Jewish Standard Bar/Bat Mitzvah Supplement, Summer 2014

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE JEWISH STANDARD SUMMER 2014

BAR/BATMITZVAH

S-2 Jewish Standard SUMMER 2014 BAR/BAT MITZVAH

A league of their ownKesher Olam helps teens hit home run with mitzvah projects

PHIl JAcObS

billy Cooks bar mitzvah Torah portion was Kedoshim, with the famous command: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Billy wanted to follow the command.But how?Billy, 13, and his mother Phylisse were direct-

ed by Irene Bolton, Temple Beth Ors director of lifelong learning, to the offerings of Kesher Olam (connection to the world), the bar and bat mitz-vah project list of the Jewish Federation of North-ern New Jersey.

Through Kesher Olam, he saw organizations that would work with students his age. There was no danger of rejection because of age, year in school, or lack of a drivers license.

One group, the Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Institute (MSAWI) offered a support a soldier project where students could write person-al messages on cards accompanied by sweet treats, personal care, or entertainment items.

Billy wanted to write messages, but not on cards. He wanted instead to send his messages on baseballs. Word got out. Soon friends, family members, sporting goods companies, even base-ball leagues were sending him baseballs. Over 1,700 balls, all with messages, have been sent to troops overseas. Billys BASEballs has its own brand, its own non-profi t status, and of course a Facebook page.

Billy wants to play for the Yankees one day, and hes serious. He was serious about sending baseballs to soldiers around the world, and with nearly 2,000 baseballs sent around the world, you can see how that turned out. So it wont be a sur-prise if his determination and talent earns him a Yankee uniform one day.

Meanwhile, the men and women wearing U.S. Army uniforms have a 13-year-old boy with a dream to thank for a bit of joy as they play catch amidst their routine.

Unbeknownst to them, they also have anoth-er boys dad to thank: Dan Shlufman of Tenafl y, who came up with the idea and started Kesher Olam.

He was a parent attending a Temple Ema-nu-El of Closter pre-bar and bat mitzvah meet-ing. Once there, the pre-bnei mitzvah children, including his son Noah, were sent downstairs to meet with an assistant rabbi to discuss mitzvah projects.

So, all the children are downstairs and all the adults are upstairs, he said. This was the entire bar mitzvah discussion. It wasnt coordinated. They took the children downstairs and asked them what they were interested in. But upstairs, its the parents who are the ones who will have to help them fi nd the proj-ects.

Mr. Shlufman felt that there needed to be a place

where parents and children could get ideas and help turn those ideas into projects and that place should be the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

Mr. Shlufman said the federation was a logical choice with its connections with agencies in our area.

We wanted the project to have something where the children had to touch someone, he said. It couldnt be where they were collecting bottle caps

or running a race. They had to be with a person. They could tutor a child with special needs, bring a pet to the Jewish Home, and perform a concert for one or a group. These are tactile projects.

The projects didnt even have to be at a Jew-ish place. Feeding the hungry at a soup kitchen is a Jewish value, he said.

Mr. Shlufman said it wasnt so easy for a 12 or 13-year-old youth to fi nd a charitable organiza-tion that didnt prefer high school or college aged students, students with drivers licenses or even previous experience.

He said that rabbis and religious school prin-cipals love Kesher Olam, because it takes so much of the burden off them of helping to fi nd a work-able project.

Once downloaded and printed from the JFNNJ.org site, the 30-page Kesher Olam guide covers opportunities by area of interest such as working with special needs children, violence against women, family issues, building and reno-vating, and many programs related to Israel.

Kesher Olam is run by Alice Blass, a project coordinator for the federations Jewish Community Relations Council, who also leads the federations Mitzvah Day and Good Deeds Day.

Ms. Blass notes that many Hebrew schools require mitzvah projects from their students.

What Kesher Olam does is provide multiple options from various agencies giving bar and bat mitz-vah students various agencies to choose from. It really

Billy Cooks baseballs-for-troops project snowballed.


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makes it easy for families to fulfill this requirement, she said.

While Billy Books basebal project is the most well known Kesher Olam success story, Ms. Blass said area students and their parents have a lot of mitzvah proj-ects to be proud of.

There is the student teaching computer technol-ogy to seniors in an assisted living facility.

There are students who provide kits of kosher food and toiletries for Project S.A.R.A.H., an organization helping women to leave an abusive relationship.

There is the autistic child who is helping other autistic children learn how to swim.

More than 70 area families from about 15 different area synagogues have asked about the projects since Kesher Olam started in 2011, said Ms. Blass.

It can be overwhelming to find a project, said Ms. Blass. It can be particularly difficult for this age group. But we have found opportunities for them.

And of course, a mitzvah is not just a mitzvah; it is an education.

This is an opportunity for children to be exposed to a social issue they may not be familiar with. Working with elderly, doing work at a shelter is not the world they live in. But we should be teaching them about that world, said Ms. Blass.

Sari Gross of Wayne, is the vice chair of JCRC and chair of its Tikkun Olam Initiative. She oversees Mitz-vah Day. She said Kesher Olam fills an important role for the community.

We have families who have the passion and who really cared, they just didnt know how to connect the dots. We know about the agencies, we work with them on mitzvah days. The kids are so great and so are their

parents. They need a little help. Kesher Olam makes it easier, she said.

Ms. Bolton of Temple Beth Or said Billy Cooks project had an amazing impact on the synagogue.

The best part has been in our own community for our congregation on Washington Township Day, she said.Billy took balls with him to a table. The response of people had been incredible. Kids have decorated the balls. For a moment, kids are stopping and saying that there are people risking their lives for our freedom, how amazing is that? If we can do this one little act were making a difference.

Billy worked hard to create a culture of involve-ment and understanding those less fortunate in the world, and that we have a responsibility to help. Some-times its for a soldier out in the field. But sometimes its to help a child who is not able to run and jump like we can run and jump. We have kids in our school who go to the JCC and help children with autism in the pool. The Kesher Olam Project has helped our con-gregation move to a deep understanding that its more important to give up time and help those who need help, she said.

And as for Billy and his family: Not only has he grown and matured, Bolton said, but to see a family so engaged, you know that makes it even better. They dont talk about being Jewish, they act on it. They help guide and teach them. Its really why I work in this field for moments like this where Jewish life becomes a guiding force for us.

Billys mother keeps the inscription on one ball close to her heart. This ball, someone wrote, comes with an infinite amount of prayer. Every time the ball is thrown, a prayer is said for you.

Jewish Standard S-5

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American Cancer Society20 Mercer StreetHackensack, NJ

Volunteers can knit hats to give to out-patients re-ceiving chemotherapy who lose their hair.

