Sophia (Sarah) O’Shea, daughter of Michael and Jenna (Bracha Gevurah) O’Shea, of O’Fallon, Mo., recently celebrated her bat mitzvah with family and friends. Rabbi Chaim and Bassy Landa, of the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County, conducted the ceremony.

A student in the seventh grade at Classical Academy de Lafayette, Sophia plays soccer, participates in theater club and plays the violin. Sophia likes to spend her free time with friends and family, reading and riding her bike.

In honor of her bat mitzvah, Sophia chose “Sarah” as her Jewish name. Sarah was the first of the four matriarchs of the Jewish nation and is widely referred to as “Sarah Our Mother.” A special mazel tov to her grandparents, Timothy and Carol (Chava) Larson, and Timothy and Diane O’Shea.

Sophia’s mitzvah project included lighting Shabbat Candles each Friday before sunset and supporting The Gan St. Charles Preschool, St. Charles County’s first and only Jewish preschool. Sophia joined the inaugural class to bake challah and play Jewish songs on her violin, and raised funds to buy new art supplies for their classroom.