My favorite thing about being Jewish is listening to all of the stories in the Torah. I find them fascinating. Becoming a bat mitzvah, means that I am officially a part of my Jewish community. I have learned that it requires hard work to accomplish a big task.

My mitzvah project consisted of helping my teachers set up their classrooms during the summer and participation in the Open House for new students. I also cleaned up trash during Matthews Alive Festival. I chose these tasks because I wanted to find ways to help my community and be more involved. When I was cleaning up trash and setting up classrooms, I learned that there are tasks we shouldn’t take for granted. I realize now that our teachers work countless hours to make our learning environment as clean and fun as possible. I also came to understand how much work and effort is put into simply picking up trash. I plan to keep learning about and living with Judaism by going to services and to read and learn the stories of my Jewish ancestors.

Blake and Logan Sterling are the daughters of Brian and Elizabeth Sterling. They are identical twin sisters. They are the granddaughters of Annette and Tom Landvatter of West Bend, WI and Alan and Pam Sterling of Indian Land, SC. Notes of Mazel Tov can be sent to: mrseasterling@gmail.com.