My favorite thing about being Jewish is being able to meet other people who are Jewish and making Jewish friends. I get to make these Jewish friends at Temple and Hebrew school. I’m glad to become a Bat Mitzvah because it means I will have more responsibilities and I will be able to do more in the world because I am a Jewish adult. What I have learned about myself in preparing for my Bat Mitzvah is that if I work hard and study I can learn how to read from the Torah.

For my mitzvah project I held a drive and collected items for the homeless. I raised money and bought even more items. I put toiletries, clothes, hats, umbrellas, ponchos, and tissues in bags and brought them to a homeless shelter. I chose to do this because I think it’s important to help people who don’t have everything they need. It made me feel happy because I got the chance to help people and I have always wanted to do that. To keep learning about Judaism and living with Judaism I will go to Hebrew High and be involved with youth group events. I am also going to be a B’nei Mitzvah tutor.

Emma is the daughter of Randi and Jon Eccleston. She is the sister of Hannah Eccleston. She is the granddaughter of Vicki and Irwin Smolin of Charlotte, NC and Georgiann Eccleston of Glenburn, PA and the late Jon W. Eccleston. Send messages of congratulations.