1.When thinking about Bnai Mitzvah projects, be sure to get grandparents, aunts, uncles etc. involved in the planning process. It will help for the elders to share their wisdom and will help to forge the bond with the younger generation.
2 Start a book in the congregation by year/ or by category so that new students can see what has already been done. Make a template for the writing of the project. name- contact info (just one way to contact) name of project:
CATEGORY: ____sickness ____poverty _____animals ______Israel ______environment ______elderly _______world Jewry _______other (Name the category______________)
description:
Title of helpers on this project: ___young friends _____old friends _______parents______siblings_______grandparents_______grandfriends.
Name and contact information and description for the agency with whom I worked (if applicable)
pictures:
No of people that could be helped by the project.
Cost:
Suggestions for follow up project:
When I think about my project,
I learned that………
I appreciate that……..
I am sorry that……….
I hope that………….
My project was important because……………..
Additional comments:
I am willing to help another family who wants to continue this project _____yes ______sorry, I can’t
3. Suggest that after Bnai Mitzvah, a youth can work as a mentor to help others with the same type of project.
4. A story about a Bar Mitzvah-mitzvah project:
One young man played the piano once a month for a year, at the sr. housing where his grandfather lived. His grandfather died when the young man was 16 years old. I heard that 6 years later, the young man was still playing the piano whenever he came home from college. I called and we met for coffee. He said to me- “Mrs. Morton, I never made the decision to continue after becoming Bar Mitzvah, I just never made the decision to stop. And the residents LOVE hearing the Jewish music.
LASTLY, IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO SEND ME TEMPLATES AS THEY ARE DONE, I WILL KEEP THEM CATEGORIZED ON MY WEBSITE, AND WE CAN ALL USE THEM AS WE THINK OF NEW PROJECTS, OR WE CAN TALK TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL AS YOU PLAN BM PROJECTS WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER. I AM WILLING TO BE THE ASSISTANT TO MAKE THIS EASIER. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE WELCOME!
THANKS,
SHARON
Additions from Sharon Morton (see grandparentsforsocialaction.org and sign up for monthly emails to get new ideas for activities.
2 Start a book in the congregation by year/ or by category so that new students can see what has already been done. Make a template for the writing of the project. name- contact info (just one way to contact) name of project:
CATEGORY: ____sickness ____poverty _____animals ______Israel ______environment ______elderly _______world Jewry _______other (Name the category______________)
description:
Title of helpers on this project: ___young friends _____old friends _______parents______siblings_______grandparents_______grandfriends.
Name and contact information and description for the agency with whom I worked (if applicable)
pictures:
No of people that could be helped by the project.
Cost:
Suggestions for follow up project:
When I think about my project,
I learned that………
I appreciate that……..
I am sorry that……….
I hope that………….
My project was important because……………..
Additional comments:
I am willing to help another family who wants to continue this project _____yes ______sorry, I can’t
3. Suggest that after Bnai Mitzvah, a youth can work as a mentor to help others with the same type of project.
4. A story about a Bar Mitzvah-mitzvah project:
One young man played the piano once a month for a year, at the sr. housing where his grandfather lived. His grandfather died when the young man was 16 years old. I heard that 6 years later, the young man was still playing the piano whenever he came home from college. I called and we met for coffee. He said to me- “Mrs. Morton, I never made the decision to continue after becoming Bar Mitzvah, I just never made the decision to stop. And the residents LOVE hearing the Jewish music.
LASTLY, IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO SEND ME TEMPLATES AS THEY ARE DONE, I WILL KEEP THEM CATEGORIZED ON MY WEBSITE, AND WE CAN ALL USE THEM AS WE THINK OF NEW PROJECTS, OR WE CAN TALK TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL AS YOU PLAN BM PROJECTS WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SOME OF YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER. I AM WILLING TO BE THE ASSISTANT TO MAKE THIS EASIER. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE WELCOME!
THANKS,
SHARON
Additions from Sharon Morton (see grandparentsforsocialaction.org and sign up for monthly emails to get new ideas for activities.
