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Welcome to my Bar Mitzvah Project Page. While preparing to be called to the Bimah, along with learning my haftarah, I'll be working on my Mitzvah (good deed) project. Follow my Bar Mitzvah Journey as I spread book joy to schools & libraries, as well as, educate and shine a bright light on Jewish stories & authors.
2/12/23 Torah Portion:
I received my Torah Portion and Haftarah! After anxiously waiting for weeks, I was given the Torah Portion I'll be reading from: Shemot Verses 3:1-4:17, and my Haftarah, Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23.
Every "candidate" or B'Nai Mitzvah is selected special verses to chant and speak about based off their birthdate. Since my Jewish birthday is January 3rd, I will be chanting one of the most important haftarot and parashah. I'll be discussing Moses being called upon by God at the Burning Bush, and how the Israelites followed their ancestors hundreds of years after the great Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, and Moses passed.
The big day is approaching and I'm incredibly nervous, excited, and anxious. Responsibility, or Achrayut will be a word I'll be hearing quite a bit as I become a Jewish adult. Soon, I'll be beginning by Bar Mitzvah training, wear my Tallit for the first time, and before I know it, I'll be on the bimah in front of the whole congregation. My friends, family, and regulars at my synagogue. I'm so excited for the journey ahead, and I hope you'll join me along the bumpy, joyful, and meaningful ride!
4/23 Meeting with Rabbi Herman:
My parents and I met with Rabbi Herman today, and talked about what a Bar Mitzvah means to me, as well as everything I'm hoping to accomplish for my Bar Mitzvah project. We also spoke about my hobbies and our mutual interests in quiz bowl and sports! I'm really enjoying getting to know our Rabbi and I'm looking forward to studying Torah with him & preparing for my important & special day! Stay tuned!
Rabbi Herman & Me!
As I continue my journey to Jewish adulthood, one journey, Sunday School, comes to an end, and a new one begins. I can't believe I'm going to start officially training for my bar mitzvah! Look out Bimah cause here I come!
Happy Jewish Heritage Month! To celebrate, I put together a playlist of all the incredible authors, of Jewish descent, I've had the honor of interviewing! Having the chance to meet & talk with so many amazing Jewish writers has been a dream come true & I am forever grateful! Click, Watch & Celebrate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncQwrnzF_YI&list=PL0K790j89gyHdTTmhODZBcDFh6y_1bqcs&pp=gAQB
Happy Jewish Heritage Month! To celebrate I'm spotlighting Canadian author and filmmaker Hart Snider.
I had the huge honor of interviewing the one and only film maker and middle-grade author of "The Basketball Game," Hart Snider! Hart is a director, writer, and story editor, who’s edited films and series for CBC, NFB, Paramount Television, Nat Geo, Global, History, Food Network, NBA Canada, and more, and yes, on top of all this, he’s also a published author! Not to mention Hart’s been Honored by the government of Alberta Canada and winner of most inspirational short film, as well as recognized for many of his incredible film and writing projects.
NOTE: More on author Hart Snider's book, THE BASKET BALL GAME. "Back in Alberta in the summer of 1983, representatives of a small town named Eckville met with a nearby Jewish community in Edmonton, after the antisemitic conspiracy theory-fuelled lessons of the town's social studies teacher and mayor, Jim Keegstra, became national news. They were invited to a get together at a Jewish summer camp, away from the press and onlookers, so that Keegstra's former students, who'd been taught so much hatred, could have a picnic, play sports, and meet Jewish kids for the first time. Filmmaker/Author Hart Snider was a scared nine year old that summer, who'd never even been away at camp before, and ended up playing in a basketball game he's never forgotten." You can read about Hart's experience in his graphic Novel THE BASKETBALL GAME, and watch our talk in this video to learn more.
Follow Hart Snider's journey here: http://www.cutandpaste.ca/
I'm raising funds to buy books from FIRST BOOK to donate to schools, libraries & to kids having spending to spend their holidays in hospital! My mission is to spread book joy & inspire a love of reading! You can help me purchase books by donating to my GoFundMe Account.
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To commemorate the start of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), I spoke with Gidon Lev, co-author of THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF GIDON LEV: RASCAL. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR. OPTIMIST," about his experiences before, during, and after the holocaust. Gidon is a hero! At just age 6 he was sent to the Terezin concentration camp and was one of only 29 children to survive, out of the15,000 total children sent. But Gidon's story doesn't end there! Today, at 88 years young, Gidon is kindness hero! He's he is teaching the world to be tolerant and he’s sharing the truth about the holocaust and helping to put an end to hate and antisemitism. Not only is Gidon speaking up against antisemitism, but he's has also taken social media by storm with his sensational TikToks, advocating for the next generation to speak out against injustice! Gidon's work inspires youth and adults alike to take a stand, to combat anti-semitism, and to reject hate in all forms. Gidon maintains that black rights, trans rights, women's rights, and ALL rights are human rights!
THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF GIDON LEV, by author Julie Gray, and written with Gidon Lev, shares the incredible story of Gidon’s journey, from before, during, and after being a child imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. Gidon’s story will remind you that anything is possible and to keep looking ahead for your next adventure! Follow Gidon's journey here: https://www.thetrueadventures.com
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), I had the honor of interviewing the multi award-winning author of over 45 fiction and non-fiction novels, author Carol Matas! I admire Carol because she shares the truth in her stories, the truth we all need to hear! Carol Matas is the author behind the well known middle grade Holocaust Novel, DANIEL'S STORY, which is one of the very first Holocaust stories written for children. "Daniel's Story" is also part of the inspiration behind the "Remember The Children: Daniel's Story" exhibition at the United States Holocaust Museum. Watch my interview with Carol and find out more about her amazing writing journey!
Follow Carol at: https://carolmatas.comTo learn more about the "Remember The Children: Daniel's" Story exhibit click here: https://www.ushmm.org/online-calendar...
April is the month we remember those who perished in the Holocaust and I'm spotlighting authors who wrote stories to educate and inspire & teach the truth! In this video I speak with the award-wining author of meaningful YA, Adult, and Children's books, Liza Wiemer. Watch as Liza and I talk about everything from bullying to book banning, to combating anti-semitism. Liza is so passionate about teaching truth and stopping hate! I learned so much talking with her. Watch, learn and be inspired!
Since Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)Holiday
I thought it would be the perfect time to share the profound Middle Grade/Young Adult novel, “THE ASSIGNMENT” by the brilliant author, Liza Wiemer. This story educated & inspired me! Tears welled in my eyes while reading it! Watch my book review of Liza’s beautiful book!
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, I reviewed the moving middle grade novel DANIEL'S STORY by brilliant author Carol Matas! It's so important to shed light on what happened during the Holocaust to ensure it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN! This story tells the heartbreaking truth. A story every kid and adult needs to read. Follow Carol Matas on social media & on her website at: https://carolmatas.com/
**Look for my interview with Carol Matas coming Spring of 2023
“Hana’s Suitcase: The Quest To Solve A holocaust mystery” is an award winning true story written by author Karen Levine. A heartfelt tale of one woman’s journey to start a Holocaust Education Center in Tokyo, Japan, and how in the process, she uncovers the mystery of Hana’s suitcase. An inspiring and meaningful book that needs to be read, told and shared in classrooms and libraries everywhere! 50/50! Stories like HANA'S SUITCAST must be read so we #NEVERFORGET
In keeping with my goal of reading books that are centered around WW2, I reviewed the thrilling middle grade non-fiction tale UNBREAKABLE: THE SPIES WHO CRACKED THE NAZIS’ SECRET CODE, by the talented & brilliant author Rebecca E. F. Barone. A story that reminds us of what went on behind the scenes in the desperate battle and race against the clock to end WW2. A page-turning true story you won’t want to put down until you’ve read every last incredible detail! 10/10
I’d been wanting to read the Holocaust graphic novel MAUS by Art Spiegelman for a while & I finally did! MAUS has been banned around the US & the world. It’s a story that needs to be told, read and remembered! Read MAUS & Never Forget! #NeverAgain
Along with sharing stories with kids & schools in need, I'm spotlighting & celebrating Jewish authors and their stories for my Bar Mitzvah Project. Throughout 2023 I'll be sharing book reviews of Jewish themed stories, as well as interviewing amazing Jewish authors.
Advocating for literacy is my mission and I hope you'll help me reach my bar mitzvah goal of donating as many books as possible to kids in need of reads! You can be a kindness hero & donate books from my Bar Mitzvah Amazon wish list here!
I'm delivering reads that matter. Stories that teach the facts about the Holocaust & discrimination, and books that share how we can combat hate with information & truth! I want to celebrate diverse & inclusive reads with kids in need of stories! Help me share important books with teachers, classrooms & kids!
I had the honor of interviewing the award-winning, New York Times Best Selling author, who’s books always entertain, and inspire, as well as educate, and touch his readers' hearts, my personal hero and storytelling legend Author Gordon Korman! When I learned that Gordon is also Jewish, I knew I had to spotlight his work on my Bar Mitzvah Project Page!
In honor of my upcoming Bar Mitzvah, I'm spotlighting Jewish authors & their stories every month in 2023. So you can imagine how happy I was when I found out storytelling legend author Gordon Korman, author of 101 fantastic middle-grade books, is also Jewish! I love every book I've read of Gordon's, but his book, LINKED is a story that is near and dear to my heart! With themes of tolerance, acceptance & combating antisemitism, LINKED is the perfect book to REMIND US TO ALWAYS REMEMBER AND NEVER
In this video I talk "everything books" with Stacy Nockowitz, an educator, literacy advocate, and now Author! Watch and find out about her debut thrilling, Jewish themed, middle grade novel, "The Prince of Steel Pier," as well as, growing up in the 70's!
In this video, I discuss the wonderful "Coming of Age, 13 B'nai Mitzvah Stories" anthology with six of the thirteen authors. In our conversations, we talk about combating anti-Semitism with numbers higher than ever, Jewish traditions, and so much more! I adore all these incredible writers, and after watching this panel interview, so will you! It's important now more than ever to have these kinds of conversations, and we hope you'll join us in the fight for diversity, and acceptance!
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