On Tuesday evening, at a MAP-sponsored event, the sixth grade girls, along with their parents and teachers, celebrated their reaching gil mitzvot. The auditorium was filled with smiling faces, delicious food, beautifully set tables with balloon centerpieces and upbeat music provided by our own DJ, eighth grader, Jonah Nayowitz. After dinner and an inspiring dvar Torah by Rabbi Alter, two of the sixth grade girls led everyone in the recitation of Tehillim. The entire grade of girls then participated in a siyum on Pirkei Avot, taking turns reciting selected Mishnayot and explaining their relevance to their new status as bnot mitzvah.

Judy Solomon, the social work supervisor at Hackensack Hospital’s Children’s Cancer Institute, described the longstanding and special relationship that Moriah has with Tomorrow’s Children and explained that, as their chesed project, the girls would be filling toiletry bags to be presented to the moms of the young cancer patients on Mother’s Day. The project was followed by lively dancing, and the festivities ended with the presentation of a beautiful set of Machzorim to each bat mitzvah girl with her name printed on them. It was a most memorable and enjoyable evening, filled with meaningful Torah, avodah and gemilut chasadim—a perfect way to mark this very special milestone in the girls’ lives. Mazal tov to all!