My bat mitzvah project is an opportunity to symbolize my transition into Jewish adulthood, express my commitment to Jewish values, and show compassion for others.
I have decided to continue my family legacy and help students at the Jerusalem Institute for the Blind (JIB). My sister, Reese, helped raise money to build a ninja warrior course for the students in Jerusalem. Additionally, we both helped bring "Danny the Bike Fixer" to South Florida to help raise awareness for JIB.
For my mitzvah project, I am trying to raise additional funds to support JIB and its students. These funds will be used to complete construction of The Blind Cafe, the first ever blind coffee shop in Jerusalem, staffed by students and alumni of the school. The Blind Cafe is a project that was designed to create a social café where people can grab a coffee and pastry, located strategically at the junction of two major train stations in the heart of Jerusalem.
The café will serve as an open, community-focused space that brings together people with and without blindness, breaking stigmas through everyday interaction, and functioning as a cultural and social hub. Building on existing experience in training, rehabilitation, and café operation, this initiative will provide meaningful employment, support emerging artists, and foster community connection, dignity, and positive social change.
JIB, in Israel known as Beit Chinuch Ivrim, was established in Jerusalem over 120 years ago. My great grandparents, Jack and Mary Sanicki, also known as Bubba and Zaida, were Holocaust survivors. They left Paris after the war and immigrated to Melbourne, Australia. Their Jewish identity was very important to them, so they founded the Melbourne, Australia chapter of JIB around 1970. The purpose of this chapter was to raise money for the only Jewish home for the blind in Jerusalem.
JIB is an organization that provides medical care, education, music, vocational training, and rehabilitation to the blind. The purpose of my mitzvah project is to honor my great grandparents and their legacy, and continue to support JIB. JIB’s impact is measurable and transformative, and is reflected in the confident and happy demeanor of their students. Most children that enter JIB’s program are fearful, insecure, and totally dependent on others for their survival. They emerge confident, hopeful, and independent and ready to pursue meaningful occupations and become contributing members of society.
I would like to use my time and energy to support this cause and help raise money for students at the Jerusalem Institute for the Blind so that I can support these students and carry on my great grandparents' legacy. Please help me support JIB. My initial goal is to raise $10,000, but I really hope to beat that so that we can keep giving to JIB and its students. Thank you for all of your help and support!
