Every week for the past two years, I have been saying the prayer for the IDF before Shabbat dinner. I have also started to bake challah for my family every Shabbat. I am excited to get ready for my Challah Bake Bat Mitzvah and to also raise money for Israel at the same time.

One of my favorite memories when I was in Israel with my family in 2023 was picking tomatoes at a farm near the Israeli border right near Gaza. I hope the money I raise will help people in Israel like the people who run that farm, who have faced a lot of challenges during this war. I also hope that I get to go back to visit Israel again one day soon.

Jewish National Fund-USA supports Israel in many ways, including building bomb shelters to help keep people safe in missile attacks, creating community centers, parks, and playgrounds for people in the north and south of the country to have places to play and gather, creating job opportunities for small business owners, supporting farmers to help the food supply thrive, and so much more. They also help to provide fire trucks and fire equipment to the Israel Fire & Rescue teams. It is all extremely important work in both times of emergency/war and times of peace.

The money I raise will go directly to helping Israel, and because of the Plant Your Way program, I will also be eligible to receive grants for future educational programs and trips to Israel to help me expand my understanding of the country and its history.

Thank you!