B'nei Mitzvah
Lea Carvajal
Chukat
Saturday, July 13, 2024
My favorite part about being Jewish is the food. I love chocolate babka, matzo ball soup and noodle kugel. I especially enjoy making these foods with my mom and grandma. It’s fun learning the recipes that have been passed down throughout my family. In preparing for my Bat Mitzvah, I learned that hard work pays off. I liked learning about Shabbat prayers and knowing how helpful it will be for my future as a Jewish adult.
For my Bat Mitzvah project, I chose to work with the March of Dimes because of how much they helped me and my family when I was born prematurely. My favorite part of helping the March of Dimes was when I was able to co-emcee the March for Babies walk and speak to a large company about the organization and why I was involved.
I’m excited to continue my Jewish studies in Hebrew High and working with the Temple Beth El Religious school students as a Madrichim.
Thank you to all who have supported me to reach this special day.
Recent
Aiden Young
Beha'alotcha
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Hannah Young
Beha'alotcha
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Clara Frank
Naso
Saturday, June 15, 2024 (service in Canada)
My favorite part about being Jewish is camp. This summer will be my third year going to Camp Blue Star and it has made the biggest impact on me. I’ve met my best friends while learning more about Judaism. We celebrate Shabbat every Friday night and Saturday morning. Everyone at camp goes to chapel for prayers as well as Shabbat dinner. This is one of my favorite parts of camp because, aside from all of our Jewish campers, we get to teach the non-Jewish counselors about our religion and they enjoy it a lot. At Blue Star we have prayers we sing before and after meals. These aren’t just regular prayers; we make up specific choreography to go with them. We bang on tables, clap, and even yell sometimes (not on Shabbat). I added this because not only is it part of our religion, but it makes the prayers easier and more fun to learn.
Becoming a bat-mitzvah means a lot to me. It means not only becoming an adult, but also learning and trying new things. This will help me become the best person I can be, with even bigger responsibilities.
My Mitzvah Project is making chemo bags for current patients at Levine Cancer Center. My mom was diagnosed with cancer four years ago. Luckily, she is healthy now but she had a hard time during chemotherapy. Some things that helped with her specific symptoms were lip balm, lemon drops, tea bags, fuzzy socks, and encouraging words. These are the types of things we are donating to patients at Levine.
I plan to keep learning Judaism through Hebrew High and hopefully become a madricha to teach younger children more about our amazing people. My parents are Alain Frank and Audrey Afflerbach, my older sister is Sophie Frank, and I have a furry brother named Winston.
Sidney Bish
Bamidbar
Saturday, June 8, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is the holiday traditions we share, such as playing dreidel at Hanukkah time, making matzah ball soup, and ringing noise makers at Purim. Being a Bat Mitzvah means to me that I am trusted with more responsibility and independence, and I get the opportunity to be a bigger part of my community. Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has shown me that I can find balance when things get challenging. Taking some time each day to work on my Torah portion, Haftarah, and my speeches helped me keep from getting too overwhelmed while also managing school, sports, and life in general.
My mitzvah project was volunteering in organized park cleanups with Shalom Green and Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Rec, and visiting parks and greenways with my family on our own to clean and pick up common areas. Taking care of the environment has always been important to me, and this project helped me make a positive impact by caring for spaces that our whole community enjoys.
After my bat mitzvah, I plan to keep being an active participant in our Jewish community. I am considering attending Hebrew High or being a tutor for future b’nei mitzvah students. I will also continue the mitzvah of tikkun olam (repairing the world) by organizing park cleanups over the summer and beyond.
My parents are Jennifer and Michael Bish, and I have a younger brother, Jack. My grandparents are Berna Sorscher, from Flint, MI, and Margaret Bish and Jack Bish from Knox, PA.
Hudson Ader
Bamidbar
Saturday, June 8, 2024
The best thing about being Jewish is the people. I’m still close with my three best friends from Charlotte Jewish Preschool. My family has been in a supper club since I was 6, and I am the last of the group to have a bar mitzvah. I have made friends from religious school, sheva, Camp Mindy, JCC swim team, and JCC interfaith basketball.
To me becoming a bar mitzvah means putting an end to my childhood learning like preschool, Sunday school, Hebrew school and sheva and beginning a Jewish life with more choices of how I meet people and what and how I learn. I plan to join youth groups and hope to travel to meet Jewish teens from all over the United States.
