Happenings in the Students Build a Neighbourhood projects:

The  Religious Education Group of Netanya helped ESRA to put together a wonderful batmitzvah celebration for a group of eight girls from Hefzibah who are participants in the Students Build a Neighborhood project. They were welcomed at the home base of the group in Kiryat Nordau.

The celebratory atmosphere was immediately apparent by virtue of the festively decorated hall. The girls and their mothers enjoyed light refreshments, and then the fun and learning began. There was a wonderful presentation about the mitzvot on coming of age, with lighting Shabbat candles, the mitzvah of separating challah, self-respect and modesty. There was a mother and daughter quiz about the laws of lighting candles, and then everyone got down to work filing stones, which transformed them into beautiful candlesticks.

Midway through the evening forty of the girls’ friends joined in. There was a presentation on the mitzvot of separating challah, and then everyone joined in the fun, braiding rolls. While the challah was baking, the celebration began with a light meal and lots of music, singing and dancing. A great time was had by all.

Our special thanks to Yoela and Rachel, and to the National Service girls who worked extremely hard to put together an amazing evening.

The evening was sponsored by ESRA through generous donations from Julian and Merle Myers in honor of their daughter’s marriage, as well as Boaz Tanami in loving memory of his father, Israel Yehiel ben Yehuda. The Hefzibah community center kindly provided transportation.