My favorite part of being Jewish is the food like, bagels and latkes. I also love getting together with family and friends at the holidays and creating new traditions. Becoming Bar Mitzvah means becoming a Jewish adult and having more responsibilities for the Jewish community, like leading services, reading Torah, and participating. Sheva has been fun because I like having interesting conversations with the rabbis and my friends. Preparing for my bar mitzvah confirmed what I already know because of all the times my parents brought me to services and participated in Jewish life at home.

For my mitzvah project, I sorted books that people had donated to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Then I volunteered at ImaginOn for Epicfest and helped families choose books to take home for free to build their home library. It was fun to see books I knew, and I really liked helping little kids find the book that they wanted. Lots of kids were really excited to have a book to take home. I will keep learning about Judaism by participating in Hebrew High and continue to learn more Torah by tutoring other b’nei mitzvah students in the future.

Asher is the son of Martha and Brian Yesowitch and the brother of Nora. His grandparents are Glenn and Pam Link of Augusta, GA and Bill and Judy Yesowitch of Delray Beach, FL. Send notes of congratulations.