Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah

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Becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah
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What is a Mitzvah?

• Good Deed
• Commandment

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Focusing on the Mitzvah
How can a Bar/Bat Mitzvah show that s/he takes
seriously his/her obligation to fulfill mitzvot
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Eilu Devarim

• As you prepare to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah, its
  really important that you participate in Jewish
  decision-making. There are certain
  responsibilities that go along with becoming a
  Jewish young adult. This program is designed to
  help you experience activities that ask you to
  make Jewish decisions and take on Jewish
  responsibilities. The rabbis of old taught, Its
  not enough to study Torah, you must strive to BE
  TORAH!

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• In the spirit of our Jewish tradition, please
  consider giving 3 of the cost of your
  celebration to MAZON. Make this day even more
  special by providing food and other help, through
  MAZON, to poor families everywhere. You will
  enrich their lives and your own. Here are a
  few easy, unobtrusive ways to tell your guests
  that youre sharing your bar/bat mitzvah with
  those in need
• Table Cards - The cards can be used either as
  table cards or individual place cards to signify
  that your family has invited the poor to your
  celebration table. They are free-of-charge with
  any size contribution and can be sent to you in
  advance of your special day.
• Certificates - The certificate can be used in
  conjunction with your bar/bat mitzvah to honor
  certain individuals, be they honorees at the
  candle lighting ceremony, your rabbi, cantor,
  friends or relatives. The usual donation amount
  is 18 (chai) per certificate. If time permits,
  we would be happy to provide a certificate for
  the rabbi to present to you on the bimah,
  indicating that your family has invited MAZON to
  the table of your simcha.
• In Lieu of Gifts cards - These can be included
  with your invitation if you are requesting that
  guests make contributions to MAZON instead of
  giving gifts.
• Tributes - At your request, MAZON will send a
  personalized tribute card, notifying the bar/bat
  mitzvah that you have made a contribution in
  his/her honor. To cover the cost of these
  tributes, MAZON requests a minimum contribution
  of 15 each.
• Dvar Torah - Many bar/bat mitzvah supporters,
  both young and old, incorporate MAZONs
  anti-hunger message into their bar/bat mitzvah
  speech.

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• To LifeThe Give a Mitzvah Do a Mitzvah program
  is a great way to jump-start your life as an
  adult in the Jewish community.
• To ActionThere are so many ways to match your
  passions with people who need a helping hand  in
  New York and beyond. Ben visited Israel and
  helped provide soccer fields for new Ethiopian
  friends in Rehovot. Julie met kids with learning
  disabilities in Westchester and helped them
  create a library. Dana and her friends from Long
  Island delivered food to people in the Bronx.
• To Your FutureContribute your time and energy,
  and support a program youre passionate about.
  You can give a portion of your gifts, ask your
  friends and family to make donations in your
  honor, or thank guests with a special
  contribution in their name.

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Invitations

• Eco Friendly
• Enclosure Card - See Scribe
• Include a note in your invitations saying "It
  would honor me if you would make a donation to
  , my favorite tzedakah fund . .
  WITH an explanation of how you are supporting
  this fund.
• JNF
• Jewish Foundation for the Righteous
• Other Charities

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Centerpieces

• Use books, baskets of food, or toys as
  centerpieces for your tables, then donate them to
  the social service agency of your choice.
• For donations to a charity called "Shoes That
  Fit," assemble bright flower bouquets into small
  vases and tuck them inside shiny kids rain boots
  in primary colors. Leave a little card on the
  table describing the mitzvah project to your
  guests.
• Use pyramids of Campbells soup cans
• (destined for a food bank) accented with
  little
• bouquets of red and white zinnias set in
  empty
• matching soup cans as vases.
• Donate your centerpieces and flowers or
  balloons to
• brighten a Nursing Home or rehabilitation
  center

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Other Ideas

• At bat mitzvah reception for a recovered cancer
  patient, the family set up an area to create hats
  with embellishments that were later donated to
  Johns Hopkins Hospital. Each hat included a
  personal note of encouragement.
• If you receive money as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift,
  you may want to consider a certain percentage to
  tzedakah. Decide on the percentage and choose a
  charity that supports a cause that is meaningful
  to your family.
• Choose an organization you would like to support
  with a collection. Call the organization to ask
  for a wish list. Then, ask your guests to bring
  a specific item from the organizations wish list
  (canned goods, kids books, winter clothes,
  toiletries, baby products, toys, cosmetics) to
  your service or party, which you and your family
  will deliver. Or make donations on your own by
  cleaning out your playroom and bringing your old
  toys to a children's hospital like Schneider
  Children's Hospital or Ronald McDonald House.
• Volunteer some time at a social service agency.
• (i.e. Nursery school, hospital, home for
  the aged ..)
• Support a needy family through Myad Lyad
• Kippot MayaWorks, Yad Lakashish