Benjamin Abe Pargh will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 10, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. He was born on January 22, 2012 in Nashville. His parents are Lana and Franklin Pargh. His grandparents are Maria and Bernard Pargh of Nashville and Dora and Gregory Sorin of Nashville.
A seventh grader at University School of Nashville, Benjamin loves basketball, lacrosse, golf, and just about any outdoor activity. He also enjoys traveling, playing video games, and spending time with his favorite people — especially his brother and family. Benjamin has a big love for life and those around him.
For his Bar Mitzvah, Benjamin is raising funds for United Hatzalah of Israel — a volunteer-based emergency response organization that provides fast, free medical aid to anyone in need, regardless of background or beliefs. Like an "Uber for emergencies," United Hatzalah dispatches trained volunteers to the scene in under three minutes using GPS and ambucycles. To support this life-saving work, Benjamin is hosting a special music night featuring Nashville singer-songwriters.
Sophie Nicole Hammond will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on May 12, 2012, in New York City. Her parents are Liz and Kenny Hammond. Her grandparents are Sandy and Mark Hammond of Louisville, Ky., Honey Vertreese of Nashville and Dan Washburn of Enid, Okla.
A seventh grader at Harpeth Hall, Sophie has been a gymnast since birth. She spends many hours per week perfecting her routines as a member of a gymnastics team, and she spends much of her non-team time on a trampoline or upside down for one reason or another. Sophie adores her twin little sisters Poppy and Rosie, alternating between teaching them stunts and teaching them bad habits. She enjoys visiting escape rooms and playing word games with her dad, watching scary movies with her mom, and doing pretty much anything with her friends.
For her mitzvah project, Sophie is collecting toys and books for the Head Start Program of Nashville and Davidson County. If members of the Temple community have any age-appropriate toys or books for preschool-age children that they no longer need, please consider donating them to this wonderful cause. Sophie will be collecting at The Temple prior to Sunday School on May 4.
Hannah and Lana Hoffman will become B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah. They are the children of Lizzy and Brian Hoffman, and the grandchildren of Donna Hoffman, Barbara and Robert Crain, Jay and Dulce Hoffman, and Jim and Nancy Randall.
Both are enrolled at Donelson Christian Academy with Lana in eighth grade and Hannah in sixth grade. Lana enjoys cheer and track, while Hannah enjoys softball.
Susannah Ilene Echlov will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday May 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah. She is the child of Elliot Echlov and Alexa Claremont-Echlov, the sister of Emilie, and the grandchild of Ilene and Edward (z”l) Claremont of Nashville, and Marilyn and Stephen (z”l) Echlov of Davie, Fla.
A seventh grader at Head Magnet Middle School, Susannah dances Hip Hop, Jazz, and Contemporary at the Bellevue Performing Arts Center, rides horses with the Girl Scout Council of Middle Tennessee, and is an active Cadette Girl Scout working on her Silver Award. She also enjoys reading, traveling, music, experimenting in the kitchen, and spending time with the family’s rescue cat, Thomas and rescue bunny, Flopsy.
Susannah will be raising money for the Tourette’s Association of America. As someone who lives with Tourette’s Syndrome, Susannah wants to raise awareness in the community about the needs of children and adolescents who live with tic disorders and Tourette’s Syndrome.
Milton Alexander "Max" Haber will become a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 31, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. He was born on April 27, 2012, in Nashville.. His parents are Ellen and Matthew Haber. Max’s grandparents are Sherry and Griffith Haber of Nashville, and Mary Jane and Philip Duke of Nashville.
A sixth grader at University School of Nashville, Max loves playing soccer, baseball, and the saxophone, being a Boy Scout, cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide, and eating chocolate.
For Max's mitzvah project, he is hosted a hike in Percy Warner Park on April 27 to collect funds to help those affected by Hurricane Helene in the mountains of Western North Carolina-- a very special place to him.
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