bnai mitzvah
Lyla Crawford Levis - March 5, 2005
Shalom, I'm Lyla. I live in Sebastopol near the Superplayground
and Brookhaven School with my parents, Marybeth Crawford and Andrew
(AJ) Levis. I have two brothers, Zak and Ari. We have two cats named
Django and Timothy, as well as a canary named Gertie. I was born
on February 13th, 1992 in Petaluma.
We lived in Point Reyes Station til I was six. Then we moved to
Petaluma. After 4 years there, we moved to Sebastopol, where I attend
the Sebastopol Independent Charter School. It is a public Waldorf
School. Now, I'm in the seventh grade.
I love playing flute, dancing, reading, circus arts and hanging
out with friends. I've also studied piano, recorder and violin.
My Tikkun Olam projects have been very diverse. I shelved books
in the juvenile section of the library. I also picked up garbage
on Mt. Saint Helena, planted trees along Adobe Creek to make shade
for the fish to survive better. I also made a Waldorf doll for a
young girl that lives in an orphanage. I like to make every place
I go nicer than I found it.
I am planning to give a part of any money I might receive at my
Bat Mitzvah this year to the Ner Shalom building fund. It is very
appropriate because my Torah portion "Vayakel" is about
the building of the first temple. Three percent of the expenses
for the post-service party and the reception will be donated to
Mazon, a wonderful charity dedicated to fighting hunger.
Another part of my Tikkun Olam is participating in Remember Us:
The Holocaust B'nai Mitzvah Project. The simple act of remembering
someone restores that person's value and meaning. I am remembering
two of over one and a half million children that perished in the
Holocaust: two girls, Bela Engelman and Judith Oschitzki. Judith
Oschitzki died at age 7 in 1943. Bela Engelman died at age 13 in
1944. Both girls were killed at Auschwitz. Bela Engelman was from
Hungary and Judith Oschitzki was from Germany. Judith's fathers
name was Leo and Bela's father's name was Sandor. I will be remembering
and honoring them while leading prayers and reading from the Torah.
The children in the Remember Us Holocaust Project not only died
at a young age, but they also were not able become a Bat Mitzvah.
I sincerely hope to see you on March 5, 2005. B'Shalom, Lyla
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