A Bar Mitzvah is not a party. It is however, a celebration. You're 13, you're an adult in the Jewish community...but certainly not in the secular world. Do you know what it means to have adult responsibilities in Judaism? Do you know what will make your day more meaningful? How about your life? There's a lot that B'nai Mitzvahs have to learn about Judaism and how Judaism can impact them personally. It's not just a bunch of prayers in a language they may or may not understand. It isn't just a bunch of old guys with beards doing whatever it is they do. Judaism is tangible. It fits. We fit. One must just come to an understanding of what Judaism means to them.
In today's section, 10 suggestions were made to enhance the B'nai Mitzvah experience for those going through it. Some I've definitely done and had done by the time I was a Bat Mitzvah and some I still haven't done and don't know if I'll ever complete. I took today to reflect on my experiences doing these actions though I don't wish to share them online. Here, so you can reflect with me:
- Visit someone who has lost a loved one
- Visit or call someone is sick
- Arrange to have leftover food from your B'nai Mitzvah celebration donated to a shelter or food bank
- Take your chametz to a food pantry
- Devote some time to a communal issue or cause
- Donate three percent of the cost of your Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration to Mazon
- Keep and donate to a tzedaka box
- Show respect to the elderly
- Call your grandparents instead of waiting for them to call you
- Ask your parents for whom you were named and know the special qualities about those people
No comments:
Post a Comment