For my mitzvah project, I created the Healing Hearts Cookie Project. Every year, I will bake my mom’s chocolate chip cookies and deliver them to kids who lost a parent to cancer on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. My mom is living with cancer and if I lost my mom, Mother’s Day would be my worst day. So this is probably their worst day because it reminds them of what they don’t have anymore. This Mother’s Day, I delivered 132 cookies to eleven kids. It was an amazing experience and it reminded me of how small acts of kindness can mean a lot. It made my day to bring a smile to their face. My project is about more than cookies. It is about what these kids and I have in common and how I can help them feel seen. Creating this project for my bar mitzvah gave me a lifelong connection I will continue each year.
After my bar mitzvah, I will continue to practice Judaism and keep and make new Jewish friends. I will continue the mitzvah of the Healing Hearts Cookie Project. I also want to become a madracha to connect with Jewish kids to help them love being Jewish too.
Sasha Erickson
B'chukotai
Saturday, June 1, 2024
I love being Jewish. My favorite thing about being Jewish is the traditions we follow as we celebrate Shabbat and the Jewish Holidays, including lighting Shabbat candles, reading the Haggadah on Passover, eating apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah, and lighting the menorah on Hanukkah. I also love the connection all Jews have to Israel. I am so proud to become a Bat Mitzvah and to be able to continue the traditions of the Jewish People. In preparing for my Bat Mitzvah, I have learned that perseverance and hard work pay off, and I have liked learning more about Shabbat prayers and my Torah Portion.
I chose to support Crittenton for my Mitzvah Project. This important service is over 120 years old and has helped more than 45,000 young mothers, teens, and children in the Charlotte area create better lives for themselves and their families. https://crittentonofnc.org/about-florence-crittenton/
I chose to start a clothing drive among my family and friends to donate to Crittenton to help young mothers and children in need. My mitzvah project helped me to see how lucky I am to have a supportive family that provides me with love and everything I need.
I am excited to see what my next chapter of Jewish life will bring. Thank you to all who have supported me to reach this special day. Sasha is the daughter of Mara and Brian Erickson. She has one younger brother, Ethan, and a Tibetan Terrier named Bebe. She is the granddaughter of Marlene Berger (Nanuet, NY) and Dr. Samuel Berger, may his memory be for a blessing, and Jeanne and Edwin Erickson (Charlotte, NC).
Lillian Yin
B'chukotai
Saturday, June 1, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is that I get to celebrate a ton of holidays that are very different from the other holidays that are celebrated in America. To me becoming a Bat Mitzvah means that I am going to be considered a Jewish adult. Which means I am going to have more responsibilities. In preparing for my Bat Mitzvah, I have learned that I need to manage time better. It took a lot of time to practice my Torah portion and write my speeches, and I had to work hard to keep up with everything on top of my regular responsibilities.
My Mitzvah Project was working with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, and I was able to help out with cleaning the greenway, the Senior Games track and field events, and the Fairy Garden Festival. I chose these projects because I like going on the greenway and it is important to help keep it clean for everyone to enjoy and to keep the environment healthy. It was also really fun to see all the seniors running and throwing a discus and getting medals. Some of them were really fast runners! I plan to keep learning about Judaism by attending Hebrew High and attending services.
Hunter Greenberg
Emor
Saturday, May 18, 2024
Katie Ryley
Emor
Saturday, May 18, 2024
My Favorite thing about being Jewish is probably being able to go to temple every Sunday for my Sheva (religious school). While being a member of temple Beth El, I have made so many memories and friends and I have loved it every second of the way. The rabbis and cantors here at Temple Beth El have guided me and my family through our entire journey. To become a bat mitzvah, to me it means officially being able to make my own choices for what I do next for my religion. Personally, I am deciding to go to Hebrew high and become a madrichim. I would love to be a madrichim for little kids. In Sheva, I have learned that the thing I want to do most is get closer to God. Every time someone asks me what I want the most for being Jewish, I always answer with how I want to be super close with God.
My mitzvah project was helping out at local shelters or food kitchens. I did this for my mitzvah project because one of my favorite things to do is to help people in need. A while back, I realized that I have it way better then others do, like WAY better. So, I started helping out others as much as I could from then on. Every chance I would get I would volunteer at food kitchens or shelters.
