Vintage

James is a hard working 8th grade honor student at the Hommocks Middle School where he participates in a wide range of activities including running for the cross country track team, doing tech support for the school musical and playing drums in the school band.  An avid athlete, James has played on the same travel soccer team for the past four years as an amazing Sweeper with a huge boot, has been a member of the Tigers AAU team for the past two years and plays both rec and travel baseball. 

James is also very concerned with the impact we are having on the environment, especially the latest BP oil spill disaster and is committed to trying to help to repair the damage.  For his mitzvah project he has been holding a series of bake sales to raise money for victims of the oil spill.  In addition, James decided to forgo the traditional paper Bar Mitzvah invitation, for a much greener initiative—an email invitation.  Along with his older brother Simon, they created a video invite which James hopes will be the beginning of a brand new environmentally friendly trend. 

James is a fun, thoughtful and caring brother to Annabel and Simon and an attentive cousin to Maya, Sophia, Lily and Zoe.  He is a loving and devoted son, grandson, and great-grandson.   James is thrilled to finally be having his Bar Mitzvah at the JCCH, a place he has literally spent much of the past 11 years in, since first attending the “two’s program” in the Early Childhood Center.  He’d like to thank  Judy Weinberg and all of his Hebrew School teachers, Rabbi Glazer, the amazing JCCH office staff (especially his grandma, Executive Director, Susan Needleman) and most of all Cantor Singer for helping him so much to be ready for this special day. 

Ryan Sobel: Ryan Sobel is a seventh grade student at Rye Country Day School. Ryan has been attending the JCCH since he was two years old.  Some of his closest friends today are the boys he met there.  Besides working hard in school, Ryan plays basketball and soccer for RCDS. Ryan loves attending sporting events with his dad and his two brothers, Billy and Jack, especially the Giants and the Yankees.  He also loves to ski and fish with his family.  For the last 5 summers, Ryan has attended Camp Takajo in Naples, Maine. Ryan enjoys camp and has forged many wonderful friendships at Takajo.  

Ryan has worked on a few mitzvah projects over the last year.  When he traveled to Israel last summer with his family – we went to a soup kitchen where we prepared and served lunch to Holocaust survivors and elderly Russian immigrants.  Continuing in his brother Billy’s footsteps – Ryan raised money for Camp Sunrise in their annual walkathon on Long Island.  Camp Sunrise is an 8 week day camp for children suffering from cancer and their siblings.  Lastly, Ryan has been going to the New Rochelle Boys and Girls Club once a week for the last 6 months, tutoring kids and playing games with them.  Ryan looks forward to his weekly visits with all the kids. Ryan is very excited about his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.  Ryan thanks Rabbi Glazer, Cantor Singer and Jane Grauer for all their help in preparing him for his Bar Mitzvah. Ryan is so excited to be sharing his special day with his family and friends!!  His family is very proud of Ryan and the young man he is becoming.

Courtney Hughson: Courtney is a 7th grader at Rye Country Day School. She is a warm, caring  and sensitive young woman who loves hanging out with her friends and family.  She has been attending the JCCH since she was two years old and many of her closest friends are those she met there.  Courtney plays field hockey and lacrosse for the RCDS teams and in addition, enjoys tennis and skiing in her free time.

For her Mitzvah Project, Courtney volunteered to collect blankets and rain boots for the AFYA Foundation which ships much needed medical and other supplies to impoverished clinics overseas. Courtney has also volunteered her time at the AFYA Sunday Sorts, at the UJA sponsored Families Feeding Families Food Drive and most recently, she traveled to  Atlanta on a  UJA mission where she worked in  a soup kitchen, volunteered at a foster care agency and served food at a homeless shelter.  Courtney has spent the last four summers at Camp Danbee and will be returning again this year to enjoy her terrific friends and the great activities. Prior to going to camp, Courtney will also be having a Bat Mitzvah in Israel together with her dad.

Courtney is looking forward to celebrating her Bat Mitzvah with her family, friends and the JCCH Community and she would like to thank everyone who helped her to achieve this goal, including her parents, her sister Lindsay, Rabbi Glazer, Cantor Singer and her teachers at the JCCH pre-school and religious school. We are all very proud of her and all that she has accomplished!