About 10 months ago, I was thinking about what I wanted to do for my bar mitzvah project. My parents and I went through a list of many chesed organizations that all seemed to do such wonderful things for people. After hearing about other chesed projects my friends worked on, I decided that for my bar mitzvah project I wanted to volunteer for Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County.

Why did I choose Tomchei Shabbos? For one reason, I like the idea of packing and delivering food for people who are less fortunate. The look on their faces when I deliver a package to them makes me feel good and I know I am making a difference in people’s lives. I like giving back to my community and doing kindness for others. I also wanted to emulate my great-grandfather, who was very involved in Tomchei Shabbos in Miami. I grew up hearing stories about my Great-Grandpa Herbie’s dedication to this mitzvah and I wanted to continue his legacy.

Another thing that I like about volunteering is that my whole family has made a weekly activity out of it. My mom drops me off to pack boxes at Tomchei Shabbos HQ on Wednesdays nights. After packing, my mom picks me up, along with the boxes that we are going to deliver for that week. When my father gets home from work, he takes me to go deliver the boxes to the people on our route, oftentimes with my sister, Sorah, and brother, Chaim, who usually beg to come along. One of the added benefits of doing Tomchei Shabbos is spending quality time with my family, which I look forward to every week.

After having participated in Tomchei Shabbos for many months now, I can honestly say what a terrific organization it is and I am happy to be part of this incredible mitzvah. I am pledging to donate some of my bar mitzvah money to help make a difference in my community, and I hope that others will also take part in the mitzvah of Tomchei Shabbos.

By Shmuli Fisher

Shmuli Fisher will be celebrating his bar mitzvah this Shabbat.