FOR THE COMING OF AGE
You will soon have freedom as an adult, though there is one caveat: “With great power comes great responsibility (Spiderman).”
Coming of age in Judaism is more than freedom from your parents or being free from rules. It is the taking on of responsibility, to be responsible to your family, community, and humanity. It’s developing a sense of duty, being mesuveh, literally a sense of being ‘commanded,’ or maybe entrusted with a mission.
Until now, the focus of others was on your development, and they were responsible for you. Now is the time to start thinking of how you can take responsibility for others and make your impact on the world. You are now mesuveh, entrusted, free to take on responsibility.
“I will put My Teaching into their innermost being and inscribe it upon their hearts.”
(Yirmiyahu 31:33)
You are about to embark on a journey towards a major Jewish milestone of becoming Bnei Mitzvah.
Jewish identity, values and Torah learning belong to YOU.
This is a special time for exploring, learning and curiosity. To boldly and humbly search and seek out what it means to be a Jew, an accountable, empowered and contributing member of the community.
Rachel Kraus
MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS BAT MITZVAH PROGRAM with Rachel Kraus | rachel@ckj.org
FATHERS & SONS BAR MITZVAH PROGRAM with Rabbi Laniado | rml@ckj.org
6th grade boys: participate with your fathers in experiential programs to explore what it means to come of age in Judaism. Learn about Tefillin, Chesed, Shabbat, Torah learning and Prayer.
5th grade girls: come together with your mothers to meaningfully engage with Jewish learning in preparation for B’not Mitzvah on the topics of Torah study, women throughout Jewish history, Chesed, Shabbat, and Prayer.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 2 םָּבִל־לַעְו םָּבְרִקְּב יִתָרוֹתּ־תֶא יִּתַתָנ הָּנֶבְּתְכֶא
MAZAL
MABR O
Meyer Laniado
TOV!
OK!
CHESED PR OJECTS
All students are encouraged to do a chesed project. This activity is a meaningful way to allow you to connect to important values of Judaism – repairing the world (tikkun olam) and compassion for others (v’ahavta l’rayecha kamocha).
UJA: DO A MITZVAH, GIVE A MITZVAH
WEBSITE ujafedny.org
1 What are my hobbies and interests?
2 What am I good at?
3 What do I like to do?
4 What bothers me so much about what is wrong in the world and what do I want to do to change it?
MISSION / GOAL
UJA will help facilitate the selection of an appropriate project.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Student went monthly to a UJA Federation agency and did an art project with about a dozen kids.
Student went monthly to a UJA Federation agency to build legos and play basketball with children in foster care.
5 Whom do I know that might be able to guide or help me? THANK YOU
Project Management Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz Content Contributors Jamie Chubak, Abby Doft, & Carla Tanz
T h i s i s y o u r t i m e t o h a r n e s s a n d t o o w n w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e c o m e B n e i M i t z v a h . 3
Creative Direction Esther Feierman Graphic Design Talia Laniado Copy Editing Riva Alper, Rabbi Roy Feldman, & Leonard Silverman
SHAARE ZEDEK MEDICAL CENTER
WEBSITE acsz.org
MISSION / GOAL
The American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem provides financial support to fund services, capital projects, research and the purchase of equipment for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Student baked challah weekly for 6 months. In honor of her baking, people made donations to the hospital. Challah was given to donors and also to the ill. When she went to Israel, she visited the pediatric ward and distributed stuffed animals to patients.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s
4
TEAM CHAI LIFELINE
WEBSITE teamlifeline.org
MISSION / GOAL
Whether you are an avid athlete, or have never run a mile in your life, Team Lifeline offers an unparalleled experience for an important cause. Team Lifeline raises money for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network. Chai Lifeline brings light and hope to children and their families through various services including counseling, hospital services, retreats, programs, and their well know summer camps, Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, all free of charge.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Students raised money to run a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon and the money raised goes to a charity to send children with cancer to summer camp.
5
. BACK ON MY FEET
WEBSITE backonmyfeet.org
MISSION / GOAL
Back on My Feet combats homelessness through the power of fitness, community support and essential employment and housing resources.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student collected and donated sneakers and gloves for the homeless.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 6
MT. SINAI KRAVIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
WEBSITE giving.mountsinai.org
MISSION / GOAL
Mt. Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital provides relief for children during long hospitalizations.
This program helps young patients cope with their fears by offering fun activities that meet their needs during long or stressful hospital stays. Some of the activities offered are play, art, school, and socializing with peers.
For example, they have a Teen Art & Literary magazine that allows the teenagers in the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital to have their original creative writing and artwork published.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 7 7
BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO
WEBSITE afobis.org
MISSION / GOAL
Beit Issie Shapiro is Israel’s leading developer and provider of innovative therapies and stateof-the-art services for children and adults across the entire range of disabilities.
