Sharing My Joy with My Community

My name is Tyler Moses and I am 13 years old. I live in Orange Village and go to the University School (US).

I enjoy US because I have a lot of friends from different backgrounds who love sports and school like I do; I get to learn a lot from them every day.

My favorite holiday is Chanukah. Do you know why?

I love lighting the candles, saying the prayers, and participating in all the Jewish traditions of this holiday.

Being Jewish makes me feel very special. I feel like I’m part of something bigger, that I’m connected to a lot of people around the world. And that’s why I had the best time at my Bar Mitzvah. All my friends and family traveled far and wide to celebrate with me, to make me feel happy, special. They were doing a mitzvah; I realized that.

So, when it was my turn, I wanted to do something special too.

I chose to donate much of the gift money I received for my Bar Mitzvah to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s Winter Break Lunch Program. The program serves hot lunches, entertainment, and holiday gifts to Cleveland kids who are at risk for hunger during the winter break. They are kids my age, just like me.

With my Bar Mitzvah money, when I help provide food and gifts like warm hats and gloves to these kids, I think it makes them feel special, just like how I felt on my Bar Mitzvah.