Naomi Silber’s bat mitzvah preparations looked different from the start.

For Naomi, becoming bat mitzvah meant stepping into new responsibilities — to her community, to her values, and to the kind of person she wanted to be. As she prepared for this milestone, she and her family talked about what those responsibilities could look like in practice, not just on the day itself, but in the days and years that would follow.

Those conversations led Naomi to UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, where she began learning about local organizations addressing real needs in the community. She connected with Chasdei Kaduri, a kosher food bank that supports individuals and families facing food insecurity. What began as research quickly became something deeper. She spent time learning about the challenges families face, understanding how the organization operates, and thinking carefully about how she could contribute in a way that felt meaningful and sincere.

As part of that commitment, Naomi chose to dedicate her bat mitzvah gifts to supporting Chasdei Kaduri. For her, this decision wasn’t just about giving financially, it was about being intentional with the moment and using it as an opportunity to align her celebration with her values. She wanted her bat mitzvah to reflect care, responsibility, and a desire to help others in a tangible way.

Just as importantly, Naomi saw her bat mitzvah as an opportunity to bring people into something she had come to care deeply about. She spoke openly with friends and family about what she was learning, why it mattered to her, and how others could get involved in ways that felt natural and authentic. She gave her time, her attention, and her voice to helping others understand the importance of community support.

What surprised her most was how people responded. Conversations turned into action. Small gestures became habits. Friends who had never thought much about food insecurity began asking questions, learning more, and finding their own ways to help. The momentum built quickly, one person at a time.

This kind of change doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins when someone makes space for something beyond themselves and invites others in—not with pressure or expectation, but with curiosity and care. When that happens, people often rise to the moment, discovering their own reasons to engage and contribute.

What matters most isn’t any single action, but the pattern that follows. One person’s choice to get involved can make it easier for others to do the same. Communities grow stronger not through isolated acts, but through the steady accumulation of people choosing to show up, stay connected, and take responsibility for one another.

Naomi’s story isn’t about doing the extraordinary. It’s about noticing what matters, leading by example, and reminding those around her that making a difference begins with simply getting involved.