Beyond Party Plans: Meaingful Mitzvah Projects
Orthodox Perspective by Rivka C. Berman

Meaningful Projects Beyond Party Plans
Why limit a bar or bat mitzvah’s meaning to the choice of the right invitations and caterer? This turning point is a fine time to strengthen an aspect of mitzvah observance with attention to a specific mitzvah or through a mitzvah project. During Elana Erdstein’s bat mitzvah year she began collecting unused samples of soap, shampoo and toothpaste from local hotels and corporations and donating them to homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters.

• Share the gift of Torah and offer to tutor a second grader who is struggling with learning to read Hebrew.
• Start davening the afternoon mincha service on the weekend.
• Begin contributing ten percent of your baby-sitting money to tzedaka, charity.
• Set the Shabbat table without being asked.
• Call your grandmother twice a month.
• Read a chapter of Tanach each day, even if it’s just the English translation.
• Learn the deeper meaning of one part of the shemona esrei prayer or any part of the daily prayers.
• Play regular games of Candyland with your little sister.
• Begin a coat collection for needy children. (Talk to your teacher about involving your whole class.)
• Read only Jewish books on Shabbat.
• Take little steps to become Jewish adult you always imagined you’d become.

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