These hats are very welcomed as cover-ups since

the patients have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatments. When they go to the ACS office to try on a wig they also pick up a hat or two from the hat basket. It would be nice to see that the basket is always full.

Bergen County Y, a JCC605 Pascack RoadWashington Township, NJ 07676

The Bergen County YJCC offers a variety of programs for children with disabilities and in most, utilize volun-teers as social buddies to offer the experience of par-ticipating in activities with typically developing peers.

At least 12 volunteers are needed depending on the program and timing. In addition to year round pro-gramming we have a summer camp for 8 weeks.

This project takes place throughout the length of the session which varies. For example, Sunday programs run for 12 consecutive weeks, except for holidays, and the length of the program is 2 hours. Visit www.yjcc.org for details on all the different classes.

JFNNJs Bergen Reads Program50 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652

Volunteers organize a book drive of new books for children aged five to eight to benefit low level read-ers in the Bergen Reads Youth Literacy program. The new books are distributed to the Bergen Reads stu-dents in grades K-4 as end-of-year gifts. A book plate honoring the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child can be inserted before distribution.

Beautiful, customized books centerpieces and bimah baskets are also offered, with bookmarks attached explaining the donation. Proceeds from rentals from these go toward funding the Bergen Reads program. For more information, visit www.jfnnj.org/bergen-reads.

Consider asking everyone coming to the bar/bat mitzvah to bring a brand new book geared for grades K-4.

Contact Beth Figman, Bergen Reads Project Coordi-nator, 201-820-3947 or [email protected], for informa-tion on how to run a book drive.

Bonim Builders of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey50 Eisenhower DriveParamus, NJ 07652

Bonim, which means builders in Hebrew, utilizes vol-unteers in hands-on projects to renovate and perform critical repairs for low-income families, seniors, and the physically disabled. We also assist select local nonprofit agencies. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome, even those with little or no experience are encouraged to participate.

Depending on the specific project, we can accommo-date 12-15 participants per work shift.

We need one participating adult for each teenager 12 15 years old.

We need one participating adult for every three teen-agers 16 18 years old.

Depending of the specific project, we normally work two shifts, 8:30 12:00 pm or 12:30 4:00 pm or both.

Bonim Builders observes Shabbat, so our projects are on Sundays. Occasionally, we do a weekday project.

Customized, private mitzvah projects are available for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student and his/her family and friends. The student can create a project based on his/her interests and the student can take part in the planning of the project from the ground up. We have found this to be a memorable and invaluable experi-ence. In this case, there is a minimum requisite dona-tion of $1,800 to cover material costs. Alternatively, Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are always welcome to sign on to the already scheduled projects (for no charge), as long as he/she meet the age requirement and are accompanied by a participating adult.

For more information on these opportunities, contact Alice Blass at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, [email protected] or (201) 820-3948

Jewish Standard S-7

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Bergen County Y, a JCC605 Pascack RoadWashington Township, NJ 07676

The Bergen County YJCC offers a variety of programs for children with disabilities and in most, utilize volun-teers as social buddies to offer the experience of par-ticipating in activities with typically developing peers.

At least 12 volunteers are needed depending on the program and timing. In addition to year round pro-gramming we have a summer camp for 8 weeks.

This project takes place throughout the length of the session which varies. For example, Sunday programs run for 12 consecutive weeks, except for holidays, and the length of the program is 2 hours. Visit www.yjcc.org for details on all the different classes.

JFNNJs Bergen Reads Program50 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652

Volunteers organize a book drive of new books for children aged five to eight to benefit low level read-ers in the Bergen Reads Youth Literacy program. The new books are distributed to the Bergen Reads stu-dents in grades K-4 as end-of-year gifts. A book plate honoring the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child can be inserted before distribution.

Beautiful, customized books centerpieces and bimah baskets are also offered, with bookmarks attached explaining the donation. Proceeds from rentals from these go toward funding the Bergen Reads program. For more information, visit www.jfnnj.org/bergen-reads.

Consider asking everyone coming to the bar/bat mitzvah to bring a brand new book geared for grades K-4.

Contact Beth Figman, Bergen Reads Project Coordi-nator, 201-820-3947 or [email protected], for informa-tion on how to run a book drive.

Bonim Builders of the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey50 Eisenhower DriveParamus, NJ 07652

Bonim, which means builders in Hebrew, utilizes vol-unteers in hands-on projects to renovate and perform critical repairs for low-income families, seniors, and the physically disabled. We also assist select local nonprofit agencies. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome, even those with little or no experience are encouraged to participate.

Depending on the specific project, we can accommo-date 12-15 participants per work shift.

We need one participating adult for each teenager 12 15 years old.

We need one participating adult for every three teen-agers 16 18 years old.

Depending of the specific project, we normally work two shifts, 8:30 12:00 pm or 12:30 4:00 pm or both.

Bonim Builders observes Shabbat, so our projects are on Sundays. Occasionally, we do a weekday project.

Customized, private mitzvah projects are available for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah student and his/her family and friends. The student can create a project based on his/her interests and the student can take part in the planning of the project from the ground up. We have found this to be a memorable and invaluable experi-ence. In this case, there is a minimum requisite dona-tion of $1,800 to cover material costs. Alternatively, Bar/Bat Mitzvah students are always welcome to sign on to the already scheduled projects (for no charge), as long as he/she meet the age requirement and are accompanied by a participating adult.


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Jewish Standard, Jewish Community News, Rockland Jewish Standard S-7

When Anna met SallyFor her bat mitzvah project, Wyckoff girl interviews survivorPHIl JAcObS

Not every bar and bat mitzvah project goes viral on the Internet or makes the local news.

Yet many are special none-theless.

Anna Kasmanoff, 13, from Wyckoff, wanted to interview a Holocaust survi-vor for her bat mitzvah project. Through the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jerseys Kesher Olam Project, she was connected with survivor Sally Whitmore.

At her bat mitzvah last March at Temple Beth Rishon, Anna told of her interview with Ms. Whitmore.

They had something eerily in com-mon. Anna was 12 at the time of the interview. Ms. Whitmore was 12 when the Nazis took her, her parents, and brother to Auschwitz, where she and her mother were separated from her father and brother.

She never saw her father and broth-er again. And when her camp was liber-ated by the Allies four years later, her mom would live only two more weeks, dying from typhus. Ms. Whitmore too had typhus, but she survived it.

She had a regular life with lots of friends, said Anna, She loved to play sports. But then she and her family were taken away.