I plan to keep learning about Judaism by going to Hebrew high. My goal is to become a madrichim, or bat mitzvah tutor. I will also go to the temple for shabbat services, and other services that I would have the chance to attend. To keep living with Judaism, I will always celebrate Jewish holidays, sacred occasions, and traditions with my family and my future family.
Thank you for reading this and attending my bat mitzvah, This is a very special occasion for me and I’m very happy I could celebrate it with you. This means so much to me that I am able to have all the people that are attending today, be attending today. Have an amazing day! I hope you make great memories like I will today.
Nora Amo
Emor
Saturday, May 18, 2024
There are many things that I love about being Jewish but if I had to pick two, my favorite things would be celebrating the holidays with my family and attending Camp Barney every summer. Becoming a Bat Mitzvah for me means growing into adulthood and being responsible for my actions. This whole process of preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has taught me that I can get through challenges life throws at me, like juggling many tasks like sports, school and learning Hebrew by working hard and being dedicated.
For part of my mitzvah project, I volunteered at Magen David Adom at Temple Israel. I helped volunteer at the event by cleaning up, watching kids at the bounce house, etc. It was a nice event and it helped to support Israel by providing them an ambulance during their time of need post October 7th. I plan on doing additional volunteer work this summer as well.
Now that I am a Jewish adult, I plan on continuing to attend Friday Shabbat and I will possibly consider attending Hebrew High. And of course, I will continue celebrating and learning about Judaism as a family by celebrating the holidays and upholding our traditions.
Nora is the daughter of Brooke and Anthony Amo. She has one brother (Mikah) and one younger sister (Lucy). She is the granddaughter of Barb and Steve Frank (Hilton Head, SC) and Penny and Louie Amo (Rome, NY).
Nathan Minchew
Kedoshim
Saturday, May 11, 2024
My favorite part about being Jewish is getting to celebrate our many holidays with my family. My favorite Jewish holiday is Chanukah. I like it because it is a way that we can show each other how much we care for one another through gifts and spending time together. To become a bar mitzvah means to me being able to take part in Jewish traditions on your own like willingly going to services, lighting the Chanukah candles, and fasting on Yom Kippur.
Through preparing for my bar mitzvah, I have learned that I like helping others. My Torah portion has reinforced this by instructing me to not take everything for myself, whether it’s money or food or time, but to always give some to others less fortunate than me.
My parents names are Summer Minchew and Matt Minchew. My sibling’s name is Norah Minchew. My grandparents are Suzanne and Steve Allison of Matthews, NC and Jo and Ed Minchew of Matthews, NC.
Aiden Sherrill
Kedoshim
Saturday, May 11, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is our traditions, the way we celebrate them with our family, and the loving community that has supported me throughout my life. The process of becoming a bar mitzvah has deepened my understanding of Jewish history and the experiences of my ancestors. For me, becoming a bar mitzvah is a stepping stone toward greater responsibilities. Judaism has taught me that in difficult times, our community and the wisdom of our tradition provide answers to life’s big questions and support when I need it most.
For my mitzvah project, I collected food for the Jewish Family Service food pantry. I chose this project because I understand the importance of having a meal, and I recognize that there are people in our community who are in need. The recent events in Israel have reinforced the importance of caring for those in our own community. Moving forward, I plan to continue learning and practicing Jewish traditions, staying connected with the Jewish community, and celebrating Jewish holidays with my family.
Aiden is the son of Lisa and the late Todd (z”l) Sherrill, and the younger brother of Jackson. His grandmother is Harriet Hurlich.
Zachary Althofer
Acharei Mot
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Preparing for my Bar Mitzvah has definitely reinforced that my favorite thing about being Jewish is the community. I have always felt that the Jewish community was close and so supportive and I feel that way even more now. I am excited to become a Bar Mitzvah because it means I’m becoming a man and starting a new chapter of my life as I become an adult in the Jewish community.