They promote social change through a threepronged approach: development and provision of cutting edge services, changing attitudes in society and advocating for better legislation, and sharing knowledge throughout Israel, as well as internationally, through research, consultation and training.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student raised money so kids can learn to speak using eye gaze technology
INNOVATION AFRICA
WEBSITE innoafrica.org
MISSION/GOAL
Innovation: Africa is a non-profit organization that brings Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies to rural African villages. Since 2008, using Israeli solar and water technology, Innovation: Africa has delivered access to clean water and light to nearly 3 million people across 10 African countries.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Raise money to bring running water, electricity, solar power and more to villages in Africa.
One student went to Africa to watch the installation of a water source.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 9 9
BET ELAZRAKI
WEBSITE elazraki.org
MISSION / GOAL
Children’s home for children who cannot live with their parents.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Student raised money to redesign and refurbish one of the recreation rooms for kids.
Student ran a 12K to raise money to build a new sports center for Bet Elezraki children.
Student went to Bet Elazraki and spent a few hours building a bond with the girls through jewelry making, singing, and more.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 10
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 10
THE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CENTER
WEBSITE thecenternj.org
MISSION / GOAL
An organization that helps and supports families who have children with mental delays such as Down Syndrome. They have an after school program and they take the kids on trips throughout the year.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student made a carnival for the children and invited the rest of her grade to join in the fun.
11
SHAVEI ISRAEL
WEBSITE shavei.org
MISSION / GOAL
This organization works with descendants of the Jewish people around the world (India, China, Southern Russia, the lost children of the Holocaust) helping them feel connected to the Jewish community and in many cases, to make Aliyah.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student raised money for the Bnei Menashe community of India who claim descent from the lost tribe of Menashe. 4,000 have formally converted and moved to Israel and 7,000 more remain in India and hope to make Aliyah.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s
WIZO
WEBSITE wizousa.org
MISSION/GOAL
WIZO is the second largest social network provider in Israel after the Israeli Government. Provides day care centers, youth villages and schools, programs for the elderly and battered women’s shelters located all over Israel.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Student provided sports equipment/ facility for the kids in one of the youth villages.
13
SAVE A CHILD’S HEART
WEBSITE saveachildsheart.org
MISSION / GOAL
An Israeli organization that takes children from less privileged countries that can’t afford or don’t have the resources for heart surgery, regardless of race, gender, or religion, brings them to Israel, and performs life saving surgeries on them.
They also get doctors to go to other countries and train people there to do heart surgery and give them resources for it.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student had a charity baseball game. People paid to play and they also sold Save a Child’s Heart merchandise and other fun items to help raise money for the organization.
Later, the student had the privilege of meeting these kids (who were brought to Israel and had heart surgery performed on them) which was a really touching experience that they’ll never forget.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 14
BEIT RUTH
WEBSITE beitruth.com
MISSION / GOAL
Beit Ruth is a home in Afula, Israel, for 45 at-risk girls, ages 13 - 18, who have been removed from their family homes due to neglect and abuse.
At Beit Ruth, girls from all different backgrounds and religions heal from past hardships, get a great education, and grow into healthy and empowered young adults.
With a new space just for music education and therapy, the girls can discover hidden talents and practice skills they would otherwise never have the chance to uncover.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student raised money to build a professional space dedicated to music learning and therapy at Beit Ruth.
15
TIKVOT
WEBSITE tikvot.org.il
MISSION/GOAL
TIKVOT is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that rehabilitates Israel’s wounded soldiers and victims of terror through sports. Founded in 2007, TIKVOT has already helped thousands of severely injured Israelis to overcome their pain, trauma and disability and rebuild productive lives.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student raised money to support the organization’s work with wounded veterans in need of rehabilitation and support for PTSD.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 16
BELEV ECHAD
WEBSITE belevechad.nyc
MISSION / GOAL
Honoring the Wounded Men and Women of the IDF. Belev Echad is an international initiative dedicated to easing this transition through a system of support that empowers each veteran to live a life without limits.
We adopt each wounded veteran and assume the roles of mentor, advocate and friend, guiding them through critical medical, educational and professional decisions and celebrating life’s milestones big and small. They come on a trip to New York four times a year.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Student hosted Belev Echad soldiers at a Shabbat lunch in New York, and donated money to emotional support groups in Israel to help them heal.
Student participated in a 25 mile fundraising bike ride “Bike 4 Belev Echad.”
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 17 17
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
WEBSITE friendshipcirclenyc.org
MISSION/GOAL
Friendship Circle helps kids with special needs.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student created a Foul Shot Competition - for every shot that went in, $25 was donated to the friendship circle. He also spent Sundays volunteering with kids.
C HE s E d P RO j ECT s 18
MET COUNCIL
WEBSITE metcouncil.org
MISSION / GOAL
Met Council is America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to serving the needy.
Our holistic programs range from 100% affordable housing at 20 locations to our award-winning family violence program to comprehensive Holocaust survivor assistance to senior programming to crisis intervention to the largest free kosher food distribution program in the world.
Our network of 101 food pantries, 20 affordable housing sites, and 15 JCCs provide services directly in neighborhoods across New York.
SAMPLE PROJECT
Student packed camp backpacks for kids who were getting scholarships to go to sleepaway camp.
19
ckj.org 125 East 85th Street, New York NY 10028 MAZALTOV
!