Annas mother, Caryn Kasmanoff, said she learned a great deal while sit-ting in on the interview conducted by her daughter.

After the hour-long interview with Ms. Whitmore ended, Anna said she and her mom sat in the car more stunned than anything else.

I couldnt believe that something like that could happen, said the bat mitzvah girl. I am proud that I am

Jewish. To learn from Sally that there were Jews killed during her lifetime just because they were Jewish was difficult.

I felt that my interview for my bat mitzvah was important, because we have to keep telling the story of the Holocaust survivors.

Anna said that Ms. Whitmore came to the U.S. when she was 20. She would go on to marry another Holocaust sur-vivor.

She told us that her husband didnt talk about his experiences for about a 10-year-period, said Anna. When they started having children, thats when the stories were told.

Mrs. Kasmanoff said she was very proud of her daughters bat mitzvah project.

She spoke very well, and it was meaningful. We do all have to remem-ber the Holocaust, and hopefully people listened.

County of Bergen Housing, Health and Human Services Center120 South River StreetHackensack, NJ 07601

Volunteers can do projects such as:

Collect the following items in bulk such as new scarves, mittens, gloves, socks, sweatshirts and sweatpants.

Create sun baskets including sun glass-es, sunscreen, hat, chapstick, razors, shaving cream, crafts, journals, bingo and other games

Open to other ideas

Emeritus at Wayne820 Hamburg TurnpikeWayne, NJ 07470

Bingo callers any day of the week at 1:30 pm

Craft projects on weekends any time between 10-11:30 and 1:30-4:30

Book club/reading to residents who have vision problems

Music club/entertaining residents with musical talents (i.e.: singing, dancing, playing piano, etc.)

Volunteers must complete a volun-teer application form. An adult needs to accompany the bar or bat mitzvah candidate when performing the above mentioned activities throughout the duration of the activity.

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Jewish Standard S-9Jewish Standard, Jewish Community News, Rockland Jewish Standard S-7


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Aidan Kluger, 13, decided that his bar mitzvah project should reflect what he does best. He composes and plays music,

both classical and contemporary, on the piano.

So after consulting with Kesher Olam, he set about playing piano for audiences at the Jewish Home of Rock-leigh, the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, and the Bergen Family Center.

His bar mitzvah was held on Janu-ary 25 at Temple Sinai in Tenafly. His project was to bring music into the lives of the senior residents he played for.

He received, according to his mother, Lauren, rousing applause from every audience.

I really thought about what I real-ly enjoyed doing, and how I thought I could make a difference in other peoples lives, said the Tenafly Mid-dle School seventh grade student. I thought the best way was to share the talents I have. Music and playing the piano are huge parts of my life.

Aidan said he was told there were people in his audiences suffering with different levels of Alzheimers. The youthful pianist said he saw a spark in

Today he is a piano manPHIl JAcObS

Aida Kluger making mitzvah music.

The Daughters of Miriam/ The Gallen Institute155 Hazel StreetClifton, NJ 07011

Plan a special event for the residents such as a bingo game, crossword puz-zles or game with prizes.

Plan an arts and crafts project to do with residents.

Decorate on of the units floors for the season of the month.

All of these can be done in groups of 210.

These projects can be done in one afternoon/evening or on an ongoing basis.

Volunteers must bring a note from their doctor indicating they have tested negative for TB during the past year.

Friendship Circle310 South DriveParamus, NJ 07652

Seventh graders and older can partici-pate in the Friends at Home program. Each week pairs of teen volunteers visit children with special needs in their homes where they share in activities and offer friendship. Sixth graders can learn more in-depth in formation about various special needs through the Mitzvah Volunteer Program (MVP). The MVP teaches about various disabilities, appropriate conduct when volunteer-ing, and how to interact with children

who have special needs. The trainees will have the opportunity to volunteer in supervised settings.

Volunteers go in pairs to the homes. There are many opportunities.

Friends at Home program runs from September June. Contact the Friend-ship Circle for the MVP schedule.

Days and times can accommodate a wide variety of schedules. The Family Circle staff will coordinate accordingly.

An adult is always present in the home while the volunteers are there.

Jewish Association for Developmental Disabilities (J-ADD)190 Moore Street, Suite 272Hackensack, NJ 07601

Volunteers can make regular visits to one of the homes and do any number of activities with the consumers such as play games, bake, do puzzles, or just sit and schmooze! An adult chaperone must be present at all times,

Because there are multiple homes, there is no limit on the number of vol-unteers.

The project takes place weekly or whatever arrangements are made be-tween the student and J-ADD.

The various activities can be performed on weekday afternoons, evenings or Sundays.

the eyes of many he played for.Some of the audience members

asked him questions such as how long has he been playing. Aiden started play-ing piano between six and seven years old.

He played largely classical music. His favorite classical composer is Claude Debussy. He loves John Williams as his favorite contemporary composer.

Aidan also was named the New Jersey Arts Collectives Pictures 2014 pre-college winner for a musi-cal composition he wrote called Defi-ance of a Bird. Mrs. Kluger said that

she was in tears when she watched the reaction of the elderly audiences. Some were severely incapacitated, she said. But you could see they were moved by the music.

Aidan added that at one location, some of the elderly people, including he said a 102-year-old man, were moved to get up and start dancing to his music.

At his bar mitzvah, Aidan gave a summary of his performances and his audiences.

The whole experience was extremely enriching, he said. I really enjoyed giving back to the community.

Jewish Standard S-11

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What do teens Valerie Maier, DD Naiman, and Josh Blecherman have in common? Each one selected Jewish Federation of Northern New Jerseys Bonim Builders to fulfill a mitzvah

project, and in the process, reconnect to the purpose and meaning of becoming a bar or bat mitzvah.

More and more bnei mitzvot and their families are interested in marking the milestone with hands-on projects that reinforce the Jewish values of charity and acts of kindness to the community at large. Bonim Builders provides many tikkun olam repairing the world opportunities for bnei mitzvah students who are looking for a mitzvah project a little bit out of the ordinary.

Students can select their level of participation and either sign on to already-scheduled projects or spon-sor a project. The student can help plan the project from its beginning. Bonim volunteers perform critical repairs and renovations for low income families, the physically and mentally disabled, and seniors in Ber-gen, Passaic, and North Hudson counties.

Bonim Builders welcomes volunteers of all skill levels, and especially welcomes bnei mitzvah students and their families. Student participation varies and is dependent on the talents and special interests of the child.

