B'nei Mitzvah
Caroline Kaplan
Nasso
Saturday, June 7, 2025
Mayer Schreibman
B'midbar
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Brady Kisch
B'midbar
Saturday, May 31, 2025
My favorite thing about being Jewish is being part of a community that supports and uplifts one another through both celebrations and challenges. During my time in the Religious School and Hebrew School programs at Temple Beth El, I’ve made meaningful connections with my peers and grown proud to be part of a tradition that has been passed down for generations.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means stepping into adulthood and taking my place in the Jewish community. I look forward to continuing my Jewish journey through lifelong learning, attending services, and celebrating holidays with my family. Now that I’ve studied so much about our history and traditions, the holidays feel even more meaningful to me.
Throughout this process, I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned that with hard work, commitment, and dedication, I can take on big challenges and accomplish my goals.
For my Mitzvah Project, I chose to support Swim Across America, an organization that raises money for cancer research here in the Charlotte area. As a competitive swimmer, I’m proud to be raising funds and promoting the event—and I’ll be swimming two miles in Lake Wylie this October. I hope to one day join their Youth Advisory Committee and continue supporting this amazing cause.
Brody Hightower
Emor
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Hi, I’m Brody Hightower. I love hockey—playing it, watching it, and opening packs of hockey cards to see what I get. I also like to ice skate, play football, cook, and watch YouTube in my free time. One of my favorite parts of being Jewish is getting to be part of the holidays, celebrations, and traditions. Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means stepping up as a Jewish adult—it’s about taking on more responsibility, working hard, helping others, and playing a role in the community. There was a point a few years ago when I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to keep learning or practicing Judaism. But going through this experience helped me see how valuable it is to me. I’ve realized I want to keep learning, and I’m planning to continue through Hebrew High. For my mitzvah project, I made blankets and donated them to a dog shelter here in Charlotte. I chose that project because I care about animals and we have a dog. I wanted to do something hands-on to help. It felt good to know that even something simple could make a difference. This whole journey has helped me grow, learn more about who I am, and figure out how I want to live Jewishly in the future.
Molly Resnick
Emor
Saturday, May 17, 2025
I love being Jewish because I get to celebrate the holidays with my family and friends—and because of the amazing community here at Temple Beth El. Everyone is kind and supportive, and it means so much to be part of something where people care about each other.
Of course, I love Chanukah. But for me, it’s not just about opening gifts—it’s about sharing the holiday with friends, lighting the menorah together, and saying the blessings.
As I prepared for my Bat Mitzvah, I was surprised to learn how much of the prayers I already knew, and how quickly I was able to learn the rest. Coming to services and doing t’fillah in religious school really gave me a strong foundation.
Becoming a Bat Mitzvah is important to me because it means I’m becoming a responsible Jewish adult. To me, that means expressing that I’m Jewish, being proud of it, and respectfully following our traditions. Through Sheva and my studies, I’ve come to see how much there is to learn—and I’m even more excited to keep going. I especially loved when we used watercolors in Sheva—it helped me express my Jewish identity in a creative and personal way.
My view of being Jewish has changed. I feel like I have a much better grasp of the prayers, and I’m more comfortable saying them out loud and participating in Jewish life. It makes me feel like I belong.
This year I joined the Animal Care Club at school, where we learn about how to help animals that are in danger and how to care for them. We even bring animals into the classroom to teach others. For my mitzvah project, I also organized a donation drive for Three Chix Rescueto collect supplies from their wish list and help animals in need.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to stay involved at Temple Beth El. I hope to become a madricha and tutor to help other kids prepare for their Bar or Bat Mitzvahs—just like others helped me. And one day, I’d love to travel to Israel and explore Jewish life around the world. I’m really proud to be part of such a meaningful tradition, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.
