Hi, I’m Elisheva Hellman, and soon I will be celebrating my Bat Mitzvah! I love gymnastics, swimming, reading, rock climbing and especially doing acts of chesed. For my Bat Mitzvah project, I decided to choose Yad Leah. I chose it because it’s a chesed my parents have taught me to participate in from a young age, and that I really enjoy! First I sort through my closet, pack bags and shlep and throw them into the Yad Leah garage. I have been to the Yad Leah warehouse twice to sort and pack boxes of donations, which are then shipped to specific Yad Leah stores in Israel. People with limited finances can shop for what they want and need at the Yad Leah stores, so they can dress with dignity. They don’t need to be ashamed and can get clothing for themselves and their families- because we all know that when you look good, you feel good.

At my Bat Mitzvah party, I am inviting my guests to participate in this chesed opportunity in two different ways: by donating clothing and by donating tzedakah to Yad Leah. I gave my classmates bags to keep in their closets to collect and bring clothing in good wearable condition to finish the mitzvah- and one they can continue to do on their own even after my party! Any money you choose to donate goes to this awesome chesed organization to cover the cost of shipping the boxes of clothing to Israel. No matter how much clothing or money you donate, every little bit counts! Tizku lemitzvot!