The Hiddur Mitzvah Project and a Special Bat Mitzvah

When Cindy and Greg Goussak, members of Midbar Kodesh Temple of Las Vegas, Nevada, began to plan their daughter Ariel’s bat mitzvah, to make the process especially meaningful they knew they wanted to incorporate a hands-on mitzvah project for her bnai mitzvah class.  The 11 students in the class also happened to include one who is autistic and has been learning how to sign the blessings for the Torah reading and several of the Shabbat morning tefillot. Were he living in Israel, it is unlikely he would be able to prepare for or celebrate his bar mitzvah the way he is doing at Midbar Kodesh unless he had the good fortune to be part of the Masorti Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs. All of which gave Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel, the rabbi at Midbar Kodesh, a great idea.  Rabbi Tecktiel suggested that the bnai mitvah class twin with Masorti’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs, Israel’s only national program to provide Jewish enrichment and a group bnai mitzvah ceremony at a Masorti kehilla for youngsters who would not otherwise have the chance to celebrate this milestone.  The Goussaks, who were helping to fund the project, invited Judaica artist Gary Rosenthal to spend a weekend at Midbar Kodesh as artist-in-residence and to work with the children. Each student made two yads, one for him or herself, the other to donate to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program for Children with Special Needs. These personalized gifts are being finished by the artist and when ready, will be sent to Israel, where they can be used by the special needs children during their bnai mitzvah celebrations.  “The young people at Midbar Kodesh are getting a real lesson in the Jewish values of tikkun olam, tolerance and inclusion, while also making a personal connection to Israel and learning about one of the Masorti movement’s unique contributions to life there,” said Rabbi Tecktiel. “I am very proud of their commitment to this project and especially grateful to the Goussak family for their generous contribution, which has made it possible.”

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