Recent
Skylar Kaplan
Tazria/M'tzorah
Saturday, May 3, 2025
The thing I love most about being Jewish is the traditions because they connect me to God and my family, and make good memories. Becoming Bar Mitzvah means a lot to me and makes me feel more mature because I now have responsibilities like staying holy and going to services. While preparing for today I discovered that I am a fast learner, which makes me want to use my skills to help others as a tutor. I chose my Mitzvah Project of being an assistant basketball coach for early elementary school kids because I love basketball. Through volunteering I have gained a better understanding of coaching and helped kids develop a sense of self and interest in basketball. As I step into Jewish adulthood, I will continue learning about Judaism by going to services and Hebrew High. And maybe someday, in a few more decades, I will join Brotherhood!
Davis Greene
Sh'mini
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Becoming Bar Mitzvah is one example of the meaningful traditions in Judaism. I love the traditions that make it possible for families to celebrate together. As I experience this special day in my life, I aspire to carry on these traditions so that my children and grandchildren will experience the beauty of Judaism, including both its religious and cultural aspects. Today’s milestone allows me to experience a deeper relationship with God. As I transition into adulthood, I commit to embracing the concept of Tikkun Olam, actions that repair and improve our world. As an example, for my Mitzvah project I am helping students at my brother Leo’s school master life skills. By passing on skills that I have learned, I can help spread knowledge to others in our community.
Dov Haviv
Vayikra
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Hudson Levine
Vayikra
Saturday, April 5, 2025
I love being Jewish because it connects me to my family, traditions, and a community that values kindness and helping others. Celebrating holidays like Hanukkah and Passover is special because I get to spend time with my family, learn about our history, and enjoy delicious food. One of my favorite Jewish foods is latkes because they are crispy, warm, and taste amazing with applesauce.
For my community service mitzvah project, I volunteered with Common Heart, an organization that helps people in need. I helped sort and pack donated food so families in my community could have enough to eat. Sometimes, I even got to meet the people we were helping, which made the experience even more meaningful. It felt good to know that I was making a difference and spreading kindness, just like the Jewish value of tikkun olam- helping to make the world a better place.
Ashton Tully
P'kudei
Saturday, March 29, 2025
I love Jewish traditions, like lighting candles and hiding the afikoman. They have special meaning to me and bring a smile to my face.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means that I am preparing for the next stage of my life, which can be exciting but also scary. I know that when things don’t go the way I planned, the community will still be there to love and support me. It means that I am taking on more responsibilities and caring more for myself and those around me.
Throughout my preparation to become a Bar Mitzvah, I have discovered that I am a very outgoing, responsible, and prepared person. This journey has inspired me to continue learning about Judaism.
For my Mitzvah project I volunteered at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte because I wanted to help kids experience the magic of theater. I learned how to be responsible, caring, but also strict when I needed to be. This was an amazing experience and I would love to do it again.
I plan on continuing classes here at Temple Beth El and also learning from my parents and grandparents. I am looking forward to continuing this journey and exploring the history, culture and traditions of Jewish life. I am excited for the experiences that await me as I step into adulthood.
Sage Philpott
P'kudei
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Hi, I’m Sage. I love being Jewish, my favorite thing being the celebrations. I love seeing my family for something that connects me to my religion. Becoming a bat mitzvah means so much to me, because it takes me from a Jewish child, to a daughter of the Torah, and commandments. Literally. This journey has taught me a lot. I have learned that I’m a really fast learner, and a procrastinator. I’ve also learned what being Jewish really means to me, my community. My mitzvah project is working for/with knots of love, to crochet hats for people with cancer. So much of my friends and family have encouraged my crochet journey, and with an aunt who beat cancer less than 3 years ago, it made the project just that much more special. Becoming a bat mitzvah and being in the SHEVA program has made me more curious, and it has convinced me to dive deeper into me Jewish identity, and what different parts of Judaism mean.
Jack Rubenstein
Terumah
Saturday, March 1, 2025
My favorite part of being Jewish is traditions around food. I love eating matzoh ball soup on Passover, dipping apples in honey on Rosh Hashanah and eating chocolate chip and nutella hamantashen on Purim.
Becoming a bar mitzvah means a lot to me. I am excited to take on new opportunities as an adult in the Jewish community, like being a madrich at religious school or a CIT at Camp Mindy.
I have discovered that I love learning new Hebrew words and prayers. Sometimes the prayers pop into my head when I am bored and not thinking about much, and it brings me joy.
