UJA-Federation of New York

Ben Gross' Mitzvah Project

One aspect of my Bar Mitzvah preparation that is extremely meaningful to me is the mitzvah (commandment) to make a positive impact on the world. Performing mitzvot is the most fundamental step in becoming a Bar Mitzvah. It is the way that Jews strive to bring justice, compassion and holiness to the world. In Hebrew this is called tikkun olam, repairing the world.

As I look at the world around me, I am both saddened and inspired by the need for tikkun olam. Peace, education, hunger, poverty, health care and the state of our environment are among the areas of great concern for me. Over the past year as part of this fundamental commitment to tikkun olam, I have joined my mother and my sister Sarah in what has become a family tradition tutoring public school children after school as a part of the JCC's (Jewish Community Center in Manhattan) Gift of Literacy program. Every week I help under-performing second grade students at a bilingual public school on the Upper West Side with their reading and writing skills. I love to read, and I understand how essential reading and writing skills are towards advancing oneself in society. Both of my sisters participated in and donated to this program in connection with and following their b'not mitzvah. Their commitment to and joy from this program further inspired me to join them.

Through my family's involvement in two organizations that promote peace and co-existence in the Middle East, the Hand in Hand Schools in Israel and Seeds of Peace, I have been particularly drawn to organizations that advance these goals. Hand in Hand Schools, whose main campus we visited in Jerusalem as our first stop in our December 2008 trip to Israel, works to foster community and co-existence between Israel's Jews and Arabs through bilingual, multicultural schools across the country. At present, there are four Hand in Hand Schools in Israel. Seeds of Peace International Camp, which both of my sisters have attended and I hope to attend one day, was founded 18 years ago with the mission of empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and co-existence.

In lieu of a gift, I would be very thankful if you would consider making a tax-deductible gift to UJA-Federation as part of the "Give a Mitzvah-do a Mitzvah" program which UJA-Federation will distribute to these organizations. Please note that 100 percent of your donation will go directly to these organizations. UJA-Federation will inform me that you have made a gift in honor of my bar mitzvah.

Your gift will provide me with the opportunity, along with my volunteer work, to continue to make a difference in the world. Thank you so very much for considering this gift which will enable me to fulfill my first privilege as a bar mitzvah and empower me in my journey to repair the world.