My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating unique holidays and traditions. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something different and I’m more unique than the rest of the world. It is also a nice time to hang out with my family and eat all different food. Being a Bar Mitzvah means to me that I have been given responsibility and am now looked upon as an adult and not a kid. I have learned during my time preparing for my Bar Mitzvah that I don’t have to be hard on myself all the time, because if you want to accomplish something you need motivation not demotion.

My mitzvah project was working at a food pantry at Crisis Assistance Organization with my grandparents and volunteering to hang out with AIDS patients at Holy Angels. I chose this because I wanted to help people who are less fortunate than I am and help them with anything they needed. I was very happy I was a part of this and got to bond with my grandparents while doing so. This taught me that I have a very fortunate life and should be grateful for everything that my parents have done for me.

Now that I am finally a Jewish adult, I plan to keep on going to services and reading prayers as well as keeping up with the traditions and hopefully spreading it through my community.

Adam is the son of Jennifer and Mark Simpson. He is the brother of Carolyn Simpson. He is the grandson of Myron and Lynn Slutsky of Gastonia, NC, and Harry and Lois Simpson of Rockville, MD. Send messages of Mazel Tov to Adam.