Bar Mitzvah Magazine 2014

A healthy attitude towards failure
Comment on the lessons
you learn from the stories at
By: Vivian Gindi
Magen David Yeshivah
When I was learning to ride a bicycle, I
kept on falling and I couldn’t stay on the
bike. I got a scrape on my knee and cut on
my ankle. But, I decided to be determined
and I jumped right back on the bicycle. After
so many times, I actually rode a little.
I continued and I did it. I learned how to
ride a bicycle. Even though I was little
and that was a small accomplishment, it
taught me a lesson. I learned that from
failures I can learn to do things better.
By: Joyce Kassin
Magen David Yeshivah
Everyone at some point fails. Most people
look at a failure as a very bad thing. But,
you don’t have to. When someone fails,
that could be your motivation to reach
your goal and do better even if you don’t
get it the first time or even the fifth time.
Never give up. Always look ahead.
TorahContest.com
I was born to
make mistakes,
not to fake
perfection.
By: Lauren Shamah
Hillel Yeshiva
There was once a girl who loved to dance.
She took many classes and spent hours
improving. It was the big day. She got to
dance by herself in front of 500 people.
There were very important people from
the dance world to watch her. Bam! She
fell on her face. Everyone started to laugh
and she dashed out in embarrassment.
She felt discouraged, but knew that she
had another chance to prove herself next
week and giving up would be a bad idea.
She restlessly worked and tried to improve.
Her next chance came and she felt
motivated. She believed in herself and did
amazing. She was requested for the biggest
school of dance. We learn from her
that failure leads to success.
By: Joelle Cohen
Yeshivah of Flatbush
Once upon a time, I was on the debate
team. It was fun and everyone thought
I would win. Above all, I was passionate
about the debate’s subject being it was
animal testing. When the debate started,
I was surprised at the intelligence of the
kids on the other team. They showed me
much stronger points of the argument. I
wasn’t surprised when I lost. But, I was
resentful. I blamed it on so many things.
I blamed it on my partner who admittedly
stuttered and did get a lower score than
me. I blamed it on my lack of preparation
time, but it may have been my overzealous
confidence. This taught me to prepare
and not be so conceited. I was so upset
at not winning anything but, in reality,
I was disappointed in myself. I still had fun
at the competition which encouraged me
to sign up for the 8th grade debate team
again and try better this time.
By: Laurie Haber
Barkai Yeshivah
Sarah wanted to be an interior designer.
She worked so hard to prepare for her
first client. All through her first appointment,
Sarah was so excited she didn’t let
her client say what he wanted. Sarah kept
on rambling on and on about how she
wanted the house and what she imagined
the house to become. After the first appointment,
Sarah’s client called and kindly
said that they did not need her services
anymore. Sarah wondered what she did
wrong. She realized that she did not let
her client talk. Sarah fixed her mistakes
and became a very successful interior designer.
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