Mitzvah Project ideas

At our last program, I had students fill out a form indicating what they planning for mitzvah projects. I got some super responses and want to share some of them with you! Check back in the future for more ideas!

Lauren is going to attend Monday night minyan for her entire bat mitzvah year.

Leah is planning to volunteer at the Hebrew Home.

Erin is running in the Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research.

Paul is planning to do some pet therapy with his dog, Norton.

Kol Hakavod!

Great to see all the beautiful tallitot!

It was great to see all of you at our tallit program. Check out these pictures of our tzitzit tying experts!

Tallit program

What our students are up to!

Please read what soon-to-be bat mitzvah Deena, is doing for her mitzvah project!

"As part of my mitzvah project, I have decided to raise money to benefit breast cancer research, in celebration of my aunt Joanie ten-year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. The Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure is an amazing event where men and women who have struggled with breast cancer, or support breast cancer research, walk 60 miles in three days to help fund important research of the disease. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and will make a difference in the lives of many. Check out www.the3day.org for more information."

Thank you Deena, for sharing your work!

Great Video!

If you want to get a little primer on tying tzitzit, check out this great video! It is about ten minutes and will familiarize you with all the steps. It will make your tzitzit tying experience a breeze! I even learned a new tip regarding bobby pins!

Go to the Jewish Pathways video library by clicking below. Scroll down a little to see the video thumbnail.

View the video

What's Hot and What's Not?

In our workshops we talk a lot about keeping the 'mitzvah' in bar mitzvah and trying to remember what it is really all about. I know that I have mentioned the Mitzvah Chic (mitzvahchic.com) website before, but I found a great chart on that same site that kind of expresses the trend we are seeing and talking about. It is entitled "What's Hot and What's Not" in bar/bat mitzvah celebrations today. You can go directly to it by clicking What's Hot?

Take this Tallit Quiz!!

In researching materials for our upcoming program on tallit, I found this little four question quiz. There are no right or wrong answers and it will get us thinking about what the tallit is for and why we use it. It would be great for parents and students to do this quiz together! Click here to get to Rabbi Scheinerman's home page. Click "Tallit" on the side menu bar. On the Tallit page, scroll to the bottom and click on "Would you like to take the Tallit Exploratory Quiz?"

Let us know what you think!

Beth El Temple Bar/Bat Mitzvah Student's Mitzvah Projects

Here is a mitzvah project from the heart!

Jacob Cantor was born with complex congenital heart disease. He has had multiple open heart surgeries and many procedures. Because of this, he has become committed to the cause of research and the treatment of heart disease. He has participated in many medical studies for the benefit of other patients. He has been a volunteer with the Connecticut Chapter of the American Heart Association. His story was featured at the American Heart Association's CT fundraiser at Mohegan Sun last May. He is planning a team for the AHA's Hartford walk - a- thon in the fall. He also has been in discussions with the Foundation of the Connecticut Children's Medical Center to tell his story and inspire support for the Cardiology unit at the Center. Jacob doesn't view his involvement and his volunteer activities as a one time or even once a year event. He will continue to be involved in helping the Heart Assoc, other families with congenital heart disease and the CT Children's Medical Center and the Children's Hospital in Boston.

If you would like to get involved in this work too, you can contact Jacob and his family at shaboyz@comcast.net

Click for American Heart Association website.

Click for Connecticut Children's Medical Center website