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B’nei Mitzvah

B'nei Mitzvah

Lily Stadler

Toldot
Saturday, November 14, 2026

What I love most about being Jewish is how it has helped me learn more about who I am and what is important to me. Being Jewish has taught me about kindness, responsibility, and being there for other people. I also love how I can connect my Jewish life to things I love, especially dance.

Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has been an important part of my personal journey. It was a big challenge, but along the way I’ve learned more about Judaism and also about myself. I’ve become more responsible, independent, and confident. 

For my mitzvah project, I held a glow party at my dance studio to raise money for someone in my dance community who was struggling with cancer. It was really special to help someone I care about and showed me how important it is to be kind and help others. It made me realize that even something small can make a big difference.

This experience has shown me that becoming a Bat Mitzvah is more than just having a ceremony. It means taking on new responsibilities, helping others, and becoming a bigger part of my Jewish community. I’m excited to keep learning, dancing, helping others, and growing into the person I want to be.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited for what comes next.




Bryce Rocha

Toldot
Saturday, November 14, 2026

The thing I love most about being Jewish is celebrating the holidays. I love learning about our history participating in traditions like searching for the afikoman on Passover or dipping apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah and eating hamantashen  on Purim. Also my grandma makes a great matzah ball soup.  

As I become a Bar Mitzvah, reaching this milestone means a lot to me because I know it is once in a lifetime and I am excited to become an adult in the Jewish community.  Through my preparation I’ve become more aware and proud of my Jewish identity  

For my mitzvah project, I volunteered with Crisis Assistance Ministry. I sorted clothes, made lunches and delivered them to needy people. I learned from this experience how important it is to support everyone in the community, especially those who are less fortunate so they have everything they need to live good, healthy lives.  

As I step into Jewish adulthood, I hope to someday hope to share the same Jewish traditions that I love with my future kids.  




Recent

Lexi Hutter

Vayeira
Saturday, October 31, 2026

For my Gemilut Chasadim project I volunteered for a school supply drive for families in need. I made bookmarks, sorted art supplies and helped load and unload a truck that brought the supplies to a fair.

One of the things I love the most about Judaism is teaching my friends about the holidays and sharing my love of Jewish traditions with them. As a Jewish adult, I am looking forward to continuing to study and learn about Jewish traditions, and to be a big part of the community. 




Elroy Haviv

Vayeira
Saturday, October 31, 2026

What I love most about being Jewish is celebrating Shabbat with my family. I love saying kiddush, lighting the candles and of course eating lots of challah (my favorite food!). Becoming a bar mitzvah has been one of the most meaningful achievements of my life. Though it has been challenging, I feel really proud of all of my hard work and dedication to get here. This journey has been a wonderful experience and has shaped who I am.

For my mitzvah project, I have been helping an old horse at the end of his life. I have been feeding him, mucking his stall and helping him get in and out of his stall throughout the day. I love stepping into Jewish adulthood because being Jewish is one of the best things in my life.




Alex Tauber

Lech-L'cha
Saturday, October 24, 2026

My Jewish religion is important because it is a part of my identity. My great grandparents fled Europe during WWII. I feel like I owe it to them to carry on the Jewish religion. One tradition I like is Passover dinner  with my family because it brings us together. I also like Shabbat dinner with my cousins when my  family is visiting them in Indiana. Next becoming a Jewish adult makes me think about Judaism more.

While preparing for my bar mitzvah I have discovered that I can do well when I put myself to it. For my Gemilut Chasadim project, I collected food items from people in my neighborhood. Then I put the food items into meal kits and delivered them to the food pantry. This  organization is important because it helps students in my community who are facing food insecurity.




Hayes Helton

Noach
Saturday, October 17, 2026

My favorite part of being Jewish is our traditions centered around family, friends, and food. My happiest memories are hanging out with my family on Rosh Hashanah, going to the Dombrowskis’ for break-fast, baking hamantaschen with my grandmother, lighting the candles at Hanukkah, and enjoying matzah ball soup and challah all year long!

