Celebrate your milestone by giving back in ways that connect you to Israel and change lives through compassion, independence, and service.
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah marks a profound transition—the moment a young person steps into Jewish adulthood and takes responsibility for their role in the world. It’s a time of celebration, reflection, and mitzvot. For many families, choosing a Bar/Bat Mitzvah project adds even deeper meaning to the experience. When that project is connected to Israel, it builds a bridge between your child’s Jewish identity and the land and people that are central to our heritage. And when it also connects to the Israel Guide Dog Center, it ties the value of chesed (kindness) to tangible impact—helping Israelis who are blind, have low vision, live with PTSD or have other disabilities, to gain independence and confidence with the help of extraordinary dogs.
Here are 10 meaningful project ideas to inspire the next generation to lead with empathy and purpose.
Fundraising Projects: Turning Celebration into Impact
These projects are perfect for motivated, big-hearted teens who want to use their Bar/Bat Mitzvah as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for a cause that changes lives in Israel.
1) Sponsor a Puppy in Training: Every one of the Center’s dogs begins its journey as an adorable, eager puppy with a very important future. By sponsoring a puppy through the Israel Guide Dog Center, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah student can help cover food, veterinary care, and early training during that dog’s first year. As the puppy grows and begins training to assist a person who is blind, the student can see their mitzvah project come to life.
2) Create a Paws for a Cause Fundraising Event: Encourage your child to organize a dog walk, fun run, or park event to raise funds and awareness for the Center. Friends, classmates, and community members can donate to participate, and guests can bring their own dogs for a day of fun. The event could include games, a photo booth, or a dog blessing station—a wonderful way to celebrate Jewish values of kindness to animals and support Israel at the same time. This kind of project teaches event planning, leadership, and teamwork and is memorable for everyone involved.
3) Donate in Lieu of Gifts: Instead of receiving traditional gifts, invite family and friends to make donations to the Israel Guide Dog Center. Include a short note in invitations explaining why your child chose this organization; for example, because they love animals, care about accessibility, or want to support Israelis who have sacrificed for their country. Guests are often moved by a cause that’s both personal and connected to Israel. Every donation, large or small, helps train more dogs that transform lives.
4) Sell Handmade or Personalized Items: For creative Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, turning a hobby into a fundraising effort can make their project feel authentic and fun. Handmade bracelets, dog bandanas, or candles with tags that read “Made with love to support Guide Dog or Service Dogs in Israel” can raise funds while spreading awareness about the Center’s mission. Some families even create small business-style projects setting up an Etsy shop or local booth, turning creativity into compassion.
5) Share a Talented Fundraiser: If your child has a special skill playing music, baking, creating art, or playing sports, they can turn that passion into purpose. Hosting a benefit concert, bake sale, art show, or skills clinic can raise money for the Center while celebrating their unique strengths. For example, a young musician could perform Israeli songs at a synagogue event, with proceeds supporting the training of our dogs. Every note played or cookie sold becomes a step toward changing a life.
Outreach Projects: Inspiring Connection and Understanding
Some students feel drawn to more personal, service-oriented projects that build empathy, education, and connection. These outreach ideas help them learn about Israel while inspiring others to care about its people and causes.
6) Create an Educational Campaign About Accessibility in Israel: Inspired by the work of the Israel Guide Dog Center, your child can become an advocate for accessibility and inclusion. They might create a presentation, video, or social media campaign highlighting the challenges people with blindness or PTSD face, and how the Center helps them live independently. They can share this at their Hebrew school, youth group, or synagogue, helping others understand how our dogs make a profound difference and how Jewish values call on us to support one another.
7) Visit the Center: If your family is visiting Israel, you can contact us to set up a visit to the Center. You’ll visit our campus, meet our staff and volunteers, see our dogs, and witness firsthand the impact our work has on Israelis. While you’re there, you can share your experiences on social media. And when you return home, you can write an article for a local paper, blog, or synagogue newsletter.
8) Outreach on our behalf: For students who are technologically savvy, they can create and share a video with other students considering choosing the Center for a mitzvah project or rabbis and educators about promoting mitzvah projects with the Center.
Incorporating the Center into the Celebration: Making the Mitzvah Moment Personal
Your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration can also reflect their project and the values behind it. These ideas weave the mission of the Israel Guide Dog Center directly into the event, so guests experience the meaning behind the milestone.
9) Highlight the Cause During the Celebration: During the service or party, your child can share a brief speech or video about why they chose the Israel Guide Dog Center. You might display photos or a slideshow of puppies in training, clients receiving their guide dogs, or testimonials from graduates. Adding the Center’s brochures or QR codes to donation cards on each table makes it easy for guests to learn more. This transforms the celebration into an opportunity to educate and inspire and honors the idea that a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is about giving, not just receiving.
10) Include a Symbolic Element in the Ceremony: Incorporate meaningful symbolism into your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual. You might design a custom *tallit* embroidered with paw prints or include readings about kindness to animals. Some families choose to light a candle during the ceremony, in honor of the people whose lives are changed through the Israel Guide Dog Center—a quiet, beautiful reminder of how one mitzvah can ripple outward. The Center can often provide materials or videos that highlight our mission and show how each dog represents a story of courage, independence, and hope.
Bringing It All Together
Choosing a Bar/Bat Mitzvah project is about aligning personal passions with Jewish values and few causes embody those values as beautifully as the Israel Guide Dog Center. Whether your child loves dogs, cares deeply about helping people, or feels a strong connection to Israel, their project can make a real and lasting difference.
Each of these ideas—from fundraising to education to celebration—helps strengthen the bond between your family and Israel, while teaching the next generation that adulthood in the Jewish community begins with responsibility, compassion, and tikkun olam (repairing the world).
At the Israel Guide Dog Center, we see the power of mitzvah projects every year. Young people across the world have helped us raise puppies, train guide and service dogs, and support the Israelis who depend on them for freedom and confidence. Their efforts remind us that one person, even one teen, truly can change lives.
Ready to Get Started?
If your child would like to make the Israel Guide Dog Center part of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah journey, we’d love to help! We can provide educational materials, project ideas, and provide ongoing support.
Email info@israelguidedog.org or visit www.israelguidedog.org/mitzvahprojects to learn more about how to start a Bar/Bat Mitzvah project that connects your celebration to Israel—and to the power of independence, partnership, and love that only a dog can bring.