A long-term Bonim project piqued Tenafly teen Valerie Maiers interest. Shed asked that in lieu of gifts, donations be made to a Jewish non-profit. She chose to create a donor advised fund with Jewish Federations Endowment Foundation. It is from this fund that Val-erie selected a project she would fund: to purchase a generator for a wheelchair-bound little girlZoesuf-fering from severe cerebral palsy.

Bonim Builders, in partnership with Bergen Habi-tat for Humanity, was in the process of completing the build-out of a two-story addition for Zoe and her low income family in New Milford. Although the renova-tion rendered the tiny house wheelchair-accessible, there was still need for a generator in case of a power outage, since Zoeys hospital bed and other necessary medical equipment are electrically-powered.

Valeries bat mitzvah project and her donation of the generator served to complete a Bonim Builders project that allows the family to rest easier that Zoes quality of life and safety are not jeopardized.

DD Naiman, a Teaneck teen, has a propensity for power tools and all things building-related. His hands-on inclination and Bonims building projects was a perfect match. DD, accompanied by his father Avi, assisted with a teen center renovation at Temple Beth El in North Bergen where Bonim replaced the ceiling and lighting. In addition, DD helped Bonim build the new Family Promise offices and day center serving the homeless in Ridgewood. DD helped Bonim assemble sukkahs for seniors unable to do so. DDs hallmark project, under the tutelage of Bonim Builders, was the sponsorship and assembly of an exterior handi-cap ramp for a 90-year-old wheelchair-bound retired school teacher. Not only did DD give up a portion of his bar mitzvah gifts to aid a neighbor, but he invited family and friends to come help build the ramp from the ground up.

Josh Blecherman, a Wayne teen, enjoys painting, and helped Bonim paint the home of a disabled man, as well as paint a facility that serves homeless fami-lies. In lieu of flowers adorning the bima of his syna-gogue during his bar mitzvah service, Josh decorated Home Depot buckets filled with painting supplies and donated these supplies to Bonim Builders after his bar

Fix a house, fix the world, with bonim buidersmitzvah.

Bonim Builders guaranteed fulfilling, memorable, and meaningful experiences for all three of these bnai mitzvot. Its one of Jewish Federations most reward-ing tikkun olam initiatives. For information, contact Stacey Orden, Bonim Builders project coordinator, [email protected] or 201-820-3903. Adult volunteers are always needed and can register by visiting www.jfnnj.org/bonim.


Important notesIf my daughter can learn to chant, so can IHeIdI MAe brATT

The invitation was very exciting. A nearby Ortho-dox synagogue was having a reading of the Book of Ruth by the congregations women and girls, and I was invited to take part along with my

daughter Shaina. The Book of Ruth, which is read on the second day of Shavuot, celebrates a Jewish heroine whose legacy promises salvation and whose life epito-

tions, performances and finals. Nonetheless, I figured why not? And I said yes to another commitment.

Beth Schwartz, a mother of four who organized a Women and Girls Megillat Ruth reading at The Jewish Center in Manhattan three years ago, was very encour-aging. No worries, Beth told me. Its just like learning a song. Just make sure that the Hebrew words you are chanting are correct. Besides, she assured, this is a great way to get your feet wet.

Beth emailed a virtual cantor along with our assignments. He would guide me on the three lines that I was to chant.

Shaina set up the virtual cantor on my laptop and I started following along, becoming familiar with his deep, old school tenor voice. I played my virtual can-tor again and again, trying to get down exactly the nuanced curls of the trope. But when I would practice and repeat, it was as if I was starting the cantillation anew.

Why, I wondered, was I able to sing along with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Youngs Teach Your Children, a favorite song from decades ago, when I would hear it while browsing the aisles of Key Food, but I was having trouble with this new little ditty?

For Shaina, it was snap, crackle, and pop. She spent some time attached to her earphones and her iPad, and, voila, she knew it. And she sounded great.

On Thursday, the day of the reading, I realized a tad late I didnt have much of an ear for learning the leining with my virtual cantor, and while not quite ready, I would have to give it my best shot.

When I said I thought learning the symbols for the melody would be much more useful, my son, Yehuda, who chanted his Torah portion at his bar mitzvah 10 months earlier, whipped out his old learning material and started to teach me at the 11th hour.

Patient, funny, encouraging, and with his own unique style, Yehuda was giving me a lesson from his own lessons!

Later, at the Megillat Ruth reading, there were more than 25 girls and women who came together. A stream of different feminine voices leining in dulcet tones, daughters, mothers, women and girls, retelling the story of Ruth and of a special relationship between two women, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. The reading went very well and everyone was filled with pride, and, for some, with relief.

Shaina had leined beautifully. Yehuda had taught beautifully.And while I did fine, what I felt most was grateful.

I was filled with my own bar and bat mitzvah mama pride, proud of my children and their involvement.

I guess you could say that I couldnt sing their praises, in trope or otherwise, any better.

mized kindness and loyalty. I had never, ever leined chanted from the Bible before. Neither had Shaina, a newly-minted bat mitzvah. Here was a ready-made opportunity for mother-and-daughter bonding and spiritual growth.

Sure, it is a season of deadlines and pre-summer events, of end-of-year-schoolwork, projects, presenta-


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Affordable Elegancetions, performances and finals. Nonetheless, I figured why not? And I said yes to another commitment.

Beth Schwartz, a mother of four who organized a Women and Girls Megillat Ruth reading at The Jewish Center in Manhattan three years ago, was very encour-aging. No worries, Beth told me. Its just like learning a song. Just make sure that the Hebrew words you are chanting are correct. Besides, she assured, this is a great way to get your feet wet.

Beth emailed a virtual cantor along with our assignments. He would guide me on the three lines that I was to chant.

Shaina set up the virtual cantor on my laptop and I started following along, becoming familiar with his deep, old school tenor voice. I played my virtual can-tor again and again, trying to get down exactly the nuanced curls of the trope. But when I would practice and repeat, it was as if I was starting the cantillation anew.

Why, I wondered, was I able to sing along with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Youngs Teach Your Children, a favorite song from decades ago, when I would hear it while browsing the aisles of Key Food, but I was having trouble with this new little ditty?

For Shaina, it was snap, crackle, and pop. She spent some time attached to her earphones and her iPad, and, voila, she knew it. And she sounded great.

On Thursday, the day of the reading, I realized a tad late I didnt have much of an ear for learning the leining with my virtual cantor, and while not quite ready, I would have to give it my best shot.

When I said I thought learning the symbols for the melody would be much more useful, my son, Yehuda, who chanted his Torah portion at his bar mitzvah 10 months earlier, whipped out his old learning material and started to teach me at the 11th hour.

