Bar / Bat Mitzvah Program
An Invitation to Share
Join Schneider Children’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program and help save children’s lives
You are on the eve of celebrating your Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Mazaltov!
Bar- or Bat- Mitzvah, literally “son of” or “daughter of” Mitzvah, means that as you attain religious maturity, you become responsible to fulfill all Torah commandments, or mitzvot (good deeds).
The occasion is cause for great celebration and joy, for gifts and for parties. It is also a time for reflection of your new status as prayer and community participants. We invite you to mark this important milestone in your life with a special and unique mitzvah of your very own. You can help save other children’s lives with a gift of caring and sharing.
By linking your simcha with the needs of less fortunate youngsters hospitalized in American Friends of Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, you can perform a double mitzvah.
Jewish tradition views philanthropy, “tzedaka”, as a righteous deed and a just activity. Tzedaka not only provides you with a sense of personal involvement, but also with the power to make a difference – such a difference in fact, that it can mean life or death.
Your gift to Schneider Children’s is an expression of humanity that will guide you for the rest of your life.
Lee Oz, Melbourne, Australia
Lee Oz asked all her Batmitzvah party guests “in lieu of gifts, please make a donation to Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel.” She also added that “It is very important for me to make this occasion more meaningful. I chose Schneider Children’s Hospital Bat Mitzvah Program because it is about saving children’s lives. As I am myself a child, it will be very rewarding to do something for others who are less fortunate than many of us. Schneider Children’s would not be able to ‘Go the Extra Smile’ without the support it receives from individuals like ourselves who appreciate the enormous effort that is required to look after a sick child. I will be handing all the funds collected to Schneider Children’s.”
Tyler Golden, Vancouver, Canada
“I recently became a Bar Mitzvah and would like to use some of the money I received to donate to a children’s hospital in Israel because I want to help kids in pain, trauma and discomfort. Another reason I have chosen to give to a hospital in Israel is because of the government’s necessary funding cuts to medical care to help with Israeli security and the army…”.
Erica Winters, Port Washington, New York, USA
Erica handcrafted a beautiful quilt as her Mitzvah project and sent it to Schneider Children’s with the wish that, “I hope it keeps you warm and that you feel better.”
Joel Silver and Taryn Silver, Melbourne, Australia
When Joel became a Bar Mitzvah, he decided to donate money to Schneider Children’s. When Taryn became a Bat Mitzvah two years later, she followed in her brother’s footsteps
Joel: “I wanted to donate some of the money I received from my Barmitzvah to a children’s hospital in Israel because of the government’s necessary funding cuts to medical care to help with Israeli security and the army. I wanted to donate to Schneider Children’s Medical Center because I was inspired by everyone there as they help all kids in pain, trauma and discomfort who are in need with open arms and hospitality. I feel they will help bring peace to Israel. God bless them”.
Taryn: “When my brother celebrated his bar mitzvah he donated some of the money he received to different charities in Israel, one of which was Schneider. When I was told that it was the only children’s hospital in the Middle East, I felt that I wanted to donate too. I wanted to help the children of Israel. My heart told me that it would be better to help kids in Israel instead of getting useless presents. After my Batmitzvah I felt so proud knowing how much money I raised. I felt that I really helped and that was the best gift.”
Rachel Kirschner, Voorhees, New Jersey, USA
Rachel sent Schneider Children’s seven boxes of stuffed animals that she collected as part of her Bat Mitzvah project. “…Thank you so much for giving me a chance to help young children of Israel and give these toys as gifts”.
Eva Schwartz, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Eva prepared a special letter for guests to her Batmitzvah celebration and asked everyone to make a donation to Schneider Children’s in lieu of gifts:…” To make this day even more meaningful, I would like to contribute something to others who are less fortunate than I. I would especially like to help children that are in need. Our discussions at school about the Middle East have made me more aware of the growing needs there.
I would therefore like to suggest that as my Batmitzvah gift, you join me in making a donation to the American Friends of Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel…”
Eva requested that her contribution be directed towards the hospital’s bridge to peace efforts: her thoughtful gift assisted the work of a social worker dealing with children suffering from Thalessemia, a debilitating blood disease common among populations where intermarriage practices are high, such as within Arab and ultra-Orthodox sectors.
Michael Suskin, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Michael donated funds to Schneider Children’s and visited the hospital with his family so that he could meet some of the children.
Devra and friends, Sarah and Rachel, USA
“I decided to contribute a portion of my Batmitzvah money to American Friends of Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, because I wanted to donate to a place that was going to put my gift to good use.” Devra enlisted the assistance of her two friends, Sarah and Rachel, who together decided to support the purchase of a stereo system for a special treatment room. “I believe that music is an amazing gift … I wanted children who were ill or injured to become uplifted through music. My friends and I are proud to donate to this cause.”
Emma Stein, USA
Emma is donating funds from her Batmitzvah towards a Mobile Library for Schneider Children’s. She has asked her friends and family to contribute and is also organizing a read-a-thon to augment the funds raised for the mobile library.
We Need Your Help
Israel’s Health Services are facing a crisis of major proportions due to the dire financial situation in the country, and there is little hope that this situation will be reversed in the foreseeable future. In order to ensure that the finest levels of multidisciplinary care are available to all children, Schneider Children’s must seek alternative sources of income. It is here that your support can play a vital role.
On the occasion of your Bar- and Bat-Mitzvah, we invite you to join Tyler, Joel, Taryn, Rachel and many others like them around the world, who have shown such caring and generosity of human spirit. Your gift helps us maintain the highest standards of medical excellence by enhancing services and facilities, by purchasing needed equipment or by supporting the addition of new staff members.
Partners
Every gift is welcome, no matter how small. By sharing your celebration with sick kids at Schneider Children’s, you help save lives and that makes your mitzvah an outstanding endeavor. You can decide to adopt your own project with the proceeds of your gift.
Here are some suggestions for making a contribution:
- Donate all or part of your Bar/Bat Mitzvah gift money to American Friends of Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel.
- Organize a mitzvah project in your community and send the money you have raised:
- Collect children’s books and toys and have a yard sale
- Host a community car wash with friends
- Create your own project by turning a personal interest into your mitzvah project
- Encourage your parents to make a contribution to the medical center in honor of each guest attending your Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Insert a small card in your invitation or thank you note acknowledging the contribution your family is making on behalf of each guest to American Friends of Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel.
- Make a tzedakah presentation about the hospital to your congregation, friends, or school. We can provide you with a PowerPoint presentation.
- Encourage your guests to make a contribution instead of bringing a gift by mentioning your preference for a contribution in your invitation.