For my Mitzvah project, I volunteered with the food pantry that is part of Jewish Family Services of Greater Charlotte and with Abraham’s Tent (Room in the Inn), and organized a neighborhood food drive for Nourish Up. I chose these projects because our family is very fortunate to always have food on the table, but I know that isn’t the case for many families right here in Charlotte. It feels incredibly rewarding to know I can help my neighbors get the meals they need.

After my Bar Mitzvah, I want to continue learning about Judaism and being part of Jewish life. I look forward to celebrating holidays, going to services, continuing to learn, and helping my brother as he gets ready for his own Bar Mitzvah. I know there is still a lot for me to learn about being Jewish, and I look forward to learning more in the future.

Alexis Hall

Noach
Saturday, October 17, 2026

The things I love most about being Jewish are the traditions my mom creates and how they bring our whole family closer together. I love how my mom hides the presents for Hanukkah and makes delicious food for the holidays.

As I become a Bat Mitzvah, it makes me think about everything I have done so far in my life. It feels almost like a new beginning and makes me think about how I want to make the future as good as I can.

Through all the hard work and practice to get to this point, I have learned that if you really put effort into something and have a good community at your back, the outcome can be amazing.

For my service project, I chose to help younger kids at a tennis camp over the summer. This showed me how much your actions can change someone else’s experience. I also learned how much fun it can be to look on the good side of things and enjoy what you are doing.

As I step into Jewish adulthood, I won’t forget everything that got me here, from Sunday school to all the practicing for this moment. I am excited to keep sharing my Jewish values and celebrating with all the loving people around me.

Norah Minchew

Bereishit
Saturday, October 10, 2026
I love being Jewish because it makes me feel special and gives me a strong sense of identity. Many of the people I know have a different religion. While some of my peers might not want to be different, I actually like it. Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah means taking on new responsibilities and beginning to choose how I want to practice my religion. Through this journey, I have also discovered how much joy I find in bringing joy to others.
 
For my mitzvah project, I volunteered with Shalom Green through its Pe’ah Forward program. I learned how this work reduces food waste while providing healthier food to people in our community who need it. As I enter Jewish adulthood, I look forward to continuing to celebrate holidays such as Passover and Hanukkah, spending time with friends and family in our sukkah, and one day passing these meaningful Jewish traditions on to the next generation.

Henry Batt

Bereishit
Saturday, October 10, 2026
The one thing that I like about being Jewish is my family being together. For example, every Rosh Hashanah my family goes up to my Grandma’s house to celebrate. What this milestone means to me is that I am maturing and growing both mentally and physically.
 
Through my studies, I have discovered who I am as a Jewish person and I feel connected to the stories of the Torah.  I plan to practice Judaism throughout my entire life, to continue learning, attending worship, and observing the traditions, like fasting on Yom Kippur, or not eating bread for 8 days during Passover. I will live a Jewish life through learning and celebrating the holidays.

Shaun Peterson

Ki Tavo
Saturday, August 29, 2026

My favorite things about Judaism are the rituals, traditions, and values. Some examples are the mezuzah, dietary laws, and the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. I also like the Jewish belief that we are all made in the image of God, so every human being is worthy of dignity, equality, and respect.

For me, becoming an adult in this community means devoting my life to loving God, following the laws that God set, and being and doing my best. Through my preparation in Religious School and Sheva, I have learned a lot about Jewish history, culture, beliefs, and prayers.

In the future, I plan to become a member of Hebrew High and LIBERTY, and also become a madrich.

Jenna Falkowitz

Ki Teitzei
Saturday, August 22, 2026

What I love most about being Jewish is celebrating Chanukah because my family and I get to spend a lot of time together. We eat jelly doughnuts and latkes,light the menorah and play dreidel! This milestone of becoming a Bat Mitzvah means so much to me and it feels so exciting to take on the new responsibilities as a Jewish adult. Through my studies in Sheva, I have learned that I love learning new things and challenging myself. This journey has opened up so many doors for me because now I can read in another language.

