A little over a year ago I was asked an extremely difficult question. My mother asked what I wanted to do for my Bat Mitzvah Project, and I was stumped for an answer. Charity has been a part of my life since I was little, and trying to narrow my options into only one final choice was difficult.

My bar mitzvah is coming up in March 2007, so in addition to other requirements, I needed to do a mitzvah project. I decided to work with kids. While searching online, my mom and I found the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS), an organization that conducts programs throughout New York's five boroughs. This led me to the Ittleson Bronx Community Residence, a center for emotionally disturbed children between the ages of 8 and 15. "Ok," I thought, "I'll do some stuff with some kids and it'll be easy." Boy, was I wrong.