I choose to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital because it makes me sad to know that there are kids who are sick and can’t play outside, so I want to spend some time with them to make their day a little brighter.
I am excited to explore new Jewish foods and I’m hoping that someday, when I have kids, they get just as excited about Judaism and becoming a bar mitzvah as I did.
Ben Ellenbogen
Mishpatim
Saturday, February 22, 2025
What I love most about being Jewish is the history and getting to spend time with my family on the holidays. Becoming a bar mitzvah has not been easy. I am a little nervous about the responsibility, but I am also excited about this a new chapter of my life. This journey has helped me see that I need to be more focused and not procrastinate. Through this process I have learned that I do have the power to step up, and finish whatever has to be done. These skills will help me less stressed with future assignments.
My bar mitzvah project is a basketball focused fundraiser to raise awareness and money for the Celiac Foundation. This organization is important to me because my brother Noah has Celiac disease and I have seen first hand the impact that it has on his life and millions of other people. As I become a Jewish adult I will continue to participate at Temple Beth El during events and holidays, and plan to tutor future b’nei mitzvah students.
Micah Bonnheim Knight
B'shalach
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is such an important milestone for me. It shows that I’m ready to take on more responsibility and get more involved in the Jewish community. I’m really proud of myself for leading the service, chanting Torah and Haftarah, and reaching this point in my life. I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous about stepping into the responsibilities of a Jewish adult, but I believe I can handle it.
One of the things I love most about being Jewish is the sense of connection. You can meet Jews from all over the world and feel like you already have something in common. Celebrating holidays with my family and community makes that connection even stronger. Every time we gather, we sing the She-hechiyanu, thanking God for the special time we get to share. Singing it with my family is one of my favorite traditions.
Over the years, I’ve also made amazing friends and built special relationships with adults and madrichim who have helped me grow and learn. They’ve shown me what it means to live a meaningful Jewish life, and I’m so grateful for their guidance.
Looking ahead, I plan to keep learning and growing as a Jew. I’m excited to continue with Hebrew High, attend Camp Coleman, go to NFTY and BBYO, travel to Israel, and celebrate holidays. Living as an active part of the Jewish community is something I’m really proud of, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Dean Alpern
Bo
Saturday, February 1, 2025
My favorite thing about being Jewish is celebrating all of the Jewish holidays throughout the year with my family. My favorites include Passover, Purim and Channukah as well as lighting candles with my family on Shabbat.
One thing I learned about myself in preparing for my Bar Mitzvah is that sometimes when I am struggling with something and need help, I don’t always ask for help when I should. Preparing for my Bar Mitzvah has been difficult for me, and I am grateful for the people who noticed that I was struggling and helped me get the support I needed to keep going.
I plan to continue learning about and living with Judaism by continuing to celebrate Jewish holidays with my family and stay actively involved in our community as I get older.
Silas McCue
Vayishlach
Saturday, December 14, 2024
My favorite part of being Jewish is celebrating the holidays and spending time with my family. Being Jewish helps me learn and appreciate the importance of community and family through the holidays. It allows me to connect with my Jewish identity and values.
For my service project, I am creating door decorations, care packages, and welcome kits for the Ronald McDonald House. As we approach Hanukkah and the new year, many families have traveled long distances to be with their loved ones in the hospital, often spending time away from home and family. This project is important to me because when I celebrate any holiday, I love being with my family. Making these items for the Ronald McDonald House will help families feel more welcomed and at home. Not only do I appreciate how this impacts others, but I also value how it impacts me. Every time I do a mitzvah, I feel better about myself.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is an important step into adulthood, marking a deeper involvement in my community. I look forward to continuing my learning journey by becoming a madrich and tutoring younger children, helping them learn prayers and embrace Jewish values. This milestone brings new responsibilities, both within my community and in my personal life, and I am excited to take them on with dedication and purpose.
Sydney Tanenbaum
Vayishlach
Saturday, December 14, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is being part of a community. I love that when I go places I find a lot of Jewish people that I know from the JCC, our synagogue, and even Mission Grit.
