I am in 7th grade at Beverly Vista. I like playing basketball, football, soccer, and hanging out with my friends. My parents are Tamar and Randy Seff. My sister, Sydney, is 10 years old.

For my mitzvah project I am collecting books to build a classroom library for a Middle School English teacher in South Gate. I was connected with this teacher, who wanted to grow her classroom library, through a member of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills.

Before my project, this teacher had zero books in her classroom library. Her students are disadvantaged in a number of ways. Many do not have households filled with books, nor can they easily stop by their local library after school. Her students often have to pick up younger siblings after school and go straight home. Often do not see their parents until they get home late in the evening from work. The South Gate students are already enjoying the books I have collected so far, and are developing their own passion for reading. I love to read and am excited to provide books to a classroom that really needs them.
I have a book bin at the temple and would appreciate your donation of gently used books for 5th – 9th graders.

I would like to thank Rabbi Aaron, Rabbi Lutz, Cantor Weiss and Shelley Kamara for helping me prepare for my Bar Mitzvah.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!