Batmitzvah girls’ cards initiative raises money for disability charity

Two teenaged Jewish girls from north London have hit on a new idea to raise money for an Israeli charity helping children with disabilities, putting their plans into action for their batmitzvahs.

Abi Boyden, 12, from Finchley, and her cousin Rachel Weller, 11, from Hampstead, decided to do something different ahead of their religious coming-of-age celebration, in order to help the charity Beit Issie Shapiro.

“Ahead of their batmitzvahs, they thought about what a waste it was when people buy cards from supermarkets on to get thrown away, so they decided to design and print their own Mazel Tov cards,” explains Abi’s mum Hannah.

Immanuel student Abi, who had her batmitzvah last week, and North London Collegiate pupil Rachel, who will have her batmitzvah in March, identified the charity immediately, and wanted to help.

A joint effort with mums Hannah and Laura has led to the packs of Mazel Tov cards now ready for sale for a minimum donation of £6, with five different designs per pack.

“The girls wanted to give back, not just have fun,” said Hannah this week, explaining how Abi and Rachel had been impressed by the work of Beit Issie Shapiro (BIS), which provides therapies and services for disabled children in Israel.

“BIS touches the lives of people who are affected by severe disabilities and their families,” she said. “They developed the world’s first inclusive playground, which can be used by children of all different abilities, and it helps people to lead independent lives and to participate in society as equals, working with people across religious and socio-economic divides.”

This week, as sales orders began to come through, Abi and Rachel said: “The money we are raising in our campaign will go towards buying iPads for the children to use in the classroom and the multi-sensory room, and towards the cost of therapists conducting research and development.”

To place an order email: mazeltovcards@yahoo.com.

The team will then direct purchasers to https://www.virginmoneygiving.com/mazeltovcards to make their donation.