Patient, funny, encouraging, and with his own unique style, Yehuda was giving me a lesson from his own lessons!

Later, at the Megillat Ruth reading, there were more than 25 girls and women who came together. A stream of different feminine voices leining in dulcet tones, daughters, mothers, women and girls, retelling the story of Ruth and of a special relationship between two women, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. The reading went very well and everyone was filled with pride, and, for some, with relief.

Shaina had leined beautifully. Yehuda had taught beautifully.And while I did fine, what I felt most was grateful.

I was filled with my own bar and bat mitzvah mama pride, proud of my children and their involvement.

I guess you could say that I couldnt sing their praises, in trope or otherwise, any better.

Mitzvah Organizer, a new web-based planner, was created for the life of a busy parent who is also planning their childs bar/

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This web-based planner will sim-plify your simcha in so many ways, says Sheri Lapidus, founder of Mitz-vah Market. Imagine pulling out your phone and walking your party space with a seating plan in hand, allowing Grandma to arrange her own tables on her iPad, or emailing the sweatshirt sizes of your guests to your vendor while you are at work!

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Touched by an authorBoy finds way to bar mitzvah with help of Simms Taback picture booksdeBRA rubIN

As his mother read to him, Levi Davishoff puckered and moved his lips in the universal sign indi-cating that something is sour. He

then pointed to the lemon pictured in the library book.

His mother, Marla, was thrilled. It was the first time that Levi, then 18 months old, had communicated with the baby sign language he had been learning. He had been in therapy for developmental and cognitive delays since he was two months old.

Davishoff rushed out to buy the book, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat, by Simms Taback. It would become Levis favorite.

Little did she imagine that 12 years later the book would play an integral part in Levis bar mitzvah ceremony.

In fact, for many years it wasnt clear that any bar mitzvah service would take place.

His learning disabilities were exac-erbated by an illness, Davishoff said. He had a significant cognitive decline

that he still hasnt recovered from.Due to the illness, Levi, who attends

a therapeutic day school, skipped a year of Sunday school at Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in Lincoln-shire, Ill. But he missed being there and remained eager to have a bar mitzvah ceremony.

I just wanted to be like everyone else, he recalled.

Youngsters at Levis synagogue arent obligated to read the Torah por-

tion at their bar or bat mitzvah. So Levi decided to do a project on Taback, who had become his favorite author.

He researched the graphic artist who wrote childrens books and had been a designer for The New York Times and CBS Records. Levi also contacted Tabacks daughter, who sent an auto-graphed copy of the book Joseph it was placed in the Holy Ark next to the

Levi Davishoff on the bimah of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in Lincolnshire, Ill. Tell Draper

A cutout of a Star of David, peeking through to another photo, appearing on the service booklets page with Hatikvah. Tell Draper


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Let shopping be your mitzvahLooking for a community-centered project that will fulfill your youngsters bar/bat mitzvah needs while at the same time involving the entire family? HomeC-are Options, the 60-year-old not-for-profit Passaic County-based home care agency, is looking for teenage volunteers and their families to provide weekly grocery shopping and companionship for homebound seniors.

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Volunteers in the program range in age from 12 to 80 and come from all walks of life students, health care professionals, executives, teachers and retirees. There are nearly 100 volunteers presently involved in the program, but more are desperately needed, according to Statile, because of the number of elderly residents in Passaic County who are waiting for help.

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Torah for Levis service.I just love his books; theyre very interesting and

I just think theyre great books, the 13-year-old said. Theyre funny and theyre good stories.

Levis mother, meanwhile, designed a service booklet for the May 31 bar mitzvah celebration evok-ing Tabacks use of collages by using images from Joseph and his other works.

After the booklets were printed, she added die cuts to each a signature of Tabacks books. For example, at the top of the page with Hatikvah, she punched out a Star of David, which peeked through to an image on the next page taken from the cover of Tabacks book Kibitzers and Fools. That image appeared near the portion of Levis speech that mentions the book.

On another page, a punch-out of a wine glass was placed next to the Kiddush in the service, revealing on the following page a picture of the sun and flower from Joseph.

As I learned about Simms Taback, I discovered how important books are in my life, Levi said in his speech. I am lucky to collect a small library for myself and I try to find new homes for my books when I am done reading them.

That is, he said, if my dog Cocoa hasnt destroyed them first.

Articulating the speech was the hardest part, Levi said, his shyness about talking to a reporter com-ing through. I just was proud of myself because I did a good thing.

Said Kol Hadashs Rabbi Adam Chalom: The big smile on his face, his obvious sense of accomplish-ment and pride, were priceless.

JTA Wire Service

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Looking back in aweReflecting on my bat mitzvah as high school graduation approachesOlIVIA rOSeNzWeIg

Only a few days in your life are all about you, my father once told me: your birth, your

bar/bat mitzvah, and your wedding. Each of these cel-ebrations marks a transition to a new stage of your life: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. As a graduating high school senior, I find myself in the middle of these last two stages, a young adult still not complete-ly ready to take on grown-up responsi-bilities. As such, Ive been reflecting on my bat mitzvah how it impacted me, and how I grew from it.

When I was eleven, my parents set me down and asked me what I wanted to do for my upcoming celebration. Bat mitz-vah celebrations are relatively new my mother had one but my grandmother did not and even newer in the Orthodox

community. Being the over-achiever that I was, I decided to lead services and read from the Torah at a womens-only service on Shabbat afternoon, as well as study a tractate of Tal-mud which I would complete with a festive siyum celebra-tion. I chose a pretty obscure tractate to study, Masechet

Taanit, which details the laws of fasting. I thought my other option for a not-too-hard, not-too-long tractate, Masechet Me-gillah, seemed too mainstream. (It deals with Purim.)

And of course I wanted a party in ad-dition to all of this; what twelve-year-old girl doesnt?

As a result, my bat mitzvah spread out into a monstrous three-day event, which featured a Shabbat afternoon service at my house, a Saturday night kids party,

and a Sunday afternoon adult party where I would speak about what I learned from my Talmud study.

Of course, not everything went as smoothly as planned. I wasnt able to fin-ish learning my self-assigned tractate my-self, so my parents and rabbi had to do some extra learning on my behalf in or-der to officially declare a siyum. Half the guests couldnt hear my speech due to the dysfunctional microphones. My father forgot to put out my personalized bench-ers so we still have a stack of about fifty sitting in our dining room.

At the time, however, it felt like I was wading through a dreamlike fog.

