One key component to becoming a b’nai mitzvah is the infamous “mitzvah project.” To some young people this challenge can feel daunting. There are a multitude of opportunities for a b’nai mitzvah student to begin his or her work of tikkun olam (repairing the world). Finding a project to which one can devote 10 to 20 hours of community service can be as easy as volunteering at a local food bank. The challenge is finding a cause that speaks to a young person’s soul.
As a parent, you can help by introducing your child to an organization that will engage him or her and demonstrate the value of ongoing community healing, helping and involvement. If your child is into food, suggest he or she sponsor a food drive to collect non-perishable food items and deliver them to Paradise Valley Food Bank. Kids can also volunteer hours there to help unpack donations, stock shelves and organize the collections that consistently roll into the center.
Some kids enjoy working to provide meals and support for UMOM at Watkins Overflow Shelter. A monthly commitment can easily add up to enough hours to fulfill a mitzvah project requirement. Some kids spend a year of holidays providing dinners at Tumbleweeds Youth Development Center, which provides services for vulnerable and at-risk kids ages 12 to 25. There are a myriad of ways kids can get involved and make an impact on their communities.
Most synagogues give b’nai mitzvah kids a variety of volunteer options for mitzvah projects. The Temple Chai Center for Tzedakah and Social Justice, for example, offers a myriad of ways to participate in g’milut chasadim, acts of loving kindness. Kids interested in social, political and religious unity might enjoy volunteering in an interfaith program at Temple Chai called “Salaam-Chai-Paradise,” which promotes understanding and acceptance of the differences and similarities between the three Abrahamic faiths – Jewish, Christian and Muslim – and works to counteract all forms of bigotry.
Almost every nonprofit offers volunteer ooptions. Kids who are animal lovers have volunteered at the humane society or other animal shelters. Kids can set up a book drive and collect books for homeless children, underprivileged schools or libraries. The possibilities are endless. I read about one girl who raised money for prom dresses for girls who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Another boy raised money to buy tallit for an impoverished overseas congregation. One boy whose family came from Mexico volunteered at a border water station where he repaired and maintained water barrels to help ensure the safety of those making the dangerous journey.
Finding a mitzvah project to suit a child’s individual personality enables the child finds a meaningful way to aid the community. As young people move into adulthood, the mitzvah project helps them to realize their unique importance to society and how through their very personal efforts, they can have a deeply positive impact on the world.
Debra Rich Gettleman is a mother and blogger based in the Phoenix area. For more of her work, visit unmotherlyinsights.com.
