I am becoming a Bat Mitzvah because this is something that my father’s side of the family has always done. My father became Bar Mitzvah at Temple Beth Emunah in Brockton, Massachusetts and my grandfather was President of this synagogue. I went to the Charlotte Jewish Preschool, to Religious School since Kindergarten, Hebrew School since third grade, and tutoring for the past very, very, very, long five months. It was an incredibly long journey and I am very thankful that it is almost done. I am proud of all that I have learned. I am proud of reading from the Torah and leading the prayers. After my Bat Mitzvah, I plan to continue to celebrate the Jewish holidays, and I hope to one day raise kids and to make their lives hard by going through all the religious school too. I am proud of being Jewish because we have Chanukah, and we have Yom Kippur, and I get to have a Bat Mitzvah. I am considering become a B’nei Mitzvah tutor when I am in eighth grade.

For my mitzvah project, I am working at the Samaritan’s House, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Soup Kitchen at Urban Ministry. I am helping to feed the hungry and homeless. I feel good knowing I am helping others in my community.

Ava is the daughter of Virginia Gentile and Marc Gentile. She is the granddaughter of Paula and Doug Gentile of Charlotte and Elaine Talley of Gastonia and the late Skip Lahser.

Words of Mazel Tov can be sent to gentileva@hotmail.com.