About our B'nai Mitzvah

Ripley has been attending the Rafi Schwartz Religious School since 4th grade. She is currently in the 8th grade at Olympus Jr. High. She excels in all of her subjects, especially English and History.

Ripley enjoys listening to all types of music and rarely is without her ear buds in her ears. She likes to play video games. Her favorite pastime activities are writing and drawing. She is currently working on writing a graphic novel which she hopes to publish in the near future. When not doing any of these activities, Ripley can be found playing with her two dogs, Gizmo and Elway.

Ripley’s love of animals led to her choice to volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Shelter in Salt Lake for her Mitzvah Service Project. In addition to in-person volunteering, she is collecting donations of pet supplies, and has set up a GoFundMe account to benefit the animal shelter. We will gladly arrange to pick up any donations to give to this
wonderful organization or the GoFundMe can be found at https://gofund.me/0e5e0a01.

Ripley would like to thank Rabbi Spector, Cantor Davis, Tamara Kipper, Tracy Plotkin, the rest of the Religious School staff, and especially David Asman for all of their work in preparing her for her B’nai Mitzvah.

Isaac was born on May 10, 2012, in Colombia. His name means “the boy who will make you laugh,” and that perfectly describes him—a boy with a kind heart, a spirit of service, and a calm, joyful nature that makes him someone you always want by your side.

Isaac moved to Utah at the age of 4, where he adapted his new lifestyle, language, and culture in the most natural way possible. At school and at home he stands out for his kindness, respect, and compassion, and he is always open to making new friends. He loves going to amusement parks and especially enjoys the tallest and most challenging rides.

Isaac dreams of becoming a teacher. He has a deep interest in education, reading, and exploring new languages. When given the opportunity to volunteer as a teaching assistant for the Rafi Schwartz Religious School, he didn’t hesitate to say yes (thank you, Kol Ami!). Every time he works with younger students, he does so with a smile and a genuine enthusiasm for helping others.

A naturally curious boy, Isaac is always exploring his surroundings and demonstrating his leadership. At home, he enjoys baking cakes and loves to pamper his mother—whether by combing her hair or hugging her when she needs it most. As a brother, he is someone Thomas can always count on, showing his big heart through his thoughtful actions.