TELL - December 2019 - February 2020

{BNEI MITZVAH}
Introducing some of our members who have recently become Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
BENJAMIN GILBERT
JETHRO IGRA
34
School: Caringbah High
Hobbies: Basketball,
Soccer and Eating
Likes: Rap, Sports and Languages.
Dislikes: Netball, Soft Cheese
and People that annoy me
About me: I would like to do a
double degree in marketing and
advertising for my future career as it
is something I am deeply interested
in. I enjoy language classes the most
as it is a way to obtain a skill that
nobody (outside the people in the
countries that speak the language)
have. I enjoy listening to Rap music
such as XXXtentacion, Da Baby and
YNW Melly. At certain times, I can
be partial to a bit of Edward Greig.
Social Justice (tzedakah) projects:
My Tikkun Olam project was,
donating glasses to the Lions Club,
so that they could be refurbished and
given to people all over the world that
need glasses but cannot afford them.
What will you remember most
about your Bar Mitzvah? Learning
a new part of whichever piece I
was learning (granted the Haftarah
took a long time) with my father
(who was an excellent teacher)..
School: Emanuel School
Hobbies: Bike riding, stamp
collecting, computer games
Pet: Cocker Spaniel called Sooty
Likes: Anything with chocolate,
going on holidays, camping,
being out in nature.
Dislikes: Competitive sport,
noisy places, eating veggies.
About me: I really enjoy having the
opportunity to be at a Jewish Day
School like Emanuel which is so
community minded and has values
that care about the environment,
charitable causes and caring for others
less fortunate than ourselves. I am
not sure what I will do when I finish
school but at the moment I am very
interested in environmental issues.
Social Justice: For my barmitzvah I
raised money for the Animal Welfare
League which is a rescue shelter
for abandoned and neglected cats
and dogs. I also participated in the
Stand Up Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program
during my Bar Mitzvah Year which
I found interesting. I would like
to improve the world by being
involved in more environmental
projects and issues and make people
more aware of the impact that
plastics have on our marine life.
What will you remember most
about your Bar Mitzvah?
I enjoyed my Bar Mitzvah lessons
with my tutor especially when I
finally learned to sing my parasha
and all the prayers fluently.
I also enjoyed my regular catch
ups with Rabbi Kamins during
my preparation year. I particularly
enjoyed my first experience of
wrapping tefillin in the early
morning service. Even though I was
a bit nervous before my actual bar
mitzvah, on the actual day I really
enjoyed being on the bimah. I will
always remember my memorable
day celebrating with my family.