For my Gemulit Chasadim project I did a tumbling clinic in my neighborhood. I chose this project because I love gymnastics and I wanted to help kids learn how to love the sport just like I do. From this experience I learned that I love teaching gymnastics. As I step into Jewish adulthood I am going to continue to celebrate all the holidays, go to services at the temple and do family traditions. I am excited to continue doing all of the traditions on holidays.

Grant Bialeck

Ki Teitzei
Saturday, August 22, 2026

Today is a very special milestone in my life as I become a Bar Mitzvah. What I love most about being Jewish is the Temple Beth El community and the traditions that bring my family and friends closer together. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means taking on new responsibilities as a Jewish adult. Through my studies, I discovered that I can accomplish difficult things if I stay determined and never give up.

My Gemilut Chasadim project taught me the importance of treating everyone with kindness, respect, and dignity. As I continue my journey, I’m excited to keep learning about Judaism, staying involved at Temple Beth El, and continuing to celebrate Jewish traditions with my family and friends.

Colin Brock-Boone

Korach
Saturday, June 20, 2026
I like being Jewish. I love the yummy foods! I eat Sufganyoit with my family at Chanukah. I love eating Challah French toast after Shabbat. I share Chanukah with my school every year and I show them how to play dreidel. Dayenu and Oseh Shalom are my favorite melodies. 
 
I also love the friends I met at Jewish summer camp. I went to Camp Yofi, a Jewish summer camp for kids with Autism and their families. Walker and Adam are my best friends. If you have kids with Autism, you should go to Camp Yofi. It’s the best!

Quincy Thomas

Sh'lach
Saturday, June 13, 2026

What I most love about being Jewish is how kind, and caring the community is and how the community makes sure everyone fits in. I also love the connection between Jewish holiday traditions and our history and culture. As I become Bar Mitzvah, this milestone means that I am maturing and growing and therefore am capable of taking on new responsibilities as a Jewish adult. In my studies, I’ve discovered that I enjoyed writing my d’var torah and I feel more confident in my Jewish knowledge.

For my Mitzvah project, my brother and I used our talented art skills to make posters for donations for Kindness Confetti. We chose this organization because we have volunteered there many times and it gives back to the community by supporting librarians and first responders like police officers, firefighters and EMTs. As I step into Jewish adulthood, I still want to improve my knowledge in Judaism and I’m excited to see where my journey takes me.

Ryen Josiah Thomas

Sh'lach
Saturday, June 13, 2026

I really love the deep history and traditions of Judaism. It was a main reason why I wanted to convert. As I become a bar mitzvah, I’m excited to become a Jewish adult, and ready to take on the added responsibilities.

Through our preparation, I have discovered a love for the cultural traditions of Judaism, especially the prayers and melodies. For my mitzvah project, Quincy and I created posters and decorated boxes to raise donations for two causes, snacks for public service workers, and creative resources for children in hospitals. We did this to use our love of art, to help fundraise for these important causes. I plan to continue learning about Judaism’s history and culture, while living a responsible life.

Addison Isralow

B'ha'alotcha
Saturday, June 6, 2026

One of the things I love about being Jewish is that it makes me unique from my friends at school. I love sharing about my faith and answering people’s questions about Judaism, when I can!  Really, I love the traditions of the holidays.  Reading the Haggadah on Passover (the kids version and the adult version) and lighting the candles every night for Hanukkah to name a couple.  

The milestone of becoming a bat mitzvah means to me that I am growing up.  Obviously, not in a “I’m going to get a job and my own apartment” kind of way but in a sense of counting in a minyan, or fasting for Yom Kippur (ok maybe not that one) but you get the idea.  This also comes with more responsibility in the Jewish faith. 