Preparing for my Bar Mitzvah has not always been easy, and juggling all the competing things I need to do between school, studying Hebrew, basketball and being with friends has been a challenge. I have learned that being an adult means you are often pulled in different directions, and to have the support of a strong community is important. For my mitzvah project, I wanted to focus on impacting my community in a way that holds special meaning to me. I’ve always been an adventurous person with food and love trying anything new I can. Having access to nutritious food and having the comfort of knowing you don’t have to worry about where your next meal will come from is so important and something I’ve never had to think about. I wanted to help provide that feeling to my community and so I volunteered at Shalom Green helping to grow food for those in need, made sandwiches with Mecklenburg Ministries for the homeless, made 150 snack bags for the boys and girls club with my friend Michael Kahn, made food for Room at the Inn, and organized a food drive, collecting over 478 pounds of food to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
To me, being a Jewish adult means never forgetting to be thankful for all that I have and to make sure I continue to give back to my community.
Zach’s mom and dad are Lauren and Eric Althofer and Zach has two younger brothers, Levi and Hank, as well as his dog Jasper. Zach’s proud grandparents are Neil and Karen Pinsky, who live in Lincolnshire, Illinois and Gerd and Beth Althofer who live in New York City, NY. All mazels can be sent here or here
Ian Greenwald
Acharei Mot
Saturday, May 4, 2024
My favorite part of being Jewish is being a part of a wonderful community where everyone has my back and is kind to me. While becoming a bar mitzvah means that I’m an adult as a Jew, it really means that I’m responsible for learning and acting with greater responsibility.
Through preparing to become a bar mitzvah, I learned that I can accomplish large tasks, even across great distances. For my mitzvah project, I am working for a talent show and performance, volunteering my time to help theater in the Indianapolis area. I love theater and this was a great way to help other people to enjoy the performing arts. In Indianapolis there is a class through my Temple called “D’var Torah,” where you continue to learn about yourself and Judaism. I will continue to learn and participate in the community, celebrating holidays and Jewish life.
Ian is the son of Jodi and Josh Greenwald. His older brother is Max.
Ethan Fosnaugh
M'tzora
Saturday, April 20, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is the Jewish traditions. Some of my favorite traditions are lighting the candles on Shabbat and Chanukah and making hamantaschen on Purim. To me, the process of having a Bar Mitzvah means finding a connection to my family members who have gone through the same process. Having a Bar Mitzvah has also made me grateful that I can openly be Jewish because my grandparents, who were born in the Soviet Union, had to hide their religion and could not have a Bar Mitzvah. While preparing for my Bar Mitzvah, I have learned the importance of hard work. If I did not put in hard work, I would not have learned the things I needed for my Bar Mitzvah. After my Bar Mitzvah, I plan to continue to celebrate Jewish holidays and participate in traditions.
For my Mitzvah project, I helped Turning Point which is a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence by providing meals and babysitting. I also assembled bags of food for Blessings in a Backpack which is an organization that gives food to families with kids that need it over the weekends because they rely on what schools provide during the week. I chose this project because I wanted to help people in my community that are in a bad situation. By doing this project I did what I could to help others, and I helped causes that I think are important.
Thank you for joining me on this special day!
My parents are Adam Fosnaugh and Rina Roginsky. My grandparents are Vitaly and Valia Bergelson of Columbus, Ohio and Neil and Lorraine Fosnaugh of Phoenix, Arizona.
Gemma Novak
M'tzora
Saturday, April 20, 2024
My favorite part about being Jewish is all of the holidays and the great food we get to share. I love making latkes with my Mom at Chanukah and Matzo Brie & Charoset at Passover. I enjoy having Matzo Ball Soup anytime! It’s special to give gifts at Chanukah and the Purim Spiel is always fun.
Becoming a Bat Mitzvah has taught me the importance of time management, as I juggle school, dance, and my Hebrew studies to prepare for this once in a lifetime event. In a world where I am still a kid at school and home, it’s cool to be treated as an adult in the Jewish community.
For my Bat Mitzvah project, I raised funds to purchase Playtime Edventures Bedsheets for Kids to be donated to hospitals and charity organizations. These help the kids who could be stuck in a hospital be entertained and help keep their minds off their troubles. It also lifts up the spirits of kids in need. This makes me realize how fortunate I really am.
I plan to continue celebrating all the Jewish holidays, attending services, and being involved in Jewish youth group organizations as I enter High School.
My parents are Julie Tache and Brian Novak. My grandparents are Ron and Karen Novak in Ohio, and the late Martin and late Sally Kohlenberg.
Haley Klingberg
Tazria
Saturday, April 13, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is spending time with my family during the holidays we celebrate. I enjoy the simple things like watching my sister or cousin light the candles and sing the prayers during Hanukkah, or going to Friday night services and hearing my younger cousin sing. And making memories with my family and my community that I will never forget.
