My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating the holidays. I love eating all the fun foods, lighting the candles, and most importantly spending time with my family. My favorite Jewish holidays are Passover and Hanukkah. On the first day of Passover, we always go to my grandparents’ house to eat amazing foods, such as charoset and matzah. On Hanukkah, I love lighting the candles, playing dreidel, and eating chocolate gelt. It is during all the Jewish holidays that I feel closest to my faith. To me becoming a Bat Mitzvah means new responsibilities and more opportunities. I will make my own decisions and be more confident in what I do. When I was preparing for my Bat Mitzvah, I learned that with confidence and good time management, I could accomplish anything.

For my mitzvah project, I helped at Classroom Central and Freedom School, which are both organizations that help supply and support low income schools. I chose this as my project because I believe that everyone should have the best opportunity to get an education. After I finished my projects, I felt so proud that I helped students all over Charlotte. I will always remember that small changes can lead to a big impact. I want to continue growing as a Jewish adult. I plan to be a madricha and a tutor. I also plan to continue attending services and going to Hebrew High. I am very excited to become a Jewish adult.

Notes of congratulations can be sent to Katie’s parents, Margo and Joe Posnanski.