The Mountain of Masada

Dear Readers,

In this weeks post, I'd like to share with you where I'm having my Bat Mitzvah. My Bat Mitzvah will be at the historical sight, the Masada.  The story of Masada is so amazing that I wanted to share it with you.

King Herod was a governor of Israel in the 1st century of BCE. He decided to build a fortress on the top of a mountain surrounded by the Dead Sea called Masada. In Herod's fortress, he had big rooms, a lot of extra food that he did not need, and he had twelve big cisterns. Cisterns are bowls that collect gallons of water when it rains. 

In 66 CE, the Romans began to take over Jerusalem. They also destroyed the Second Temple  in the year of 69 CE. The Romans made a deal, if you want to live, you had to join them and become Roman. But, if you want to be hunted down, you could chose not to join and run away. Well, a lot of the Jews decided to join the Romans but, there was still Jews that stood up for what they believed in. 

The Jews went up to Masada and stayed in Herod's fortress. Since he had extra food and the cisterns, they thought they would be able to stay there for a while. 72 CE is when Flavius a governer of the Romans, decided to try to get the Jews in the fortress. There was over 1,000 men, women, and children who were in Herod's fortress who had to go up against the Romans and their Jewish slaves.

They tried to get at them but, it wasn't working. The Jews on the top of Masada had rocks that they threw down at the Romans. All the Jewish slaves were sent to make a path and kill their own kind. While they tried to make the path, all the men decided to kill themselves and their families. When all the Jews that were in the fortress finally came to the top they discovered everyone was dead. 

Out of 1,000 Jews,two women with five children remained and  stayed in a cistern until the Romans finally came up to the fortress. They were the only ones who survived and shared the information so we can learn about it today. 

Today, Masada is open for everyone to see and I will be going there on my trip. 

I decided to have my Bat Mitzvah at the Masada once our Rabbi shared the story with me. I found it really interesting because the story symbolizes the strength, determination and courage the Jews had. I also think that Masada shows that even though Jews died in the process, they still won. That is, because they probably felt that even though they did suicide to each other, they didn't get captured by the Romans. They kept Yiddishkeit and wanted to die as Jews. So, I think is that the story of Masada is a very inspirational story. 

So far, I have raised $2,438 towards my fundraising goal of $3,600. I would like to thank all my friends and family who have donated to my Chai Raiser so far. If you have b een following my blog and have not donated yet, but like to make a donation please visit http://www.gofundme.com/50jj0s.

Have a wonderful New Year,

Samantha

Here is a picture of what Masada looks like 

L'chaim

Dear Readers, 

Happy Thanksgivinukka! 

Today is a day of being thankful, spending time with family and friends, and bringing light into the world. I'd like to thank all of you who have contributed to my Chai Raiser. I can't believe how quickly the fundraiser has grown. We've received donations from friends, family, and even strangers. I'm happy to announce that the next part of my fundraiser is going to be at the Blackstone Valley Ice Arena in Hopedale at an event called Chanukkah on Ice on Sunday December 1st.

I also received an email last week with pictures of Shira after the bus bombing and what she looks like today. When I saw the picture of her today, I would not have known she was so badly injured. Shira  has scars and wears glasses. It was heartbreaking to see her as a baby because she looked so sad and injured. Now that I see what Shira lookes like, I feel even more excited to help her. 

Have a great Chanukkah,

Samantha

P.S. If you'd like to donate money to the Chai Raiser here is the link

http://www.gofundme.com/50jj0s

Shira after the bombing

Shira now

Chai in my Mind

In this weeks post, I'm going to share with you information about my fundraiser called The Chai Raiser and about the many meanings of Chai. This fundraiser will benifit Shira and her family and the Chabad Terror Victims Project (CTVP).

"The definition of the Hebrew word chai means "life". Life... anyone's life... is something very important to the Jewish people and culture, because it is G-d's gift to us. You may be familiar that when Jews toast one another, they say: "L'chaim!" It means "to life," as to also wish good luck in life. We don't quantify what "kind" of life, rather we celebrate life just for life itself! Many Jewish women and girls (like myself) wear a chai necklace around their neck, it is another way to connect to G-d and remind us how precious life is. The numerical value of Hebrew letters on the chai signify the number 18. Chet (ח) equals the number 8 and the yud (י) equals 10. When you add those two letters together it equals 18 (חי ). It's common for Jews to give gifts in multiples of 18 for this reason."