To me, becoming Bat Mitzvah is being accepted into adulthood by the Jewish community, taking on more responsibility, doing what is right and being more mature. I can teach my little cousin who is also going to be Bar Mitzvah someday that she should never give up even when it is hard.
I have learned in Sheva that even when things get tough to keep going. Even though some parts of my torah portion were hard and I didn’t want to practice at all, I thought of how I might regret it later and to keep pushing through.
My Bat Mitzvah project was the Dottie Rose Foundation which is a foundation to keep girls in tech. I chose this for my Bat Mitzvah project because it is important to remember how far girls and women around the world have come. And still there are not that many in the work field of tech. This helped me learn how unfair and fair life can be sometimes, and although we have come a long way, we still have a ways to go.
I plan to keep learning about Judaism and I plan to go to Hebrew High, and attend Friday Night services everyone once in a while. I want to visit Israel and many other historical Jewish places and learn different things about Judaism.
Haley is the Daughter of Melissa Klingberg and Travis Klingberg. Haley has a twin sister, Natalie. She is the Granddaughter of Jackie Stutts, Terry Stutts, Cindy Klingberg, and Frank Klingberg.
Natalie Klingberg
Tazria
Saturday, April 13, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating the holidays with family. My favorite holiday we celebrate together is Passover because we eat Matzah Ball Soup and Kugel – I look forward to that every year! For me, becoming a Bat Mitzvah means that you finally become an adult in the Jewish community. This comes with more responsibilities and understanding on where I fit in to the community.
During Sheva, learning with friends and my sister, Haley. When the Sheva class met with Mr. Beinstock, a holocaust survivor, at the Butterfly Project I learned his story and how he survived the war. This opportunity opened my eyes to how important it is to participate in the Jewish community, to understand our history, and to give back to the community.
My mitzvah project focused on The Dottie Rose Foundation. This foundation serves to connect girls to computer sciences. I chose to volunteer with The Dottie Rose Foundation because computer science is important because most girls aren’t in this field because they don’t have access. This Foundation helps by influencing younger girls to have an interest in computer sciences and provide camps and place to go and learn. My sister and I also packed sandwiches for the homeless along with family friends, which we enjoyed doing and knew it would help!
As a Jewish adult, I plan to continue celebrating the holidays with my family that I enjoy (and even the ones that I don’t enjoy so much), sharing traditions with friends and family.
Natalie is the twin sister to Haley Klingberg, daughter of Travis Klingberg and Melissa Klingberg and the granddaughter of both Terry & Jackie Stutts and Cindy & Frank Klingberg of Charlotte, NC. Natalie plays volleyball, basketball, and tennis. She enjoys being with her friends, flying on airplanes, and traveling to create new adventures.
Bennett Jurusik
Sh'mini
Saturday, April 6, 2024
I love many things about being Jewish, but the thing I love the most is when I get to participate in Jewish activities. I enjoy eating and making Jewish foods with friends and family, especially latkes. I love spending time at my sleepaway camp, URJ Camp Coleman. This year will be my 5th summer there (should be my 6th summer, but Covid year) and I cannot wait to get back to one of my favorite places. Finally, I like the bonds Judaism has helped me create with people not only in the temple, but also outside of the temple, such as friends at school.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means to me that I am now recognized as an adult in the Jewish community and I will continue to follow the Jewish traditions. I will continue to celebrate being Jewish with my friends and family.
In preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I learned that if I work hard and practice and do whatever it takes, I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
For my Bar Mitzvah project I will be collecting new stuffed animals in my neighborhood and will bring them to a children’s hospital.
Thank you for sharing this occasion with me on my special day.
My parents are Amy and Jared Jurusik. I have two siblings, Avery and Dylan Jurusik. My grandparents are Norma and Ken Scherer from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Marci Scherer and Bob Barash from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Marian and Dan Jurusik from Kannapolis, NC.
