My favorite thing about being Jewish is seeing family and friends on holidays. On Jewish holidays, we get an excuse to hang out with family and friends. I think that my Bar-Mitzvah is about my growth as an adult in the Jewish community. Many children to do not get to have a say in the community. As an adult, we have the power and responsibility to our community and the broader world. My hope is to change the world for the better.

For my mitzvah project, I volunteered at a place called Our Little Library in Charlotte. I chose to volunteer there because I love to read. I helped kids to read books and I listened to children reading. I learned that there are many children who are not as fortunate as me. I am thankful for what I have. Growing up, I was surrounded by books that were full of characters for me to learn about. Many of the kids I worked with did not have access to good books. While I was listening to a 7-year-old girl stumble through Cat on a Hat, I realized that aside from me and their teachers, these kids did not have anyone to read with. Their parents probably worked all day to provide a home and food for their kids. As a Jewish adult in my community now, I plan to become a madrich and tutor people for their bar mitzvahs.

Ryan is the son of Robyn and Evan in Charlotte, NC, the brother of Brooke and Jessica and the grandson of Linda Grunberg of Clark, NJ and Susan and Allen Wolkofsky of Parsippany, NJ. Messages of congratulations can be sent to his parents.