As part of the Jewish ritual of a Bar Mitzvah, young boys and girls are called to read in Hebrew from the Torah.

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Thirteen is Just the Beginning

Posted September 17, 2010

Thirteen-year-old Jonathan Hurowitz is on a mission.

In fact, you might call it two missions—one, a personal religious journey, and the other the pursuit of an important environmental cause. For Jonathan, the two passions are intertwined.

As he began approaching the day of his Bar Mitzvah—the Jewish rite of passage in which a child becomes an adult in the eyes of the community and God—Jonathan needed to choose a social project in the spirit of tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repairing the world”), a traditional component of the Bar Mitzvah.

“I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do when I started to think about my project,” says Jonathan, whose Bar Mitzvah will take place September 25 at Temple Emanu-el in Birmingham, Ala. “But after the Deep Horizon oil-spill disaster happened, I knew I wanted to do something to help.”

He zeroed in on a program being conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology studying the effect of the spill’s aftermath on whales inhabiting the Gulf. The Cornell program studies both birds and whales, and Jonathan says he chose to support the whale program “because the majority of people hear about the impact on Gulf birds, but many aren’t aware of the whales there.” He began sending mass emails to family, friends, and classmates requesting donations to the cause.

He also plans to donate all of the money family and friends might offer as gifts in honor of his Bar Mitzvah to the Cornell study. All of this money will support Cornell’s ongoing efforts to send sophisticated equipment down into the Gulf waters that can record the sounds of the whales, which scientists then translate into messages about how the whale population is faring in the spill’s aftermath. Cornell has invited Jonathan to visit their labs and learn first-hand about their work. “I’ll be able to see exactly what I’ve been raising money for,” Jonathan says.

His parents, Eli Hurowitz and Hope Mehlman, are understandably proud. “He fully grasps the concept of taking on adult responsibilities and trying to make a positive impact,” Hope says.

“His bar mitzvah, in and of itself, is a great moment for our whole family,” Eli adds. “And his dedication to this project makes us very proud, as well.”

Not Just “Marking Off a List”

The Bar Mitzvah (or Bat Mitzvah, as it applies to girls) is a significant milestone. After his Bar Mitzvah, Jonathan will be considered responsible, like any adult, for completing mitzvot, acts of good will commanded by God. He will be officially counted as a member of his congregation, which includes the authority to serve as one of 10 persons required for an official prayer service.

And while the ceremony, when Jonathan will recite long passages in Hebrew from the Torah, might seem like a kind of graduation from the culmination of years of religious study, he understands that this is just one step along a lifetime’s journey of learning about his religious heritage and doing good works.

In that spirit, he decided early on to make his effort to help the whales a long-term commitment. “I intend to keep up with this project all through my life. It’s not something I just mark off a list,” says Jonathan.

HOPE MEHLMAN, Jonathan’s mother, is an Associate General Counsel for Regions in Birmingham, Alabama.

comments (18)

Mazel Tov on Jonathan's Bar Mitzvah, but more for having raised such an exemplary kid. Wonderful sensitivity, coupled with significant brain power bodes well for his future and the contributions he will undoubtedly make to our community.

Susan

I'm really proud of Jonathan and wish I could be there for his Bar Mitzvah -- Hate to miss it and really appreciate the invitation, but we'll be out of town. I've made a donation to his project and wish him the best. Susie

Susie Lee

I think Jonathan's work for this project is wonderful. While living in Orlando, I visit Seaworld often and get to see the whales up close and personal and feel a connection with them and the dolphins. I wish more people would be involved in this kind of effort. Keep up the great work.

Josh

Jonathan, I was very impressed listening to you read the Torah. It obviously takes a great deal of study and practice, and you did a great job.

Dale Hebert

Great job, Jonathan!

Vasan Serca

Jonathan, your chanting from the Torah is excellent and quite moving! I am so proud of you and congratulate you on this wonderful milestone in your life! Debra

Debra Lewis

What a fabulous journey to be on. I wish you much success.

Mary Winston

It's amazing that at the age of 13 you are becoming a young adult, and it proves just how responsible you really are. Choosing a project with the whales and wanting to stay with it long term shows a great commitment. I wish you the best, and you sound like a great young man who will be blessed with all of life's accomplishments.

Rebecca

What a wonderful way to celebrate your advancement to adulthood. The whale is a great and beautiful creature that most surely represents the strength of his creator. You're awesome, Jonathan.

Susan Chesser

I was very amazed at Jonathan's knowledge and the commitment he has to this project. Much success in the future.

Cecelia King

Congratulations on this great milestone in your life. I think your project is wonderful. We all need to do whatever we can to better understand and repair our environment and its inhabitants.

Joan Guerin

Jonathan, Mazel Tov and all the very best. May all your endeavors be a blessing to yourself, family, community and the world that G-d has created for us to preserve and witness his awesome powers. May your parents be bless for raising such a mench.

Joe Estevez

Congratulations to Jonathan and all the family. The lessons learned will pay dividends many times over for all the hours of preparation and commitment. My daughters, granddaughter and I have all been fortunate in sharing and growing from the experience.

Howard Safer - RMKT

Awesome. Congratulations!

Evan

Jonathan, you did a great job and seemed so comfortable. It is obvious you are diligent in your studies. You're an impressive young man and are certain to have many good things in store for you.

Lachelle

Wonderful speech, Jonathan. I am very proud of you and what you stand for. You will have a little competition in that field. Your little cousin is only 5 years old, but he is showing the same signs of what he wants to do. Mazel Tov on your Bar Mitzvah. I am very sorry we could not be there. I don't know if you knew I had a car accident and was not able to walk for a while. Sorry again. Love, Aunt Sylvia

sylvia lazar(mehlman)

GREAT JOB!!! MAZEL TOV

GAIL BEHAR

I only just saw this article and the Bar Mitzvah was last month, but I wanted to wish a belated Mazel Tov to your whole Mispocha. When a baby is born, we often give the blessing that he should be raised to a life of "Torah, Chuppah and Maasim Tovim" (Torah Learning, Marriage, and Good Deeds). It looks like Jonathan is already 2/3 of the way there!

David Baynash - Dallas