Bennett Jurusik
Sh'mini
Saturday, April 6, 2024
I love many things about being Jewish, but the thing I love the most is when I get to participate in Jewish activities. I enjoy eating and making Jewish foods with friends and family, especially latkes. I love spending time at my sleepaway camp, URJ Camp Coleman. This year will be my 5th summer there (should be my 6th summer, but Covid year) and I cannot wait to get back to one of my favorite places. Finally, I like the bonds Judaism has helped me create with people not only in the temple, but also outside of the temple, such as friends at school.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means to me that I am now recognized as an adult in the Jewish community and I will continue to follow the Jewish traditions. I will continue to celebrate being Jewish with my friends and family.
In preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I learned that if I work hard and practice and do whatever it takes, I can accomplish whatever I set my mind to.
For my Bar Mitzvah project I will be collecting new stuffed animals in my neighborhood and will bring them to a children’s hospital.
Thank you for sharing this occasion with me on my special day.
My parents are Amy and Jared Jurusik. I have two siblings, Avery and Dylan Jurusik. My grandparents are Norma and Ken Scherer from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Marci Scherer and Bob Barash from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Marian and Dan Jurusik from Kannapolis, NC.
Harry Cole
Sh'mini
Saturday, April 6, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is the sense of community and connection I feel among Jewish families. I appreciate all the Jewish holidays and traditions I share with my family in America and especially when I visit London, England.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is a right of passage for me to do what generations of Jewish kids have done including my Mom, Dad and Papa. In preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I have learned that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I have worked hard to study Hebrew, learn prayers and read my Torah portion.
For my Bar Mitzvah project, I made cookies for the food pantry at Jewish Family Services here in Charlotte. I asked my family and close friends if they would help me raise money for Magen David Adom and my Jewish community helped me raise over $1,500 which is incredible. It felt good to make cookies for those that are hungry and it felt super good to raise funds for a Jewish charity.
I love being Jewish and will continue to practice all my Jewish traditions throughout my life.
My parents are Mark and Samantha Cole. I have one sibling, Olivia Cole. My grandparents are Della and Tony Hurst.
Charlie Batt
Vayikra
Saturday, March 23, 2024
My favorite part of being Jewish is enjoying our Jewish culture and food. I love making the traditional dishes with my Grandma on the high holidays. I also like to help my mom make hamantaschen.
I am excited to become a Bar Mitzvah because it means I will become a Jewish man and follow the traditions of my older brother and dad. I have learned a lot about perseverance and dedication as I learned my torah portion–this is a trait of my people and our ancestors.
I plan to keep learning about Judaism by celebrating the holidays with my family, going to services, and sharing my traditions with others.
My parents are Rubina & Samuel Batt. I have 3 siblings: Liam (15), Henry (10), and Lyla (8). My grandparents are Barbara Goodman from Cornelius, NC and Sabira & Yusuf Javeri from Charlotte, NC. Please send Mazel Tovs
Dakota Davids
Vayikra
Saturday, March 23, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is spending time with my family on the holidays. My favorite holiday is Hanukkah because I like giving and getting gifts. I love many Jewish foods that I eat year-round such as challah, matzah, matzah ball soup, and latkes. Matza Brie and Challah French Toast are two of my favorites as well. Becoming a Bat Mitzvah means taking on a big project to learn more Hebrew, which includes prayers and reading from the torah. It also means that I am becoming more involved with the Jewish community as I become a Jewish adult.
My mitzvah project was helping with the Ballantyne Helping Families in Need Food Pantry. I assembled bags for Thanksgiving and the Holidays so families shopping at the pantry could have something special that time of year. I also shopped for food at a grocery store with my mom and got two carts worth of food to stock their pantry. I chose this project because it is for the Ballantyne areas, which means that it goes out to kids in my area and the schools around me, including kids and their families from my own school.
I plan for Judaism to keep being part of my life by taking part in Jewish events and celebrating Jewish holiday traditions with my family and friends.
Owen Heath
Ki Tisa
Saturday, March 2, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating the holidays, specifically Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover, and enjoying the festivities and treats. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means I’ll be able to share this love with my family one day.
As part of my mitzvah project, I had the chance to be a reading buddy this summer with the Freedom School. I really enjoyed reading with the kids. I will also be participating this spring in the Levine JCC Kids Triathlon, for the fourth year. This event is a fundraiser that benefits juvenile rehabilitation and adaptive sports programs. In my prior three years I have raised over $1500 and hope to add more to that this year. But what I am most enthusiastic about is animal welfare. I’m currently collecting much needed supplies for Union County Animal Services.
