Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is a multi-faceted time for 13-year-olds and their families.
Preparations for this special milestone include studying Jewish history and Hebrew, learning how to conduct a Shabbat service, interpreting a parsha, and applying its meaning to current events. Many b’nai mitzvah students also take the extra step of completing a mitzvah project.
These local teens, who recently completed the b’nai mitzvah process, share why they chose their Mitzvah Projects and how they completed them. From raising money to raising awareness, their efforts offer hope for a bright Jewish future.
Walden Beha
Son of Lynn and Jonathan Beha
Congregation Beth El
Bar Mitzvah: June 22, 2024
Great Bridge Middle School
Mitzvah Project: Gathered donations for the animal shelter.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project?
Walden Beha: I’ve always liked animals, and the animal shelter was one of the few options I had for mitzvah projects.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Walden: The people running the animal shelter had to spend less money on food and other supplies, and I bet the animals were pretty happy.
Lila Friedman
Daughter of Mindy and Howard Friedman
Congregation Beth El
Bat Mitzvah: May 4, 2024
Great Neck Middle School
Mitzvah Project: Jewish Family Service Food Pantry
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project?
Lila Friedman: I picked this as my mitzvah project because I know a lot of people are struggling right now and it’s important to give back to our community and help others who are less fortunate. I had a lot of friends and family from around the country and locally who wanted to support my project. We turned some of the donations into centerpieces for my bat mitzvah to show everyone who came and who donated how their donations were being used.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Lila: When I was in the four-year-old class at Strelitz, we
collected canned goods for the food pantry as part of my Family of the Week project. We thought it would be good if we did something like that again for my bat mitzvah project.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Lila: My whole family benefitted from this project as well as the people in the community who rely on the food pantry for support. My sister and I helped stock the shelves and got to see how the pantry worked and where everything was stored. My whole family helped transport three carloads of donations to JFS and helped keep everything organized as we got so many donations. We had fun making the centerpieces and a lot of people at my bat mitzvah commented what a great project we had and how they were proud of me. We know a lot of people had a little extra food because of the kindness and generosity from those who helped support my project.
Wesley Jones
Son of Lisa and Andrew Jones
Temple Israel
Bar Mitzvah: May 4, 2024
Old Donation School
Mitzvah Project: Created a Virtual 5K Run for Neve Michael’s
Children Village in Israel.
All profits from this virtual 5K went directly to Neve Michael, which is a children’s home for more than 400 disadvantaged children. Neve Michael was established in Israel in 1943. The proceeds were used to purchase sports equipment. As part of this project, Wesley created the virtual 5K sign-up website, promoted the race, made medals, and participated in the 5k.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project?
Wesley: I like running and sports and Dr. Rabbi Michael Panitz told me about the children’s home, Neve Michael, in Israel. I wanted to raise money to help these children buy sports equipment like what I am fortunate enough to have.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Wesley: Dr. Michael Panitz helped inform me of the children’s village in Israel.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Wesley: Neve Michael’s children as well as the participants in the 5k race benefited from exercising for a great cause.
Mya Gadell
Daughter of Adina and Timothy Gadell
Ohef Sholom Temple
Bat Mitzvah: October 26, 2024
Old Donation School
Mitzvah Project: Neighborhood trash clean ups.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project?
Mya Gadell: Because my neighborhood is on the Elizabeth River and, if we keep the neighborhood clean, we contribute to the cleanliness of the river.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Mya: No, I chose this project on my own. Keeping our natural environment clean, alive, and well has always been a passion of mine.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Mya: Not only did my neighborhood benefit from this, but so did the Elizabeth River Foundation. I sent them the amounts of trash picked up so they could enter it into their system. I was happy to have aided their mission and contributed to keeping the river and my neighborhood nice and clean!
