This picture was taken at my Bar Mitzvah in Kibbutz Eilon, Israel. This was one of my proudest moments, as I was surrounded by people who loved me and was able to celebrate my coming of age in Jewish tradition.
As much as it is a cliche, I have the utmost gratitude towards my family. Moving to the United States at a young age, my parents worked harder than anyone I knew to provide us with opportunities that they never had. Although Im is not always conscious of it, everything my parents do is for me and my brother. They shaped me into who I am and taught me how to love. They are my biggest supporters and my most passionate critics. I don’t know what I would do without them. As I continue to grow and mature, I hope I am able even to give back a fraction of what they gave to me.