The girls in Emunah’s Bet Elazraki Children’s Home in Netanya, Israel had a beautiful bat mitzvah party over Sukkot, thanks to a bat mitzvah girl from Englewood. Shira Siegler organized two bake sales, raising over $6,500 to help her “twins” and all the girls celebrate. Shira used the money raised from the bake sales to take six girls shopping for new dresses, shoes and tiaras—and nail polish, which they are ordinarily not allowed to wear. All the girls had their hair done before the party and then danced the night away. Shira donated the rest of the funds she raised directly to Beit Elazraki. The following night, three of the girls joined the Sieglers for a family bat mitzvah party in Jerusalem. Debbie Siegler, Shira’s mother, and co-president of Emunah’s Englewood chapter said, “It was a special time in our lives and a life-changing event. We hope to visit with them each time we go to Israel and I’m certain the Skype calls will continue. The relationships they built are strong and real. We are blessed to have celebrated with them.”
Bet Elazraki was founded in 1969 to help children who can’t live with their families due to a host of problems including drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, abandonment or neglect. Here, they receive love, therapy and guidance to live healthy, productive lives. Emunah, a women’s religious Zionist organization, operates five residential children’s homes and has a network of 250 social service and educational programs throughout Israel.
The Sieglers visited Bet Elazraki for the first time in February on a trip for bat mitzvah girls organized by Englewood’s Rebbetzin Chana Reichman of East Hill Synagogue, and Rebbetzin Freidi Hyman. Mrs. Siegler said Shira connected with four girls immediately and began a relationship that continued with Skype sessions every Sunday. When Shira and her mother talked about what it meant to be a bat mitzvah, Shira decided she wanted to do something for Bet Elazraki, and planned bake sales to raise money. The first was during the summer at the family’s bungalow, where Shira baked everything herself and raised $1500. Last month, Shira organized a bake sale at her Englewood home with over 30 items that she baked herself and contributions from friends and family. Over 100 friends came to the sale.
“My friends knew the girls were my age, and that they don’t have parents,” Shira said. “They wanted to help.” Three of her mother’s friends helped as well by selling jewelry, gift items and skin care products at the bake sale and donating a portion of their sales. The Englewood event raised over $5,000.
Shira also connected with Rebbetzin Reichman and has been learning with her every week. Rebbetzin Reichman helped her with her bat mitzvah speech, about the meaning of friendship and how important friends are, no matter how far away.
What Shira Siegler learned most of all from her bat mitzvah, is that when you give, you are the one who benefits. “Giving to others makes them feel good and you feel better,” she said.
By Bracha Schwartz