On Sunday, I wafted from room to room, as different guests pulled me aside. People I barely knew pushed thick white envelopes into my hand, whispering their congratulations. Strangers cried about how grown-up I looked. People raved about the food that I myself didnt have the opportunity to try. But the highlight of the day was standing on stage and knowing everyone was there for me, to celebrate my accomplishments.

And I really did feel accomplished. I had never chanted from the Torah be-fore, never studied Talmud, and never composed a speech. For months, I had bat mitzvah lessons two nights a week after school, and it was a commitment I enjoyed. I was learning new skills, and ac-tually growing from the experience.

When the tumult finally passed and all the guests went home, I was left over-whelmed by the quiet, trying to commit

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Be a friendly visitor

Do a pet therapy program with a friendly pet

Play the piano or any musical instrument

Help out with bingo, cards and games

The student and JHAL will decide when the project will take place.

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JHR will work with the bar/bat mitzvah students to design a project that works for them based on their interests and availability.

Some young volunteers can:

Run bowling tournaments

Call bingo

Help with crafts

Visit with pets (Students bring their own pets. The animals do not need offi-cial pet therapy training, but they must be up-to-date in their vaccinations.)

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Share their musical talents with residents

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to memory the last 48 hours. I was just getting used to the spotlight, and sudden-ly the electricity had been turned off.

My time center stage was done, but that didnt mean my responsibilities were over. I was now technically an adult in re-gards to Jewish law. I took this very seri-ously, making a conscious effort to follow the mitzvot and go to synagogue with my mom each week. Judaism became an inte-gral part of my identity.

As I entered high school, I am sad to say, I lost some of my child-like dedication to mitzvot and, becoming more and more unsure of what I really believed in. I miss that part of me and hope to rediscover it as I prepare to enter the next stage of my life, post-high school.

Although my spirituality has declined, my educational and emotional growth is, gratefully, incomparable. Now I reread the speeches I wrote and review what I ac-tually learned and am astonished by how mediocre my accomplishments seem. At the time my triumphs felt tremendous, but by now I can probably accomplish just as much, with better execution, in a number of hours.

These days, I tend to look up at the podi-um in awe when I attend the celebrations of my family and friends. That scrawny kid at the bimah, hesitantly reciting her blessings, has finally achieved a day all her own. She has just begun her journey into adulthood. And knowing how much Ive grown since my bat mitzvah, I look at her and cant wait to see what the next six years have in store.

Olivia Rosenzweig served as intern at the Jew-ish Standard during the spring semester.


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tested negative for TB within the past year. Once that has been submitted the student can come in for an interview and discuss ideas about a rewarding and fulfilling project.

(Some young volunteers have stayed with the JHR until they go off to college and beyond!)

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Collect and deliver new clothing, new shoes, sports equipment, school backpacks and supplies, etc to children in the Tapuz absorption center in Nahariya.

Once a year Tapuz organizes a day of celebration for all the bar mitzvah boys when they have an aliyah and a party. Families can help enhance the experience.

Or-Shalom is the major organization handling foster kids and foster families in Israel. A Bar Mitzvah family could adopt such children as their Bar/Bat mitzvah project.

Masorti Programs: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs, is Israels only national program, providing bar/bat preparation and Jew-ish enrichment for children with special needs. It has brought joy to more than 3,000 families who never thought they would be able to experience such a sim-cha. Families can help support this program.

Provide scholarships for children and teens to partici-pate in organized after school sport and arts activities.

Bait Ham-Donations can be made towards the pur-chase of equipment and supplies such as computers, monitors and TVs for teens at risk.

Machsan hachesed a food pantry. Donations of $150 can provide food baskets for one family per month.

Amcha (for holocaust survivors), Marshal (for the blind), Akim (for children and adults with disabilities) Donations can be made towards the purchase of equipment and supplies such as computers and en-richment activities.

Yael (devoted to helping and supporting the sick, the hospitalized and their families)-donate books and/or gifts for the holidays.

Visit the elderly in their homes in Israel.

Assemble care packages for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers.

Ethiopian absorption center participate in planting, playing games, arts and crafts.

Make albums, interview survivors, or produce a video through the Association to support Holocaust survi-vors, 2nd generation.

Yeshivah Nehar Dea organize donated items and help distribute to those in need.


deBRA rubIN

Ivan and Rebecca Gabor have been married for 34 years. And for 34 years, Rebecca had heard her husband lament

that he never had a bar mitzvah celebration.

Born in Transylvania, Ivan and his family moved to Hunga-ry when he was a young child, changing their last name from Grossman to Gabor. When the Nazis came, his father was sent to a forced labor camp; Ivan and his mother went into hiding.

His father returned at the end of the war but was very sick, said Gabor, whose self-published memoir, Echoes of My Foot-steps, tells the story of his sur-vival and his life in Israel and Argentina before settling in the United States in 1977.

He was planning my bar mitzvah, Gabor said. He even wrote a speech. But he passed away. I never had a bar mitzvah.

Every time we would go to a bar mitzvah, he would say I never had a bar mitzvah, Rebecca said.

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At 80, Holocaust survivor finally revels in his bar mitzvah

Their son, Gabe, adds, I cant remember a time in my life when he didnt remind me of the fact that he didnt have a bar mitzvah.

Rebecca decided to do some-thing about it without telling her husband.

She had an invitation sent to their Sunny Isles, Fla., home, invit-ing the couple to a 40th wedding anniversary celebration for friends to be held at Beit Torah in Aventu-ra, Fla. The Gabors walked into the reception hall and Ivan discovered the invitation was a ruse. It turned out he was the guest of honor at an 80th birthday party.

They yelled Surprise! Gabor said. They came over to congratu-late me.

But there was a second sur-prise for Gabor, not to mention a majority of the 180 guests: They were ushered into the sanctuary,

where Gabor was presented with a tallit. Rabbi Isaac Galimidi-Hodara led him in the blessing before walk-ing Gabor to the ark for what the rabbi called a mitz-vah ceremony.

While its not uncommon for men to mark a sec-ond bar mitzvah ceremony at age 83, in recognition of the 13 years theyve lived beyond the traditional three score and 10 mentioned in Psalms, Rebecca chose Gabors 80th birthday as an appropriate time.

I was so surprised that I dont remember exactly how the ceremony went, Gabor said. I was a little confused.

He does remember that his son read a translation of the letter that his own father had written to him all those years ago.

You must also consider that if you cannot accom-plish your desires all by yourself, your decisions about your future especially the serious ones will also include help and consideration towards your parents, so they can continue helping you in the direction of your lifes choices, reads the letter, which Gabor had read to his daughter when she became a bat mitzvah. She died two years ago.

