A Beautiful Mitzvah Project

When I was four-years-old, the story goes, I was the youngest camper at the day camp my parents sent me too.  There, I met Jayne Hirsch, who was five.  I’m 53 years old now and we’re still friends.  Twelve years ago she went to China and adopted the beautiful Rebecca.  And so – this blog post.

Rebecca is going to be thirteen soon and will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah in the tradition of many young Jewish boys and girls.  As part of her Bat Mitzvah, Rebecca is required to do a Mitzvah Project.  There are several definitions of the word mitzvah.  In this case, the best definition would be an act of human kindness.

As her Mitzvah Project, Rebecca is raising money for Love Without Boundaries, an organization that helps orphans in China for both educational and medical reasons.  Her open letter, which appears on Facebook as part of an Open Event posting, (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237855926251755), appears below:

Dear Family and Friends,

As a part of preparing for becoming a Bat Mitzvah, I am required to do a Mitzvah project (a good deed). For my Mitzvah project I am collecting cans, plastic and glass bottles with 5 cent deposits on them to raise money for Love Without Boundaries. Love Without Boundaries supports orphans in China for both educational and medical needs. Depending on how much money I earn that will determine if I could sponsor a child to go to preschool or a surgical procedure. Since I was adopted from China I’ve always wanted to help the other orphans. I’ve always wanted to help because there are a lot of orphans who need surgery or an education. At the end of my project I will let everyone know how much was earned and how it was used.

If you live on Long Island the cans, plastic and glass bottles (rinsed) can be dropped off at my house or I can pick them up at yours (please call or send a message through Facebook).

If you are a member of Temple Beth El of Patchogue and would like to help, you can drop them off in the kitchen in a bin marked “Rebecca’s Mitzvah Project” and I will pick them up weekly.

If you are out of state and would like to help, when you bring your cans, plastic and glass bottles back to the store for the deposit, please send the money to me so I can include it in my project. I will conclude my project right after Thanksgiving. You can contribute more than once.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Hirsch