Beyond the B'nei Mitzvah, recipients of the golden kippah participate in High Holy Day services and are considered role models among our younger students. This special ritual item will let all those around you know that you have completed this special program. Gold cannot tarnish, but its outer layer can become damaged. The Golden Kippah is a sign that you will remain connected and committed to Judaism and your Temple community.

To participate in the 13 @ 13 program and earn a golden kippah, please email Ellie Laycook at elaycook@unisyn.org.

In order to receive a golden kippah at your B'nei, Bar or Bat Mitzvah service, all mitzvot must be performed during the year prior to your service. While mitzvot performed more than a year before the date are desirable, they do not count toward 13 @ 13 program requirements. In addition to completion of your 13 mitzvot, you must also submit your one-page write-up of your experiences at least one week prior to the service date.  

Participating students must complete 13 mitzvot during the year prior to his or her ceremony. All mitzvot should be performed following the strictest of health and safety standards. We’ve listed some pandemic-friendly suggestions and inspiration for three different categories: Torah, G'milut Chasadim and Avodah.

Torah

• Form a connection to Torah and pursue a deeper knowledge of Judaism
• Attend a Torah Study opportunity
• Attend a Shabbat Morning Services (in-person or virtually)
• Select a Jewish book, biography or short story that is of interest to you
• Participate in Torah yoga with Cantor Shapiro

G'milut Chasadim – Act of Loving Kindness

• Send a card to someone who is sick
• Honor an elder
• Organize a family day
• Cook a meal for your parents
• Plan a family picnic
• Do extra chores around the house
• Cook a meal for congregants who are recovering or recently had a baby
• Volunteer to babysit or do simple chores around the house for a congregant in need
• Send a well-wishes card to a family

Avodah – Social change

• Reach out to elected officials
• Participate in a postcard campaign
• Create a space/webpage for teaching others about a social/environment issue
• Teach and/or fundraising for a cause
• Recruit people for a blood drive

When you complete the 13 mitzvot, we ask that you write a one-page reflection about all the projects/mitzvot/duties you fulfilled via this google form. Please describe your experiences with the different requirements, your Community Service project(s), why you chose them, how they affected you, etc. Some of you will write this as an essay, while others will use other visual media to describe this experience. We invite you to express yourself in a way that feels authentic and meaningful to you!

If you are unable to complete the program by the date of your B'nei, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, that’s ok! You are encouraged to continue to do mitzvot in order to qualify for your golden kippah anytime after you become B'nei Mitzvah. We will award you with a golden kippah when all of the 13 @ 13 program requirements are completed.

There is no additional cost associated with the 13 @ 13 program.