As I become an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community, I plan to continue learning and growing here at TBE, looking towards being a madrichim myself and participating in Hebrew High.
Brayden Henry
T'tzaveh
Saturday, February 24, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating the holidays and experiencing the culture, being diverse from others, and learning a whole new language. To be a Bar Mitzvah means that I have finally become a Jewish adult and all the practice and hard work I’ve done through Sunday school has come full circle. Becoming a B’nei Mitzvah has taught me that I’m kind of a shy person and that is ok. I have also learned that many people have goals and aspirations to help others in need just as I do. While preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I’ve learned more about the religion of Judaism and the Torah.
My Mitzvah project was volunteering with Rice and Beans which is an organization that donates food, clothes, and basic necessities to the homeless or people in need in our local community. I chose this project because I like giving to people and it’s nice to know that you’re making a difference by helping so many people. I find that it is very fulfilling helping others in need and that we take for granted the things that some people can’t or don’t have. It made me really happy seeing people smile and happy to get care and love from others.
Now that I have become a Jewish adult, I plan to keep celebrating all the holidays with my family and experiencing the culture. I will embrace my Judaism, share my religion and traditions with others, and cherish the moments I’ve made in the temple.
Brayden is the son of Randy and Rachel Henry. He is the brother of Bridgette. He is the grandson of Bob and Barbara Buchholz of Cape Coral, Florida and Johnny and Terry Henry of Monroe, North Carolina.
Andrew Waller
Mishpatim
Saturday, February 10, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is all the time spent with friends and family. I love all the traditions that bring my family together and every week I get to see all of my Jewish friends at Sheva. Another thing that I like about Judaism is the holidays. It is always so much fun to celebrate Hanukkah by lighting the candles and I also like the dinners I have with my family on Passover.
For my Mitzvah project I helped coach Little League baseball. This was a great fit for me since I love to play baseball and it was cool to see the kids get better throughout the season.
During Sheva we do things other than socializing, we have been choosing charities to aid with our tzedakah. The charity I have been researching is the Trevor Project.The Trevor project is an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ teens who are depressed or have suicidal thoughts. I don’t even like to think that people would hurt themselves so I want to support an organization that helps in these situations.
Andrew lives in Charlotte with his parents Mike and Liz Waller and has two older brothers, Sam and Toby Waller.
Asher Foodman
Yitro
Saturday, February 3, 2024
My favorite thing about being jewish is the question mark – ?. Jews like to question. We get to question things in our community and are taught to never blindly believe what someone says. Becoming a bar mitzvah literally means that I’m old enough to participate and lead as an adult in our Jewish community. But being an adult also comes with responsibility, to support the community and to be mature in making decisions. I still have some growth to accomplish, but I’m on my way. For example, as I was preparing for my Bar Mitzvah I learned that I can – unfortunately and once in a while – be a bit of a procrastinator. I also learned that if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish great things.
My bar mitzvah project was helping my mom help settle Afghan refugees. I chose to do this project because I saw my mom helping people and I wanted to join in too. Through this Mitzvah project I have gained a further understanding of the world and how hard it must be to be a refugee – to leave everything and everyone behind, to come to a new country for their safety and security, and the challenges of learning a new language. Many Jews have been refugees and we should remember that we can help people so they don’t feel alone.
I plan to continue my jewish life by going to services regularly, to keep learning, becoming a madrich in our Religious School, and participating in the Jewish community.
Charlotte Holcman
B'shallach
Saturday, January 27, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish are the holiday celebrations with family. I love meeting up with family and taking some time off of work and school. I love traveling to see out-of-state family for Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah.
Becoming a bat mitzvah means to me that you grow up and start to have more responsibilities as a Jewish person. It means that I need to take on bigger opportunities in life. And I will jump at those opportunities whenever I get them and try to be my best Jewish self.
Being in the Sheva program and preparing for my bat mitzvah has taught me that I need to work really hard if I want something. Sure there have been some nights that I just want to sit and watch Harry Potter movies and not practice my torah portion, but I learned that I needed to work if I really wanted to be great being a Bat Mitzvah on Shabbat.
My mitzvah project was supporting the Ronald McDonald house of Charlotte. I chose this organization because someone that works at RMDH came to my middle school last year and talked about the families of sick children, hospitalized here in Charlotte who feel sad and how we could help bring them some joy. I wanted to help make the families happy. I learned that helping those in need spreads hope and that hope helps make people happy.
