Dear Friends and Family,

As you know, I am preparing to become a Bar Mitzvah on May 27th.  I decided to recognize the importance of tennis in my life in honor of my Bar Mitzvah.  I have been playing tennis since I was five years old,  and I am deeply passionate not only about playing , but also watching it - anytime and anywhere.  I also wanted to recognize how deeply I care about helping other children who are not as fortunate as I am. This is why I have chosen for my Mitzvah Project, the Israel Tennis Centers (ITC), an organization that my family and I have been involved with for several years.  

ITC educates and empowers children and youth to overcome the effects of poverty, conflict and disabilities in disadvantaged communities in Israel through tennis.  It is one of the largest social service organizations for children in Israel and serves over 20,000 Israeli children every year. It is hard to imagine that approximately one million of the 2.7 million children in Israel live under the poverty line. Fourteen ITC locations  throughout Israel give children a second home after school and provide tennis, fitness and various social impact and educational programs (such as English language fluency). The ITC gives children the chance to learn life skills, such as self-reliance, perseverance and focus. It helps these kids learn about self esteem, character and tolerance.  Children from diverse backgrounds and religions come together at the ITC and are encouraged to bond and create friendships. I have been fortunate to host in my home and spend time with several children from various ITC centers, and have formed lasting friendships. 

In an effort to strengthen the impact of ITC and transform the lives of more  underserved children and communities across Israel, I am inviting you as part of my Bar Mitzvah project to consider a contribution to the Israel Tennis Centers Foundation of $18 (or any amount that you are comfortable with). You may also send a check payable to Israel Tennis Centers Foundation, 57 West 38th Street, Suite 605, New York, NY 10018, kindly indicating on the check that it is in honor of Josh Virany’s Bar Mitzvah.  I am also collecting gently used tennis racquets and tennis balls to donate to ITC. I would greatly appreciate any donation.

 I am very grateful that my parents will match all of the cash contributions to ITC.  

If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected] or my mom at [email protected]. 

Thank you in advance for supporting this important organization and helping to make my Bar Mitzvah project a success.

Josh Virany

P.S.  Gently used racquets and tennis balls may be dropped at anytime at my home in Livingston, NJ , or at my Bar Mitzvah service on Saturday, May 27th, at Temple Beth Shalom, Livingston, NJ.