What is a Bat Mitzvah? A rite of passage for girls? A sacred ceremony in front of your congregation? All of these are right answers. But for me, Bat Mitzvahs are about giving back to the community.
Last summer, I volunteered at Operation Breakthrough (an organization to help children in poverty by giving them a safe environment to grow in). I played outside with kids about 4 years old. They had lots of fun and so did I. But, there was something bittersweet about this experience. These children lived lives unfairly made for them. I thought it would be great to see them happy again and again.
I became a Bat Mitzvah on June 25 at Congregation Beth Shalom. Because of my experiences with Operation Breakthrough, I decided to collect school supplies for the organization and make stuffed animals for the kids. As a group, I gathered my cousins and a couple of my friends (both Jewish and non Jewish) to make teddy bears for the kids.
Then, the week after my Bat Mitzvah, I was able to visit Operation Breakthrough again to make the special deliveries! With my mom and dad’s help, I went with my sister Ariel and my brother Joel to Operation Breakthrough where an employee, Jennifer Heinemann, took us to two different classrooms.
The first room was full of children about 2 and 3 years old. The children were so excited to see the bears! Some boys even gave each other hugs because they were so happy! Then, after we gave out the bears, some helpers set up tables and chairs for lunchtime and the kids sang the “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
The second room was for the 3 and 4 year olds. They had a different reaction to the bears than the first one. While the kids in the first classroom immediately played with the bears, the kids in the second one politely thanked us (first) and then started playing with them.
After visiting both rooms, we helped Jennifer store the school supplies that will be distributed in time for school to begin in the fall. Materials that we used to store the school supplies and deliver the bears will also be put to good use by Operation Breakthrough.
That is why Bat Mitzvahs are such a special thing. It’s a mitzvah to help people who need it most.
Hannah is the daughter of Ann Karty and Billy Silverman.
