12/04/2025

Building a Better World One Mitzvah Project at a Time

Tags: Federation, Volunteer

Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News.

by Ed Carroll

There’s a lot to do as a child prepares for a bar or bat mitzvah — from learning the ritual itself to finalizing details of the party that follows. One important element, however, sometimes gets overlooked: the mitzvah project.

While it may not get as much attention as the celebration, the project is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. Both Aviva Roland, managing director of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jewish Volunteer Network, and Gadi Galili, ritual director at Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike, emphasize that performing mitzvot stems directly from the Torah.

In the United States, “mitzvah” is often translated loosely as “good deeds,” Galili explains, but that’s not quite accurate. In Hebrew, the word is closer to “an obligation.”

Roland notes that she doesn’t know exactly when today’s concept of a mitzvah project began, but the practice is a natural extension of Jewish teachings.

“It makes sense that as a young person is starting their adult Jewish journey, that the bar mitzvah is not the culmination of something, it’s the start of Jewish adulthood,” she says. “That they have to struggle with and make their own relationship with these mitzvahs and this concept makes sense to me.”

The word bar means “son of,” and mitzvah means “commandment,” she notes, so part of that coming-of-age process is learning to build one’s own relationship with those commandments and with the responsibilities of Jewish life.

Compared with previous generations, today’s mitzvah projects tend to be more focused and personalized. Galili points out that in the past, families might have simply donated to a cause like the Jewish National Fund. Now, children often decide exactly where their contributions should go.

“Today, it’s not just to plant trees in Israel, it’s where to plant the tree, and sometimes for who,” he says. “‘It should be for a park, a park that kids or disabled kids can play there, or wounded soldiers can rest there.’ More things that are more individual, with more awareness.”

Roland agrees, adding that what makes a mitzvah project meaningful is the child’s personal connection to it, regardless of whether the project involves time, money or effort.

“One thing that can make a mitzvah project meaningful is if the bar mitzvah student, the child, has actually chosen it themselves and been a part of the process of designing the project, as opposed to something just being handed to them and told to do it,” she says. “And I think that’s true for adults, also. You’re much more invested in something when you’ve had a hand in designing it and choosing it.”

Raleigh Lepene

For her mitzvah project, Raleigh Lepene of Pepper Pike, left, volunteered with Broadway Buddies, a Stagecrafters musical theater program that pairs volunteers with teens and young adults with special needs to help them shine on stage. Drawn by her love of theater and her desire to support others, she worked closely with her partner, April, right, assisting with staging, choreography and rehearsal sessions.

“I just wanted, to be there for her and make sure she knew that I had her back,” Raleigh says.

Mia Levy

For her mitzvah project, Mia Levy of Shaker Heights volunteered with Food Strong, a Cleveland nonprofit that uses fresh food to empower, educate and promote health across Northeast Ohio. Once a month, she helps weed and tend the group’s urban garden.

“I wanted to support an organization that isn’t as well-known yet,” Mia says, adding, “I think everyone should have [access to] nutritious and healthy food.”

Ethan Gruhin

For his mitzvah project, Ethan Gruhin of Solon helped rebuild the library at Camp Wise. After noticing the camp’s collection was worn and outdated, he reorganized the space and collected more than 1,300 new and gently used books—from fantasy to fiction to comics—through donations from family, friends, and the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank. “Both reading and Camp Wise are really important to me, and that made the project feel extra special,” he says.

Shai Young

For his bar mitzvah project, Shai Young of Solon honored the memory of his close friend Cole Zelwin, who passed away from leukemia two and a half years ago. Shai collected games for kids with cancer at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, so they would have something to do while staying at the hospital.

“I wanted to dedicate my project to Cole and make it about him,” Shai says. “His passing shocked my life, but thanks to my mom, dad, and sister, I’ve learned to live while honoring and remembering him every day. I’m very lucky to have had Cole in my life.”

