Rachel's Bat Mitzvah

	Rachel's Speech from the Bimah:
	Beinvenu. Beinvenida. Benvenuto. Willkommen. Shalom. In other words, welcome, friends, family, and fellow congregants. I'd like to thank [our Rabbi] and [our Cantor] for helping me to study and prepare for my bat mitzvah and to [another Cantor] for patiently teaching me my torah and haftarah portions. I would also like to thank [Mr. G] for guiding me in writing this speech. Congratulations to [Zachary] and [Daniel] and their families on their bar mitzvahs. Both of you sounded great. The torah portion which I chanted for you earlier today was about how and when to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths, which we are presently celebrating. In my portion the lord instructs Moses that on the 15th day of the 7th month ( which is Tishri) Sukkot will begin and last for 8 days. All Jews shall live in booths for these 8 days and they shall rejoice and celebrate with feasts. Living in the booths for 8 days is supposed to remind us of our humble beginnings and how we wondered the desert for so many years. To make things a little more interesting, the first place the Jews stopped after leaving Egypt was named Succoth. Everybody will bring offerings by fire and nobody will work at their occupations. The 8th day is special. It has been suggested that long ago Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur were celebrated on this 8th day instead of their present places on the Hebrew calendar. On the 1st and the 8th days everybody should be at complete rest. Sukkot reminds me of the American holiday of Thanksgiving. By celebrating this day of the Lord and bringing sacrifices god means this as our way to thank him. As we feast on Thanksgiving we also feast on Sukkot. Also, on Sukkot farmer's were supposed to leave the corner's of their fields unharvested so that the poor may come and take the food. This is similar to the present day Thanksgiving food drives and so this holiday also reminds me to remember the less fortunate. Now I'd like to thank all my friends and family for being here today. You are all very important to me. There are a few people who I am incredibly close with and they are very special to me. First is both my sets of grandparents. Bubbie and Zadie, I love the two of you very much. You have always been there for me and have come to see me in everything from my soccer games to school concerts as often as you can. Even though we don't live as close to you anymore you still try to be there and I appreciate that very much. I love our annual tradition of every summer for the last 8 years going to the Berkshires with you two. It is always very fun. Grandma and Grandpa. I love you both. Although I do not see the two of you as much as I would like because you live so far away I enjoy all the time I spend with you. Our yearly visits to see you in Florida mean so much to me and in coming in for my bat mitzvah you have continued your tradition of coming to see us almost every September. Beth listen VERY carefully because you might not hear this for a very long time. I really love you. Even though you can be a pain sometimes ( and occasionally that may be an understatement) you are a great little sister and I look forward to sharing a lot with you in the future. Mom and Dad, where do I start? You two are the best parents anyone could ever ask for and I love you. Even though you don't always let me get my way, I guess that's a good thing. You've taught me so much, from how to walk and talk (that may be one you sometimes regret) to dad very patiently teaching me to ride a two wheeler and me constantly crashing into the snow banks in the spring until I got the hang of riding to just everyday life. Mom, for the last 4 or five months, since I began to learn my torah portion you have repeatedly lectured me on how I need to project my voice so that everyone will hear me, so I hope I was loud enough today. Thank you to everyone here and those of you who couldn't be here today because each and every one of you has helped make me who I am and I love you all.