Alexis & Ashlyn Zeldin

During Alexis and Ashlyn’s two years of bat mitzvah study, the twin daughters of Janine and Kevin Zeldin of Creve Coeur learned that tzedakah is a major part of being Jewish. “It is doing the right thing and helping make the world a better place,” they said in an email. “In Judaism this is a requirement, not an option. This involves treating other people well, taking care of your self, and protecting the environment.”

Instead of going the traditional Sunday school/Hebrew school route, Alexis and Ashlyn were tutored by their father. They studied Torah, Jewish history, holidays, rituals, and the Jewish people, Israel, the Holocaust, prayer and G-d, Hassidic stories, and the 613 Commandments. They read articles, watched movies, went on field trips, performed mitzvah projects, and celebrated the Jewish holidays in creative ways.

To fulfill the requirement of tzedakah, the twins chose seven organizations that looked fun and meaningful from a list made by their father.

The Ronald McDonald House was the most enjoyable for both girls. The house provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children. “Both times we prepared a home-cooked lasagna dinner including cookies, garlic bread, and vegetables for the families who were staying there,” they said. “We invited friends and had fun doing it. We felt good knowing we were helping others get a home-cooked meal at a difficult time in their life.” During their bat mitzvah ceremony, Alexis and Ashlyn committed to volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House at least twice a year, until the end of high school.

Ashlyn’s most memorable experience was babysitting at Our Lady’s Inn. The inn provides a loving home and support services for pregnant women and their children who are homeless. “We played with the kids while their mothers were taking classes in job-training, nutrition, and child-care,” she said. “We especially loved babysitting two sisters. They were so happy for the attention. Their smiles were unforgettable.” 

Volunteering at the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry was Alexis’ most memorable experience. She and Ashlyn helped pack food for the less fortunate on four different occasions. On one visit they brought nine of their friends so they could help out as well. “We can’t imagine what our family’s life would be like if we needed to get food from people who donated it for us,” Alexis said.

Preparing and serving lunch to the homeless at St. Peter’s Church was another one the twins’ projects. Other projects included walking in the Autism Speaks event to show their support for this important cause and delivering food and visiting with homebound adults through the St. Francis Food Bank. Alexis and Ashlyn also assisted in an event that provided low cost shots to pets for those who could not afford the high price of the medication.

As a result of their service projects, these Ladue Middle School students committed to volunteering at least once a year.

Becoming a bat mitzvah in Israel last summer was the original plan for Alexis and Ashlyn. Unfortunately, their trip was cancelled. Instead, they went to Santa Barbara, Calif. where they found an old courthouse with a beautiful garden setting to hold their ceremony, which they conducted themselves.