My name is Yair Ashendorf and I am preparing for my bar mitzvah. As part of that preparation, my parents mentioned to me that I might want to start thinking about a chesed project that meant something to me personally. We are going to celebrate my bar mitzvah in Israel, so I started thinking about my last (and only) trip there and what had been important to me. I really loved seeing all the soldiers and was very impressed with how they took such good care of the people in Israel. My grandparents live there, so I am especially happy to make sure they are well taken care of.

We heard about the tzedakah called Standing Together, which takes care of the chayalim. The organization makes sure that the soldiers have everything that they need that isn’t provided by the army. The army doesn’t have money to give them proper winter clothing and boots, or sometimes even fresh food. Standing Together drives around during wartime and finds the soldiers that may have just crossed back over into Israel and gives them fresh clothing, food and drink.

I really feel that the soldiers will need winter gear when it gets cold, so for my bar mitzvah chesed project I am going to try and raise $5,000 for Standing Together to buy them hats, special gloves, neck warmers, coats and socks.

Ari Fuld, who is the assistant executive director there, visited The Moriah School, where I am in 7th grade, and described his organization to the middle school. I gave out some flyers with the details and Mr. Fuld let me try on the winter gear for which I am raising the money.

I am really excited to get the warm clothing for the chayalim. If you would like to help me, please visit my website to donate at http://www.rootfunding.com/campaign/5745. I know it would mean a lot. Thank you.

By Yair Ashendorf