Bar Mitzvah Magazine 2014

Success after failure - Learning new skills
Comment on the lessons
you learn from the stories at
By: Rochelle Menahem
Hillel Yeshiva
One day, Rachel went to her mom and said
excitedly, “Mommy, I want to be an author
when I get older.” Her mom said, “That’s a
great job. What made you decide on that?”
Rachel explained to her mother that an author
came to school that day and explained
her job and what she does. Rachel’s mom
asked if she wants to write a story and read
it at the library on Sunday. Rachel was so
happy. She ran to her room and started
writing. She wrote day and night, hours and
hours. When Sunday came, her story was
done. She was very proud of it. She dressed
up in her nicest dress & went to the library.
To read the rest of Rochelle’s story,
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Search: Rochelle Menahem
In honor of
my wife Shanie
by Sami Souid
TorahContest.com
Success is the ability
to go from one failure
to another with no
loss of enthusiasm.
By: Ahuva Lefkowitz
Masores Bais Yaakov
I’ve always wanted to play guitar.
Throughout 5th, 6th and 7th grade, I enviously
watched my 5 other siblings pluck
at the strings as though they were born to
be guitar professionals. In 9th grade, my
mother finally agreed to give me guitar
lessons. In a whirl of excitement and giddiness,
I flew through 1,2,3,4 lessons. Then,
I decided that I was finally ready to enter
into the talent show that would be held
at my school in a week. I practiced guitar
fiercely, my fingertips turning purple
from pressing the strings so hard. Finally,
I was ready. I stepped onto the brightly lit
stage on the Thursday night of the show. I
started playing beautifully, one chord following
the next. I drowned myself in the
stunning medleys until…I struck G instead
of C minor and the entire song flopped.
To read the rest of Ahuva’s story,
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By: Michael Gammal
Barkai Yeshivah
One day, I walked up to my dad and asked
him if I can read from the Torah. He replied
to me, “Yes.” The next day, I got my
part to read. I practiced it. On Saturday,
it was my turn to read. I went up to the
Torah and read it very badly. I felt so embarrassed
that I ran out of the room and
started crying. The next week, I wanted
to read from the Torah again. I practiced
and, when it was my turn to read, I was
perfect. I felt so happy. Now, I want to do
it every week.
By: Joe Betesh
Hillel Yeshiva
I have experienced many embarrassing
moments in my life. One that really sticks
out has to be when I started to make videos.
Starting out, I made videos that were
horrible. Kids made fun of me and told me
that I should give up. Instead of listening
to them, I worked even harder and tried
new techniques. After months of hard
work, I finally created a video that everyone
loved and cherished. The moral of
this story is to never give up and to always
work harder than the last time.
Winner honored by
Chief Rabbi of Israel
60 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Magazine 718-909-6060 View magazine online at BMmagazine.com