When I was 5 years old and my grandmother and great grandmother moved to Florida. Each time I went to Florida to visit my grandmothers, my grandma Hedy would always give me a 1, 5, 10, and 20 dollar bill. I never really paid attention to how much money she gave me, I was just thankful to have money to buy something. She usually gave it to me during my last visit before I would go home. But, this summer, the summer my grandmother passed, she gave me the dollar bills the first day I visited. In fact, she had given it to me right when I walked in the door. At the time, she didn't even know I was doing this Chai raiser. Once I was settled  in, I began to tell my grandma about it.

As you now know, chai means luck and when I counted out my money it add up to 36 dollars. At that moment, I realized that she always blessed me with good luck. So, when I realized this, I told my grandmother that I was going to use this 36 dollars to kick off my fundraiser. I know that my grandmother always gave a lot to charity and  she is looking down on me saying that I'm doing a good thing and is smiling proud.

My "Chai-Raiser" is an opportunity to ADD LIFE, where terrorists have destroyed life!"  So as part of my Bat Mitzvah project I want to raise 3,600 dollars (200x chai) to help Shira and her family. Please visit my fundraising page at http://www.gofundme.com/50jj0s  for more information.

I dedicate this entry to my grandma Hedy who passed away on July 24, 2013.

Samantha

The Call From Israel

On Thursday the 17th, the phone rang very early. I saw that it was from Israel and picked up the phone and on the other side was Shira saying hello. It was 2 pm in Israel while it was 7 am for us when they called. While I was on the phone with Shira, she told me that she was very excited about meeting me in Israel for my Bat Mitzvah (which actually is our Bat Mitzvah). She told me that she wanted me to make her another rainbow loom bracelet because I enclosed two with my second letter. I asked her what her two favorite colors are and they are blue and pink. Shira and her mother asked me what I wanted for a Bat Mitzvah gift and I responded that the gift was to meet you. After Shira got off the phone, her mother had told us that she doesn't let her injuries stop her from being happy. In my mind, I felt a connection, because I have an auto-immune disorder that causes my hair to fall out. I don't let that stop me. I think it's great that Shira also has a lot of supportive friends like me. 

I learned that Shira is having cornea surgery very soon because she still has three shraphnel in her left eye. her mother also mentioned a future trip to New York is being planned for Shira to have plastic surgery. I hope to visit her if she comes to New York. 

I just had a meeting for my Bat Mitzvah and I will soon be announcing where the ceremony will be held in Israel. I'm hoping to have it on a mountain. If you think you know what landmark I'm talking about, comment down below. I have a lot of special ideas in the works.

Will blog soon,

Samantha

The Shmuel HaNavi Bus Bombing On August 19, 2003

Dear Followers,

Today, I am visiting with my great-grandma Goldie and with her company I am researching the bus bombing that Shira and her family were involved in. It was August 19, 2003 and Shira was 1.5 years old. She and the rest of her family were on their way home from the Western Wall in Jerusalem and were on bus #2 when a Palestinian suicide bomber disguised himself as an Orthodox Jew and set off a bomb killing himself and eighteen other people who were a mix of children and adults. The victims ranged in age 3 months to age 73.  There was also over 110 injured and due to some injuries, some did not survive.

Hamas, a terrorist organization in Gaza had claimed responsibility for the attack.  August 19, 2003 in the Jewish calendar is the month of Elul. Elul is the month of selihot. The week before Rosh Hashanah, Jews recite special penitential prayers. That is prayers for forgiveness.  As I think about Shira, we are coming upon Rosh Hashanah and I want to wish everyone a Happy and Sweet New Year!  

 Luckily, Shira and her family all survived but, out of her two parents and four other siblings, she was hurt the most. As I said before, she still gets surgeries from the accident because she has shrapnel  which is the metal from the bomb in her skin.

Hope you have a Happy New Year,

Samantha

Blogging with Great Grandma Goldie.

A picture of the bus number 2, the bus Shira was on.

Shira's Letter Finally Arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear followers,

 

I received my first letter from Shira in Saturday's mail. It was super nice!! 

Shira told me when she was 1.5 years old she was in a terrorist attack. She was on a bus in Jerusalem with her entire family at the time.  We learned that she was hurt the most out of her 4 siblings. She lives with  her siblings and mother in Jersulem.

