One of the things I love most about being Jewish is the strong sense of tradition going back thousands of years. I also really enjoy all of the symbolism from the Torah and celebrating so many holidays. It is an honor for me to become bar mitzvah because I am on my way to becoming a man and I am grateful the opportunity to lead my first service. In preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I came to realize how much I learned at Charlotte Jewish Day school because between my education there and Cantor Mary’s incredible support, my Bar Mitzvah preparation proved to be far easier than I ever anticipated. My mitzvah project was to work with the Servants with a Heart organization, helping to prepare 50,000 packages of food to people in need in Central America. It really made me grateful for everything that I have. I am going to continue going to Temple services and learning the Torah.

Austin Adler is the son of Rob Adler and Marina Adler. He is the grandson of David Adler and Emily Adler, Hypoluxo Island, Florida, and Marina Rossi, Charlotte, North Carolina. Send notes of mazel tov.