You listen to your child chanting his Bar Mitzvah portion and you realize that the upcoming event is more than just a celebration. Your child will spend many months studying Torah, Jewish history and traditions, and you have a revelation..."What can I do to ensure that my child's experience is more than just a service and a party?" It's time to write your own history!
As highlighted in last month's article To Theme or Not to Theme , a theme can be a mitzvah, and this holds true for other parts of the B'nai Mitzvah experience. Consider what forms of social action or tzedekah (charity) are important to your family and make this a focus of your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Invitations, favors, decorations and donated goods and funds will help your child understand the importance of helping others. The following ideas provide links to charities or companies who donate funds to important causes.
Invitations
Whether you choose a custom invitation from a reputable dealer or create an invitation on your own, part of your expense can be contributed to a worthwhile cause.
Checkerboard, a custom invitation company, offers a specially designed invitation where the family agrees to donate a deductible contribution of $5.00 per invitation (above the cost of the invitation) to the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous (JFR). This foundation honors righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews. Check out www.checkernet.com for details.
Jewish National Fund provides beautiful tree certificates that can be used for invitations, favors or table signs. Funds are contributed to support forests in Israel. Certificates can be sent as invitations or given to family or guests to honor their participation in your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Go to www.jnf.com for more information or call 800-700-1312 to place an order.
Lemon Tree Stationery, a long-time dealer in custom invitations, works directly with JNF to enhance their tree certificates with custom paper layers and envelopes. Go to www.lemontreestationery.com for more information and to locate a dealer in your area.
Mitzvah Projects
Your child's religious schools or Jewish Day schools may require individual or group Mitzvah projects, but your child will feel more special creating a personal Mitzvah project. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization that coordinates volunteers of all faiths to help fix up or build affordable housing. A wonderful family project! Link to www.habitat.com for more information.
Save a Child's Heart is a special charity that can touch your child's heart through the act of Tzedekah. Donated funds are used to provide urgently needed pediatric heart surgery and care for children from third world and developing countries. Check their website www.saveachildsheart.com.
Kippahs with a cause can be found at www.mayaworks.org. These colorful hand crocheted kippahs are made by Guatemalan women. Your purchase helps support their remote villages.
Donate Goods to a local Children's Charity. Contact your local Children's Hospital or Pediatric Hospital Ward and ask what you can provide for their patients and families. Check with your local Fire Fighters to see if they support a teddy bear drive or other items for the community. Search for a shelter in your community that provides support for families.
Start a Social Action group at school. Create an outreach club for the local community to help the homeless, provide books for libraries or schools in need, and raise funds for these purposes. On a different note, start a Jewish Culture Club, which focuses on the difference between a religion and culture. Contact your local Jewish Federation office for ideas on how to get this started.
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While details of the weekend may fade over time and only be recaptured in photos or video, your child will always know the joy of making a difference in the lives of others.
Sheri Freedman
Two's Company, North Potomac, MD
301-279-0928
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