I’m becoming a Bat Mitzvah to increase my knowledge of Judaism and to consider myself a Jewish adult. When I was younger I thought otherwise and didn’t quite understand the meaning of B’nei Mitzvah, so this is kind of like my turning point out of my immature state. When I was younger, I didn’t want to have a Bat Mitzvah because I wouldn’t be allowed to get a free ice cream gift card on my birthday. Later on in life, I was told that you had a big party to celebrate a Bat Mitzvah and I became interested. That became my main purpose for having a Bat Mitzvah until about sixth grade when I started preparing and realized that there is more to it than the party. Once I really got the hang of Hebrew, everything made much more sense and it taught me to appreciate my learning. I was a late starter to Hebrew. I didn’t begin until fourth grade and was tutored for the next two years to catch up. Once sixth grade came around, I really knew my Hebrew from all the tutoring and I was ahead, which made everything much easier. After my Bat Mitzvah, I plan to become a madricha and tutor other kids. I will attend Hebrew High, as well.

For my mitzvah project, I volunteered for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). I was inspired to help people with type one diabetes from the Brown and Chiaradio family. I wanted to get involved, so I sponsored the Pressley family, and their daughter Samantha taught me a lot about diabetes and the struggle diabetes brings. She also told me about her amazing dog, Moonpie, that can tell when her blood sugar is high or low and I was privileged to get to play with the puppies that will begin diabetes training. I went to a wonderful diabetes training to expand my knowledge of type one diabetes and to help with the program, and I even got to check my own blood sugar. After talking to Samantha, I learned that she wanted to attend the GALA, which is a diabetes event held to raise money towards type one diabetes research. It’s expensive to get in because they are trying to raise as much money as possible. After hearing this, I raised funds from my family and friends. I raised so much money that I could buy tickets for me, Samantha and my neighbor Brian who also has diabetes to attend.

Kiera is the daughter of Anna and Michael Schneiderman. She is the granddaughter of the Freddie Waddell and late Don Waddell and Sandy and Alan Schneiderman. She is the sibling of Ethan.

Words of Mazel Tov can be sent to Anna.Schneiderman@yahoo.com.