Becoming a bat mitzvah is meaningful to me because it deepened my feeling of belonging to a community. I also feel accomplished knowing that I worked super hard for this day. At first, I thought preparing for my bat mitzvah was going to be hard and I wouldn’t get it done. But, over time I learned that the more I worked, the easier it was to achieve the goal.
For my mitzvah project, I organized a donation drive and made blankets for animals at the Humane Society of Charlotte because I love animals. I also made bracelets for members of Oasis at the JCC because when I made jewelry for my Bubbe, who goes to Oasis at the JCC, many of her friends loved the stuff and wanted some. I felt proud that I could help animals at the Humane Society and bring joy to other people with the bracelets, necklaces, and keychains I made.
In the future, I would like to go to Israel one day and learn about where our tradition comes from. I also plan to continue attending services and celebrating holidays with my family.
Sydney is the daughter of Jason and Jamie Tanenbaum and the sister of Zachary Tanenbaum. She is the granddaughter of Linda Tanenbaum and Billie and Harris Green, all of Charlotte, NC. She is also the granddaughter of the late Saul Tanenbaum.
Cameron Scott
Vayetzei
Saturday, December 7, 2024
My favorite part about being Jewish is getting to share it with my community around me. I get to go to Six Points, a Jewish Sleep away camp every year and the holiness in the room is so comforting knowing I am with people I can connect to. Becoming a bar mitzvah means that I have grown in my life as a Jew and as a human. This means to me that I am no longer a child and that I need to become the responsible kid and Jew that my parents have raised me to be.
For my mitzvah project I supported The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, an organization that is extremely important to our family. I joined my friend’s sister’s campaign as a team member, where I created presentations and set up meetings with people and companies. I ended up raising over $20,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This is special to me because I really don’t like seeing kids with cancer not be able to do or succeed in the things in life others can. I really wanted to help so this is what I chose for my mitzvah project. I want to make sure I continue on my Jewish journey by going to services and helping my younger siblings as they get older and get to experience the excitement of being a b’nei mitzvah student!
Isabel Philipson
Chayei Sara
Saturday, November 23, 2024
My favorite parts of being Jewish are the food, the community, and celebrating with friends and family. Becoming a Bat Mitzvah means fully joining the Jewish community and taking on new responsibilities. Preparing for my Bat Mitzvah has shown me just how much I enjoy being Jewish. When I was younger, going to Temple was just something I did, but now I understand and appreciate it so much more.
For my Mitzvah Project, I chose to knit hats for the homeless because I love knitting, and I wanted to do something to help others. My Nana, who has been an amazing support in my Jewish life even though she isn’t Jewish, helped me with the project. She taught me to knit and made hats alongside me, and it meant a lot to share this with her.
Looking ahead, I plan to keep learning about and living my Judaism by celebrating Shabbat, observing holidays, and continuing to learn and grow. I also hope to help tutor my sister when she becomes a Bat Mitzvah—and maybe even convince her to go to services!
Arlo Zeibert
Noach
Saturday, November 2, 2024
My favorite thing about being Jewish is the sense of community. I love the people and the support that surrounds me. It feels comforting to be part of something bigger, where I can trust those around me, celebrate holidays, learn, and just be myself.
Becoming a bar mitzvah means taking on responsibilities and fully becoming part of the community. It’s not just about receiving support; it’s about giving back and contributing to the community in meaningful ways.
While preparing for my bar mitzvah, I discovered that I really enjoy connecting with different people. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Oasis, where I made challah, apple butter, and rugelach for Rosh HaShanah. I chose this project because I enjoy cooking and helping others, but I learned more than just baking skills. I loved spending time talking with the seniors at the center and hearing their stories. I also enjoyed connecting with the madrichim, my teen tutors, and my friends throughout this journey.
Looking ahead, I plan to stay involved in the Jewish community by continuing to attend services, learn, and give back. I’m excited to become a madrich and help others just like I was helped.
Arlo is the son of Marisa and Joe Zeibert, the brother of Mable, and the grandchild of Mickey and Cheryll Lansburgh, and Randy and Audrey Zeibert.