One thing I have discovered is that I do not know Hebrew all that well!  I have practiced a lot and you will never know it but it has been a struggle.  However, it has shaped me into becoming a better Jewish person and has given me a better understanding of the Torah.

My mitzvah project is Paws of War which helps place service animals with veterans.  I love animals and I love people and thought this was a great way to combine the two.  

After my Bat Mitzvah, I plan to continue to go to temple and learn about the Jewish faith.  I will continue to practice the traditions that I have grown up with, making them more a part of me than just because it is what my family did or told me to do.  



Penelope Rubenstein

Nasso
Saturday, May 30, 2026

Becoming bat mitzvah means being accepted into the congregation and taking responsibility for what Judaism means to me. I love celebrating the Jewish holidays because the rituals are fun and they make me feel closer to God.

Preparing for my bat mitzvah service was more difficult than I thought it would be, but I have learned many skills to help me study. One of the most important parts of this process was my mitzvah project. I volunteered with a special program called “Petals to Purpose,” which takes flower donations from events and makes bouquets for places like the Ronald McDonald house and hospitals. I learned the importance of bringing joy to others.

Greaber Kahan

Nasso
Saturday, May 30, 2026

My favorite part about being Jewish is the community and friends I have made from going to Jewish summer camps and going  to Sunday school. I feel very blessed and honored to be Jewish and always have a place where I can be myself.

Becoming a bar mitzvah represents taking on more responsibility and growing in my maturity. I think I have grown by learning how to balance all of my commitments, including my school life, my soccer life, and my Jewish life. It should be no surprise that I did a soccer related mitzvah project. I held a soccer ball drive where I collected over 100 soccer balls that will be distributed to Mecklenburg County parks and rec. I also did a free soccer clinic with a group of 7 and 8 year-olds. I really want to make sure that every kid has a chance to play such a fun game that has had such an impact on my life. I want everyone to have that same opportunity that I did.

Harper Weiss

Bamidbar
Saturday, May 16, 2026

What I love most about being Jewish is the traditions with my family like playing dreidel on Chanukah and going to Disney World in our Chanukah pajamas. By becoming a bat mitzvah, it means I am taking on new responsibilities and can help teach my brother about Judaism and be a role model for him. 

This journey has shaped who I am because I have learned so much about what it means to be Jewish and have learned a lot about our history and the stories in the Torah.




Caleb Shaw

Behar/Bechukotai
Saturday, May 9, 2026

I love spending time with the people I care about, whether that means hanging out, laughing together, or sharing important moments like this one. I also enjoy trying new things, challenging myself, and continuing to learn and grow. Becoming a Jewish adult means continuing my journey by taking part in Jewish life and activities, celebrating holidays with friends and family, and continuing to learn. Becoming a bar mitzvah means that I am becoming more mature and taking on more responsibilities. Today is not just about celebrating. It is also about reaching an important milestone in my life and taking on greater responsibility in my Jewish journey. I have stayed close with other Jewish people and friends whom I would only know because of Hebrew school. I plan to continue learning, possibly become a madrich, and take classes in Hebrew High. Thank you for being here and for your love and support.

Maya Lutwick

Behar/Bechukotai
Saturday, May 9, 2026

My favorite part of being Jewish is celebrating the holidays. I love that these traditions have been passed down for thousands of years, and that each one carries its own meaning, history, and spirit. Over the years in Hebrew school, I have learned not only about the holidays themselves, but also about how Judaism keeps them alive in ways that continue to bring people together.

Becoming a Bat Mitzvah means building a strong Jewish foundation for myself and for my future family. It is a moment that reminds me that hard work and dedication pay off. As I stand on the bimah and recite these prayers, I know that all the time I spent studying Hebrew helped make this possible.

For my mitzvah project, I volunteered with Shalom Green and TreesCharlotte, helping care for the earth and bring more life into the world. I hope to continue learning by building strong relationships in the Jewish community and celebrating many holidays together.