B Mitzvah Grads Take the Lead in Paying It Forward // Blog // Lab/Shul

When eight of Lab/Shul’s Raising the Bar B Mitzvah graduates gathered in Brooklyn on March 8, 2020, they knew only that they had signed up, or had been signed up for, a post-B Mitzvah project with their peers focused on philanthropy. While some arrived with the intention of focusing their energy on addressing the climate change crisis, none anticipated that in a few short weeks, two of the most major crises in their lives were about to unfold.

What the teens had gathered for, was Lab/Shul’s first-ever, post B Mitzvah initiative – Pay it Forward – asking what the teens could bring to the world now that they had taken their first ritualized steps in to adulthood. Facilitated with the help of Amplifier, the teens created a giving circle, pooling their collective resources to amplify the support they could offer an organization.

Having decided to ground their work with Amplifier in the values of responsibility, human dignity, preservation, and lovingkindness, the teens began a search for organizations which embodied those same values while combating climate crisis and fighting for environmental justice.

As the COVID crisis became increasingly dire, and the Black Lives Matter movement shone a light on the ways in which black and brown communities were disproportionately affected by the crisis, the teens discovered the organization Lead to Life. Lead by black and queer healers, artists and ecologists, Lead to Life’s mission not only centered its work around the values of responsibility, human dignity, preservation, and lovingkindness, shared by the teens, their work intentionally profoundly bridges racial justice and environmental activism. Check out their video “Serotiny: The Story of Lead to Life” and visit their website to learn more about their work!

Intention in medicine is defined as the healing process of a wound. Our intention through Lead to Life is to transform that which ends life into that which sustains life – to facilitate an alchemical healing process that can physically transform both our weapons and our imaginations. – Lead to Life

As of today, through a combination of fundraising and donating their own gifts, the group has raised $1,789.50 for Lead to Life.

We were so moved and inspired by the incredible fundraising work of the teens, and by the timely, sacred and essential work that Lead to Life does, we wanted to invite our entire Lab/Shul community to donate!