Spotlight
Turning Passion Into Purpose: Lila Rubinstein’s Mitzvah Project

When it comes to mitzvah projects, one of the toughest steps often comes at the very beginning: deciding what to do.

It’s an important decision, but not an impossible one. Both Gadi Galili, ritual director at Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike, and Aviva Roland, managing director at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Jewish Volunteer Network, note that the best projects are those that connect a child to the community in some way. And in Northeast Ohio, there is no shortage of places where students can make an impact.

Twelve-year-old Lila Rubinstein is a prime example.

At Congregation Mishkon Or in Beachwood, every bar or bat mitzvah student is expected to perform a mitzvah project. At first, Rubinstein thought about supporting cancer patients.

“We’ve had a lot of cases of cancer in my family and deaths from it in the past couple of years,” she says. “So I was going to do something with that, but then I found out about Share What You Wear” — a project by the National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland (NCJW/CLE) that curates bags of clothes for children and families in need through partnerships with schools and social service agencies.

The idea that kids her own age were embarrassed to go to school because they didn’t have fitting, clean or fashionable clothing resonated with her.

“Clothing is definitely a big part of my life right now,” Lila says. “It makes you fit in or stand out if you want to. With clothing, you need to be able to feel like yourself, and I want other people to have that same experience that I do with clothing, like I am me, I am my best self right now, and I can work on like my school work now, and not feel self-conscious.”

Still, she wanted to infuse the project with another passion: musical theater. Combining the two, she launched a fundraiser built around performance.

Lila held a garage sale, raising about $200 to cover expenses. With the funds, she acquired costumes, rented a performance space, hired an accompanist and promoted her show, “Royal Tea,” with flyers she handed out at events and playgrounds.

She then recruited her friends from musical theater to perform Disney princess numbers. Dozens of little girls in princess dresses filled the audience, watching in awe as their heroes came to life on stage. At the end of the performance, Lila explained Share What You Wear’s mission and encouraged donations of clothing and money. Afterward, the performers held a meet-and-greet and posed for photos.

“I was definitely blown away by how many generous donations came in and how many people care about helping others who are having a harder time,” Lila says. “I think everyone there learned something too [about clothing needs].”

For Lila, the experience brought her closer to Share What You Wear.

“I thought it was an amazing organization, and I’m so happy I could contribute. Once I’m older, or maybe even during summer, I definitely want to volunteer there.”

Her commitment extended beyond the show. When she delivered the donations – 11 bags of clothing and $650 — she toured Share What You Wear’s facility and peppered staff with thoughtful questions.

“She wanted to see everything and spent 45 minutes asking really good questions,” says Heather Schlang, co-chair of NCJW/CLE’s Share What You Wear. “For example, when I said we provide all new socks and underwear, she asked, ‘What about new bras?’ She even noticed on an order sheet that one boy wasn’t receiving shoes he needed. That led to a whole discussion.”

Schlang says Lila’s project was exactly what makes mitzvah work meaningful – and why, especially for NCJW/CLE, this is a perfect partnership.

“It’s perfect because it engages kids in her own age range,” she says. “A lot of our requests come from that age group, so it’s really helpful when projects connect with them. This is the best – when you connect something you love and make a difference.”

For families served by Share What You Wear, the donations are about more than just filling a need.

“We operate on what I call a Walmart budget,” Schlang says. “But when we’re able to send out something like a brand-new North Face jacket, it’s not the same as a generic one. Name brands make kids feel good. When students like Lila help us source those items, it makes a real difference.”

Lila’s mitzvah project may have started as a question of what to do, but it became much more: a chance to combine her passion with purpose and to make her community stronger in the process. She thinks every teenager should take this kind of project on.

“Even if it’s just holding a yard sale to support your favorite puppy organization, it makes a difference,” she says. “If every kid in the world did something like a mitzvah project – even if they’re not Jewish – it would add up to a huge impact. And the world would look a lot better than it does right now.”

Learn More: Federation, Volunteer