Bar/Bat Mitzvah Stories

Spencer’s grandmother and great grandmother were both helped by the Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), one of the many agencies supported by JUF. “Vocational” means “having to do with jobs,” and that is the kind of help JVS gave to Spencer’s family; the agency helped them both find new jobs.

The thing is, Spencer only found that out after he had picked JVS to be the partner for his mitzvah project! Spencer liked JVS because they help people help themselves, and learn to depend on themselves.

In his bar mitzvah invitations, Spencer asked his guests to donate to JVS instead of giving him gifts. It must have had some effect… Spencer’s bar mitzvah was in December of 2007, but gifts are still coming to JVS in his name!

JVS was so grateful, they asked Spencer to speak at their annual meeting. In his speech, he said, “Giving tzedakah is one of the major mitzvot of Judaism. I, as a Jew, have decided that I should, and will, try to help others through this mitzvah. When we give another person a way to earn their own living, we are giving them a source of income and a source of self-respect. This is exactly what JVS is all about.” People liked the speech so much, they gave him a standing ovation!

Spencer’s celebration was at his congregation, Or Torah, in Skokie, where he lives. He led services on his bar mitzvah day, leading the prayers and reading from the Torah. His father read the Haftarah, the section from the Prophets for that week.

Where did Spencer get the idea to do a mitzvah project at all? He says it was his family’s idea that each of the kids would do something for others at their bar or bat mitzvahs. Spencer’s older sister Hannah donated the money she received for her bat mitzvah gifts, and so will Spencer’s younger brother and three younger sisters will, too, when it’s their turn.

That’s six brothers and sisters, by the way, in case you lost count; Spencer is the second oldest.

Since his bar mitzvah celebration, JVS has asked Spencer to speak to other bar and bat mitzvahs and encourage them to donate some of their gifts. Spencer is starting the Ida Crown Jewish Academy in the fall and needs to earn 80 “chesed hour” points in a year (“chesed” is Hebrew for “kindness,” and this is a volunteering program). With all the speaking he’ll be doing, looks like Spencer won’t have a hard time earning those points!