JKHA sixth grade girls took part in a meaningful bat mitzvah week centered around this special time in their lives. The week began hearing from Mrs. Raizy Rubin from the Chabad at SUNY Albany about what it means to become a bat mitzvah, then created and decorated a spiritual bucket list. Morah Nechama Hendel who organized the week explained to girls the importance of challenging themselves to each add a mitzvah at this age. They gave out mini metal buckets to decorate with their Hebrew names. Throughout the week students learned about different mitzvot and added it to their buckets.

A different day they worked with guidance counselor Ms. Wasserman on the idea of your house as a foundation of who you are as a young Jewish woman, and thinking about all of the things we add to our house as metaphors for the influences in our life. The week continued with them breaking into groups to learn about the Imahot and neviot in an escape-room style activity. By answering questions about what we learn from these role models, the girls figure out clues to opening the lock of the next box. Finally they made Torah bookmarks to add to their buckets. Incorporating chesed into the week, the students packed tzedaka pouches and created a Purim fortune teller with trivia to support Tzahal and their families. Morah Sharbat inspired students to create inspiration boards with the messages they want to take with them. They made a collage of images that relate to whom they want to become and mitzvot they’d like to add in their lives as they get older.

The week ended with a special concert featuring Mrs. Esther Freeman and it was in solidarity with our sisters in Israel. It was amazing to have the girls participate joyously by singing and dancing on stage!