I plan to keep learning about Judaism and living with Judaism through Hebrew High and teaching others about our culture and religion. I want to explore Jewish traditions and history, and to travel to Jewish places like Israel to see how other Jewish people live and celebrate holidays.
Michael Kahn
Mikeitz
Saturday, December 16
I am really proud to become a Bar Mitzvah, and though it took a lot of hard work, I know that I can accomplish anything with chipping away at it, day-by-day. This process has taught me that I can do big things. It has also reminded me how proud I am to be Jewish. My favorite thing about being Jewish is the community. I’ve found instant friendships that started out with “You’re Jewish?” It seems that Jews will do anything to help each other out, and I love how we truly take care of each other.
I plan on always being active in the Jewish community, including Temple Beth El and Jewish youth organizations. I love celebrating the holidays and traditions with my family and friends (like our Shabbat Supper Club) and I can’t wait to pass those traditions down.
For my mitzvah project, I focused on different aspects of food insecurity. North Carolina has the 10th highest rate of food insecurity in the country. This affects all ages, from children to senior citizens. I participated in an interfaith program at a Mosque where we made sandwiches for the Salvation Army. I helped my grandmother in the food pantry at Jewish Family Services. I worked several sessions with Shalom Green in the Community Garden. Finally, my friend Zach Althofer and I put together 150 snack packs that we donated to kids at a local Boys & Girls Club. I have a better understanding of how fortunate I am and I would like to continue to help with this growing problem.
Michael is the son of Raizel and Brian Kahn. He has three older brothers, Zach, Charlie, and Cooper. He is the grandson of Mike and Marcia Arnholt and Anne Fortson.
Please send messages of Mazel Tov
Asher Jones
Vayeishev
Saturday, December 9
My favorite thing about being Jewish is all the holidays I get to celebrate. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means a lot because I get more responsibilities.
When I was preparing for my Bar Mitzvah, I learned I was good at chanting prayers. I did many service projects like Joseph’s many colored coat which is the subject of my Torah portion. I will keep living with Judisiam by celebrating all the Jewish Holidays.
My parents names are Kyle and Sarah Jones. My siblings names are Camille and Rylin. My Papa and Gigi are from Orlando, Florida. My Grandma Karen lives in Greenville, SC.
Please send Mazel Tovs
Charles Kutsak
Vayishlach
Saturday, December 2
What I cherish most about being Jewish is our incredible heritage, tracing back to thousands of years who have endured immense historical challenges and persecution. What truly fills me with pride is the way Jewish communities stand together, supporting each other in times of adversity and triumph. This unity and resilience have allowed us to not only endure but thrive. Despite our relatively small population, the Jewish people have left a mark on the world, showing that even a small group can make a profound impact. Being part of this legacy makes me proud to be Jewish.
For me, reaching the milestone of a Bar Mitzvah is a significant event in my life, filled with cherished memories that will be close to my heart for the rest of my life. Personally, becoming a Bar Mitzvah means that I am recognized as an adult within the Jewish community, and it comes with added responsibilities, as I take ownership of my actions and choices.
While getting ready for my Bar Mitzvah, I’ve realized that this path isn’t a simple one. It demands a lot of preparation, especially in the last six months leading up to the big day. This time has made me pause and think deeply about what it truly means to be Jewish. Being Jewish means living a life filled with gratitude and pride for our heritage. It means standing together with my community, supporting and helping one another, and striving to be the best version of myself, all with the goal of making a positive impact on humanity.
For my Bar Mitzvah project I helped plant trees for TreesCharlotte. I also helped at an organization called Matthews Help Center, I helped assemble snack bags for little children that are not as fortunate as I am.
Following my Bar Mitzvah, I’m committed to continuing my journey of learning about the rich history of Judaism and practicing the teachings of the Torah. I will carry with me a profound sense of pride in being Jewish, always remembering our heritage. My connection with God is something I’ll hold onto, with prayers from my Siddur that I’ll say every day. I’ll keep treasuring the celebration of Jewish holidays, and my dream is to pass down the richness of our customs and traditions to my family, including my future children. I hope that these traditions will thrive for many generations in my family.
I am the son of Maksim Kutsak and Yadira Kutsak. I have an older sister, Savanna.
