The act of performing a mitzvah is more than undertaking a “good deed.”
It is a responsibility one takes on as a Jewish adult. As such, it is a building block of Jewish society. By taking on this obligation with other like-minded individuals, we build caring and resilient communities.

We are called both as individuals and as a people to this eternal and sacred task of tikkun olam, working to make the world a better place for ourselves and for those who will come after us. It is only natural that as a child prepares to become a bar or bat mitzvah, the process heightens a family’s commitment to this responsibility.
At Congregation Emanu-El, we encourage students and their families to join with other members of our community to engage in the doing of mitzvot through any or all of these routes:
- Volunteer at our annual “Mitzvah Day” or at other events throughout the year.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at Temple Emanu-El »
Download our guide to bar/bat mitzvah projects »
- Participate in our Mitzvah Corps and Tzedek League communities for seventh and eighth graders. Students study the Jewish texts that for thousands of years have inspired our people to justice and compassion and then put those studies into action through hands-on volunteer experiences at different local organizations. Read a letter from a former Mitzvah Corps student who organized a special mitzvah »
- Develop personal, independent projects through the “Give a Mitzvah, Do a Mitzvah” program of the UJA-Federation. Learn more about this program »
- Incorporate a social-justice component into your celebration.
Contact our clergy for suggestions »
Back to Bar & Bat Mitzvah Program