick where Rabbi Marc Volk is spiritual leader. Among the witnesses were Rebeka’s parents, Dr. Aaron and Lois David, and Gabriel’s parents, Nina and Tim Boxer. Also present were three of the baby’s great grandparents: Moshe Dovid and Naomi David (Aaron’s parents), Reuben and Estelle Ritter (Lois’ parents). Rabbi Nissim Rebibo, president of the Rabbinical Court of Paris, was a special guest. | 