 

Shira has injuries on her face, hand, and body. She is also blind in her left eye. Shira told me that she has a lot of shrapnel on her body and still has surgeries.  This is why it took longer then I hoped to get a letter back.

 

Shira loves to  play the violin and told me her family loves it when she plays and that she has two violins. She also likes to draw and jump rope and has a lot of friends in her neighborhood.

 

I'm very excited to meet Shira in person. Shira sounded very excited to see me as much as I'm excited to see her. She said she was very excited to see me in Israel and wanted to know the exact dates I'm coming so I can come to her Bat Mitzvah party. She hoped we would be best friends forever. Shira gave me her phone number and hopes I will call her soon..

Bye,

Samantha  

 

Still Waiting

Dear Readers,
I'm still waiting for my letter from Shira. Hopefully I will get it soon.
Samantha

A Mitzvah In My Grandmother's Memory

In part of my grandmother's death, I need all women and their friends to light the candles of Shabbat, to do so, light a candle before dark tonight. It is a big mitzvah for all to do.

Thank You

Sharing With My Great Grandmother

Last week my family and I went to visit my Great Grandma Goldie who is 103 years old. I read to her my latest post on mitzvahs and it brought joy to her ears. Even though Great Grandma Goldie couldn't hear that well, she thought it was a lovely post. Great Grandma Goldie spent her whole life doing mitzvahs for others. She helped many family members in different ways. Today, her family members are giving her the mitzvahs she gave others such as giving her companionship and lending a helping hand.  When I told her I was going to Israel for my Bat Mitzvah and helping a girl my age in Israel, she thought it would be a rememorable and meaningful experience. She wishes she would be able to join my family and I. She hopes to be around to hear about the experience.

P.S. I still haven't gotten a letter from Shira but I will let everyone know once I do.

What a Mitzvah Means To Me and How You Can Do One

I'm going to tell you the meaning of mitzvah. A mitzvah is a good deed. It is also thought as a way to connect to hashem and our neshama which is our soul. For example: Donating money to a organization like I am doing, helping a senior cross the road, and  helping out with activities at school.

I bet your wondering, what does a mitzvah mean to me? Well, to me, a mitzvah is doing something good. In the Jewish religion, a mitzvah is very important. There are 613 biblical commandments in the torah. They are called commandments.  A few of the hundreds of mitzvahs that I do is going to shul on Friday nights.  It is a mitzvah because on Friday night, it is the beginning of Shabbat. On Shabbat, we push aside everything that worries us and think of ALL the positives. Before you start to pray the joyful songs of Shabbat, the woman light special candles, which is one of the mitzvahs you can do. Another mitzvah is to pray before you eat anything with a special Hebrew prayer.  Those are a few ways to do a mitzvah.

My own personal, special mitzvah is sharing my Bat Mitzvah with a girl my age who has been affected by terrorism in Israel. I bet your wondering, why is it a mitzvah? Well, I get to help her and give her a day she'll never forget by sharing this special Jewish custom. I also still get to help other kids and their families that have also been affected by terror by raising awareness of the organization CVTP. Also as I learn more about Shira, I could create a special bond that will never end. Please continue following my blog to learn about all the mitzvahs I do for my Mitzvah Project.
Stay tuned for the next post,
Samantha

Update

My first letter has officially went in the mail!!!
Samantha.
P.S. If you go to the bottom of the page, you will be able to follow my blog by email.

Hi There :)

Hi Readers,

I'm your writer, Samantha and I'm going to give you a chance to help me with my Mitzvah project. Next year I will be having my Bat Mitzvah in Israel.  I joined up with a group called  CTVP (Chabad Terror Victims Project) and will be doing something called a Twinning Bat Mitzvah. This is when I have a Bat Mitzvah with another girl who lives in Israel whose life was impacted by a terrorist attack.  She is going to share  her Bat Mitzvah with me. The girl that I will be twinning with is named Shira. She was involved in a bus bombing when she was 1 and a half years old. As a result from the bombing, she was blinded in one eye. As a part of this project, I will become a pen pal with her and write to her until we meet in Israel.

Hope you will help and I will write more information soon,
Samantha

P.S. Here is the link to the CTVP website:http://www.ctvp.org/