Hebrew High

Going beyond the honor of becoming a bat mitzva

April 22, 2012

NU Magazine - April, 2012

After a year of preparing for my bat mitzva, I came to understand that becoming an adult in the Jewish community is a task that requires a lot of hard work and perseverance.

After finally achieving the honor of becoming a bat mitzva in June, I decided to continue to learn more about Judaism by enrolling in Hebrew High School at my temple.

The decision to attend Hebrew High was an important choice because I believe my journey of becoming a true Jew has only begun.

By attending Hebrew High, I am displaying a dedication and passion to my religion, and an eagerness to learn more about it. Although a bat mitzva may seem like an end to your education in Judaism, there are always more lessons and information to learn.

Being a Jew requires commitment and devotion. Hebrew High is a wonderful opportunity to allow young adults in the Jewish community to follow through with Judaism, and set a good example for the younger generation.

A part of being a good Jew is making an effort to give back to the community, and always trying to help others that are less fortunate. I have volunteered at a local day care for underprivileged children and spent several hours with them, and kept them company.

Giving back to your community is very important and means much more then it may seem, which is why I think community service is something to be proud of and makes a person feel accomplished. Another component of being a good Jew is acting like a mensch, which means being a good person all around.

A mensch is a key aspect to being a good Jew, and the type of person who is kind, generous, and always open to doing things for the good of others. Being a mensch is hard to achieve because it requires someone to go out of their way to help others and stay consistent with it.

Even though I have accomplished a milestone in my Jewish life, I strongly believe over time I will continue to follow Judaism and stay devoted to my religion.

Abby Ingber, 14, attends Warren Middle School and is a member of Nu’s teen board.