I never thought somebody would read it and translate it at my bar mitzvah, Gabor said.

Four days later, Gabor was called to the Torah at Temple Moses-Sephardic Congregation in Miami.

It was Rosh Hashanah, but we celebrated as though at a regular bar mitzvah, Galimidi-Hodara said. I had a chance to dance with him on the bimah.

The celebration, Gabe says, demonstrates a story of perseverance for the Jewish people, that 67 years later were still able to do this and the goals that Hitler set out werent achieved.

JTA Wire Service

Ivan Gabor, left, with wife Rebecca, son Gabe and daughter-in-law Lili, attending Florida International Universitys annual Torch Awards ceremony in 2012.

www.jstandard.com


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Their son, Gabe, adds, I cant remember a time in my life when he didnt remind me of the fact that he didnt have a bar mitzvah.

Rebecca decided to do some-thing about it without telling her husband.

She had an invitation sent to their Sunny Isles, Fla., home, invit-ing the couple to a 40th wedding anniversary celebration for friends to be held at Beit Torah in Aventu-ra, Fla. The Gabors walked into the reception hall and Ivan discovered the invitation was a ruse. It turned out he was the guest of honor at an 80th birthday party.

They yelled Surprise! Gabor said. They came over to congratu-late me.

But there was a second sur-prise for Gabor, not to mention a majority of the 180 guests: They were ushered into the sanctuary,

where Gabor was presented with a tallit. Rabbi Isaac Galimidi-Hodara led him in the blessing before walk-ing Gabor to the ark for what the rabbi called a mitz-vah ceremony.

While its not uncommon for men to mark a sec-ond bar mitzvah ceremony at age 83, in recognition of the 13 years theyve lived beyond the traditional three score and 10 mentioned in Psalms, Rebecca chose Gabors 80th birthday as an appropriate time.

I was so surprised that I dont remember exactly how the ceremony went, Gabor said. I was a little confused.

He does remember that his son read a translation of the letter that his own father had written to him all those years ago.

You must also consider that if you cannot accom-plish your desires all by yourself, your decisions about your future especially the serious ones will also include help and consideration towards your parents, so they can continue helping you in the direction of your lifes choices, reads the letter, which Gabor had read to his daughter when she became a bat mitzvah. She died two years ago.

I never thought somebody would read it and translate it at my bar mitzvah, Gabor said.

Four days later, Gabor was called to the Torah at Temple Moses-Sephardic Congregation in Miami.

It was Rosh Hashanah, but we celebrated as though at a regular bar mitzvah, Galimidi-Hodara said. I had a chance to dance with him on the bimah.

The celebration, Gabe says, demonstrates a story of perseverance for the Jewish people, that 67 years later were still able to do this and the goals that Hitler set out werent achieved.

JTA Wire Service

www.jstandard.com

Kaplen JCC on the Palisades411East Clinton AvenueTenafly, NJ 07670

Volunteer in our senior programs

Do homework help in our after-school program

Work in our athletics or drama classes

Work with children with special needs

Volunteer at onetime events, and more!

It is a once a week commitment.

The Teen Director conducts an intake meeting with each child, working together to choose the project best suited for that child.

Klene Up Krewe

The Klene Up Krewe was first formed in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which wreaked havoc on Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Twice a year the group travels to that area with rebuilding efforts. The trips involve a three day trip to New Orleans to help the city rebuild and rebound from the devastation caused by Katrina. The specific projects include re-building homes, working with schools and community gardens, and at food banks.

The group can accommodate 15-30 people per trip. Two trips take place per year-one in October and the other in January. The January trip coincides with Mar-tin Luther King weekend. Trips run Sunday through Tuesday.

The parent accompanying the child must supervise the child.

We welcome parents and their Bar/Bat mitzvah age as well as older children. Many high school and col-lege students have also participated. Yes, there is still a lot of work to do in New Orleans nine years later.

Children must be accompanied by a parent(s). The families must understand that the Klene Up Krewe days are long and may be physically demanding. All who have come with their kids have found the experi-ence very rewarding.

Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Institute (MSAWI)Riverdale Station-PO Box 293New York, NY 10471

Volunteers can participate in a Supporta-Soldier project:

Write personal cards accompanied by Sweet Treats, personal care and/or entertainment items.

Create care packages for American troops or Ameri-can Jewish troops that are oriented toward Shabbat or an upcoming Jewish holiday (Rosh Hashanah, Ha-nukkah, Purim or Passover) to send to troops over-seas.

MSAWI connects the community with the US military. MSAWI seeks to directly involve local communities in its mission so that those of us at home give of our most precious resource, our time.

One Family Fund1029 Teaneck RoadTeaneck, NJ 07666

One Family encourages teenagers who reach the age of Bar or Bat Mitzvah to dedicate their simcha to help-ing terror victims. As you celebrate your Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you are affirming your place in the Jewish community, with all the responsibilities and privileges that it brings. By helping victims of terror to go on with their lives, your own life will be greatly enriched and your Bar or Bat Mitzvah will be one of the most meaningful experiences of your life.

Twinning with a terror victim enables them to cel-ebrate their own Bar or Bar Mitzvah, if they are finan-

cially unable to do so, or provide other assistance to them and their families.

Twinning with a victim family offers an opportunity to connect on a deeper level, to really experience and help diminish their suffering. Often, you will find that the victim will become a part of your own family. Dur-ing the period of twinning the twins have ways of communicating with each other through letters and sometimes can meet one another in Israel. One Fam-ily tries to match up twins with their counterparts through similarities in personalities and hobbies.

Financial support at any level can make a big differ-ence. Among its services, One Family sends chil-dren who have been affected by terrorism to special summer camps, where they can connect with other children who have experienced the same tragedy. Time spent in wonderful summer activities with the help and support of specially trained staff helps them to heal. One Family provides educational funds for or-phans and long-term financial and emotional support for entire families.


BAR & BAT MITZVAHLessons in your homeLearn to read Hebrew

Cantor Barbra201-818-4088

Officiant for Baby NamingsCertified Cantor with 12+ years

of pulpit experience

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Officiant at Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies, Baby Namings and Weddings

201-818-4088 Cell: 201-788-6653e-mail: [email protected]

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Cantor Barbra Lieberstein

Certified Cantor with 12+ years of pulpit experience

Private or Small Group

Lessons in Your Home

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Convenient Morning, Evening & Sunday Hours

Richard S. Gertler, DMD, FAGDMichelle Bloch, DDSAri Frohlich, DMD

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Israeli moms search for a meaningful bat mitzvah leads back to AmericadeBRA rubIN

In Zoe Coleman-Beckers Tel Aviv circle of friends, bat mitzvah typically means a surfing party, an overnight in the desert, or a Japanese tea party. But Zoes mom, Pamela Becker, wanted her daughter to

have much more than that. She wanted a celebration that also was a meaningful Jewish experience.

