This party recalls and honors those who risked or gave their lives to save others. The Torah has many such people, including the midwives of Egypt who defied Pharoah's order to kill newborn Hebrews - thus saving the life of Moses. During WWII, many ordinary citizens in Europe - Righteous Gentiles - risked themselves and their own children to save Jews. Anne Frank said that all people are good at heart, but what makes these people so selflessly heroic? Is courage a trait or a choice? We envisioned this as a tribute to Righteous Gentiles but it could also be about your hometown heroes, soldiers or the heroes of 9/11.

Link Information: To see the book, click on link below.

The Hess Family lives in NJ. After reading about it in MitzvahChic, Michelle Hess decided to "twin" with the memory of a girl who had died in the Holocaust. The family asked Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Memorial organization in Israel) to find for Michelle a girl named Malka (Michelle's Hebrew name) from Poland (where Michelle's ancestors came from). Yad Vashem sent the story of Malka Rosner who, it turned out, was survived by a brother, Leo, living in Florida.

The family contacted Leo and told him of their plan to honor his sister, hold her symbolic bat mitzvah and tell her story through Michelle's event. He was overwhelmed and ultimately attended the bat mitzvah with his family. Leo had an aliyah in the service. His tender emotion at having this sacred moment restored to his family, deeply moved everyone there.

"I felt so fortunate to have survived and to live for this occasion, " he said. "I felt like I was at the bat mitzvah my sister never had. I will never, ever forget it."

These candles have frame charms with photos of the people being honored. Their amazing stories are told on small framed cards.  The table also has angel candleholders with tall candles for height. The angel candleholders are, sadly, no longer available.