What could you do with a half-million dollars?

With a half-million dollars a person could feed the homeless, put almost six students through college or have a university building named after him or her.

But the parents of Lisa Niren had different plans for spending their $500,000.

The 13-year-old Lisa Niren, of Pittsburgh, Pa., who is “obsessed” with “Titanic,” received the bat mitzvah of her dreams Saturday.

A hotel ballroom was transformed into the Titanic with 12-foot steaming smokestacks at the buffet table, phosphorescent artificial icebergs and a “steerage” section for the children, according to the Associated Press.

Dr. Neil Niren, Lisa’s father, said he threw the elaborate gala, which drew more than 300 people, out of love for his daughter.

When do you need to spend a half-million dollars to show people you love them?

If that was the case, a lot of us would be without love.

This party may have been one of the grandest bashes a 13-year-old has ever had, but the money used could have been spent more wisely.

The Nirens could have started a charity organization in her name — something that would stay with her throughout her life and beyond.

It’s not how much you spend on someone, it’s the thought and meaning behind the gift.

Even if her parents had spent $100,000 on her bat mitzvah, there would still have been enough money left over to pay for Lisa’s college education, a car, a house and multiple spring break vacations to the bahamas.

It’s nice that we live in a society where there are people who have achieved the American dream and more.

It’s nice that we live in a society where there are people who can throw $500,000 parties for their children.

However, we still live in world where people go without the necessities. In a world where people stand on the corner with signs reading “Will work for food.”

We still live in a world where obtaining a college education is a dream to many who can’t afford it.

Lisa Niren’s bat mitzvah may have been the biggest and greatest party ever, but it is a prime example of irresponsible spending.

What’s worse is that her loving parents thought they could show how much they love her by the price tag of a bat mitzvah.