Its relatively status quo to make a bar mitzvah in Israel, said Becker, who will be making a bar mitzvah for her four sons.

A bat mitzvah, on the other hand, is hugely diffi-cult you have to think totally out of the box to have the type of service she remembered having back in the United States.

She decided the best way to accomplish that was to plan a bat mitzvah celebration for Zoe in her child-hood synagogue, Agudat Achim in Schenectady, N.Y. even though Beckers parents, who live in nearby Loudonville, no longer belong to the Conservative shul.

Still, Becker and her parents felt an emotional connection to Agudat. In Tel Aviv, she says, we dont have any place that would be egalitarian and beautiful and have a sense of history.

The plans began last fall with a big question: Would the synagogue agree that even though the fam-ily does not belong, Zoe could become a bat mitzvah there? No problem. The rabbi gave his blessing, with the board following suit.

I knew this was a very special request and I was very touched that the family had a very strong con-nection to Agudat Achim, said Mery Gross, synagogue president at the time. The request was made during

Agudats 120th year celebration and it really speaks to the impact that the congregation has had on its con-gregants.

Once everyone was on board for the July 20 ser-vice, Zoe began studying her Torah portion and work-ing on a dvar Torah. The family arrived in the United States on July 4; four days later, Zoe learned that bnai mitzvah students also do a haftarah reading, along with the accompanying blessings. She was undeterred, wanting to do the same.

It was time for zaydie boot camp, as her grandfa-ther, Martin Becker, who spent hours helping her learn her haftarah portion and the blessings that accompa-ny it, put it. She met with bnai mitzvah tutor Alexan-dra Schmidt on Sunday, a week before the bat mitzvah, to be sure she was ready for the service. Her Torah por-tion was fine, but the haftarah?

She didnt really have it together, Schmidt says. Normally, Id say forget it, the child just wont do that part. But in Zoes case, shes a fine music student and obviously her Hebrew is native. She happens to have a grandfather who has ritual skills. She was motivated.

So Schmidt told her, Lets meet Wednesday just three days before the bat mitzvah. She came back Wednesday and it was fine, the tutor said. That does not happen often.

Becker was thrilled with the experience. But she still plans for her four sons to celebrate their bnai mitzvah in Israel, the start of a new family tradition.

As for 12-year-old Zoe: It felt good to be on the bima.

JTA Wire Service

Zoe Coleman-Becker at her bat mitzvah celebration, July 2013. evan lauber


Project S.A.R.A.H.199 Scoles AvenueClifton, NJ 07012

Assemble Kosher Kits for a womens shelter.

When a woman needs to leave an abusive relation-ship, she can go to a shelter specifically designed for this purpose. In New Jersey there are no shelters specifically for Jewish women, however, part of the work Project S.A.R.A.H. does is to make it possible for an observant Jewish woman to reside in a shelter as comfortably as possible. One way in which we help is by providing Kosher Kits containing kosher food and a few other necessities, to all shelters in the state. There is enough food for a woman and up to three children to last for 24 hours. (During that time the shelter contacts us to help provide kosher food for after that period.)

Contact Project S.A.R.A.H. for a list of kosher kit con-tents. A kosher kit must contain enough food for a woman and three children.

Collect toys, books, and other items for children in a shelter.

When children must leave their homes with their mother and are forced to go into a shelter, they find themselves without many of the familiar things that make their home their home. Childrens toys, Shab-bos games, books, crayons, and other accessories they need especially those with a Jewish theme are usually in short supply. You can collect such items from friends and family to donate to a shelter. (Items must be new or in excellent condition.)

Raise funds for victims of domestic violence.

Victims of domestic violence are often controlled financially by their abusers. If they have to leave the relationship, they frequently leave penniless and in need. Project S.A.R.A.H. helps them in any way pos-sible from finding housing, to getting kids to school, to providing free counseling. A donation to Project S.A.R.A.H. helps us provide all these services, and can be earmarked for a particular purpose if desired. We can be a part of your ceremony by presenting a cer-tificate at your bat mitzvah.

Visit http://projectsarah.org/how-you-can-help/bat-mitzvah-projects for more details on the various Bat Mitzvah program offerings.

Sharsheret1086 Teaneck Road, Suite 3ATeaneck, NJ 07666

Sharsheret offers meaningful Bat/Bar Mitzvah proj-ects for Bnai Mitzvah to participate in to raise aware-ness about breast cancer and ovarian cancer and their impact on the Jewish community.

Students work to increase awareness about breast and ovarian cancer in the Jewish community by dis-tributing resources and materials, so Sharsheret can help more women and their families.

Host a Pink/Teal Shabbat in your synagogue. In the spirit of Shabbat organize a pink challah baking party, using Sharsherets exclusive challah recipe, for you and your friends. Sell the challah to friends and family and include educational materials to raise awareness.

Giving Tzedakah, or charity, to others at a time when you are receiving so many special gifts can be very meaningful.

Set aside hours to volunteer in the Sharsheret office and assist the staff in coordinating Sharsherets pro-grams and upcoming events.

Exercise your love of sports and competitive edge to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Sharsheret is happy to work with Bnai Mitzvah stu-dents to design a meaningful Mitzvah project that focuses on the young adults interests.


411 E. Clinton Avenue,Tenafly, New Jersey 07670

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Join Today,Well Design the Best Program Just for You.

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tumble room

Indoor running track & two air-conditioned gyms

Were There When You Need Us! Day Care, Nursery School & Kindergarten

with remodeled classrooms, child friendly kitchen, indoor playrooms & tumble room

Parenting Center offering classes for newborn to 2+ years

Full range of afterschool enrichment, youth & teen programs including new teen lounge

Neil Klatskin Day Camp ACA accredited Adult programs Learning, Lifestyle & Leisure JCC Thurnauer School of Music NJSCA designated JCC School of Performing Arts

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Kaplen JCC on the Palisades 411 E. Clinton Avenue,Tenafly, New Jersey 07670

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S-2

S-2 Jewish Standard, Jewish Community News, Rockland Jewish Standard SUMMER 2013 BAR/BAT MITZVAH

Jewish Standard Bar/Bat Mitzvah Supplement, Summer 2014

Documents

Transcript of Jewish Standard Bar/Bat Mitzvah Supplement, Summer 2014