Eli Lomogda
Son of Julie Blumenthal and Jonathan Lomogda
Ohef Sholom Temple
Bar Mitzvah: November 2, 2024
Norfolk Collegiate School
Mitzvah Project: Organized a sneaker drive to help migrant workers who do seasonal labor harvesting crops on farms on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Eli thought it was important to raise awareness about the importance of shoes for people working long hours on their feet. He decorated large donation boxes and placed them throughout the community. One donation box went to his current middle school at Norfolk Collegiate, one box went to his elementary school at Strelitz International Academy (SIA), and one box went to the JCC. “The response has been amazing, and I have had so many people generously donate their shoes!!” he says.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project and what inspired you?
Eli Lomogda: The idea for my mitzvah project was inspired by: (1) a message from my Torah portion which is about the promise of a new tomorrow (rainbow) especially after a difficult time (flood), and (2) my love of sneakers … I’m a self-described “sneaker head.”
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Eli: Migrant workers – many of whom come from Central American countries.
In doing this mitzvah project, I learned that: (1) there are people in my community who need help, (2) there are generous people in my community who want to help people in need, and (3) kids can be leaders in making their community better.
I am proud of this mitzvah project and see it not as an end but as a beginning of a lifetime of mitzvot!
Magnolia Lynn Moore
Daughter of Erica and James Moore
Ohef Sholom Temple
Bat Mitzvah: October 19, 2024
Kempsville Middle School
Mitzvah Project: Spread
awareness and raised money for the Autism Society of Virginia.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this subject?
Magnolia Moore: With a strong support system and special services, differently abled people, like my brother, Hunter, can live full, joyful lives. I want to make sure that he and others like him have faith in G-d and in a family and community who always love and support them. I want to help other families who are like us. I hope that others will contribute and be part of the circle of family and friends and support those who are in need on the spectrum.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Magnolia: My brother Hunter and others on the spectrum.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Magnolia: The Autism community in Tidewater. I was successful and met my goal!
Ella Orloff
Daughter of JoEllen Rose and LCDR Ben Orloff
Ohef Sholom Temple
Bat Mitzvah: May 25, 2024
Norfolk Academy
Mitzvah Project: Partnering with the Virginia Aquarium and a college student to host trash clean ups and index the information to better understand what specific problems need to be addressed to keep our area clean.
Ella presented the information and ways to help the cause to her synagogue and scout troop.
Jewish News: Why did you choose this project?
Ella Orloff: I chose the project because I wanted to help the people in my community as well as the unique area we live in.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Ella: My troop inspired me to pursue this project from all the trash pickups we’ve led and the conversations about keeping our environment clean.
JN: Who benefited from this mitzvah project?
Ella: Organizations that study and use the information such as NOAA benefited from my project, the animals in the area benefited from the cleaner space, and I benefited because I was able to learn about the process of putting together events like these and learning how to lead groups in a project.
Emmett Stuart Smith
Son of Diana and Brennan Smith
Ohef Sholom Temple
Bar Mitzvah: May 11, 2024
Salem Middle School
Mitzvah project: Collected non-perishable food and monetary donations for a Military Food Pantry with a special focus on specialized diets such as gluten free, dairy free, etc.
JN: Why did you choose this subject?
Emmett: I chose a mitzvah project that would line up with all of the lessons my portion talks about. One that would help others and still foster independence for those who need some extra help. I have had dietary needs such as not being able to eat things like gluten, dairy, or soy, and it was hard to find things at first, but after a while, it got easier and easier to find not only food that tastes good but food that I can eat regularly. This process of finding good food took a while, so now I am on a mission to help make this food accessible to those who need it. When volunteering at my mom’s work, I helped in the food pantry and realized the need for specialized foods. I thought about this lack of specialized foods, so I decided to dedicate my project to the Patriot’s pantry at the ASYMCA. Not only is it a military food bank, but I also have close relationships with the kind people who work there.
JN: Did anyone inspire you to pursue this mitzvah project?
Emmett: My mom because she works for the Armed Services YMCA and my dad, since he’s in the military.
JN: Who benefitted from this mitzvah project?
Emmett: Military families struggling with food insecurity. I raised boxes and boxes of food and over $2,000 in monetary donations.