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My Bat Mitzvah speech:

Hi, thank you all for coming to my bat mitzvah. I appreciate each and every one of you for the simcha that you bring to this special occasion. I’ve been waiting for this moment for longer than I can remember. Ever since I was a kid I always thought of what my bat mitzvah would be like and now this day has finally come and I am really excited to celebrate it with all of you.

When I was thinking of what to talk about in my בת מצוה speech, I was thinking that my name is really connected to who I am.

My name is מושקא, it would have been חיה מושקא, but my sister was already using the name Chaya. Most of you know that that was the name of the רבי wife, and some of you know that today is her birthday and what’s really cool is that it’s also my birthday, not my sister חיה.

I learnt in a שיכה that many חבד leaders have a Hebrew name and a Yiddish name, like Shneur Zalman, Menachem Mendel, Shalom Dovber and also Chaya Mushka, if you noticed the first name is Hebrew and the second is Yiddish. The Yiddish name is connected to our service in the world, making the lowest things holy. In particular the name Mushka, which is my name, is connected to perfume. Our sages explain that smell is a sense that brings pleasure to our נשמה, smell is the highest sense, and pleasure is the highest expression.

The Rebbe encouraged people to take on mitzvot in honor of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, especially connected to lighting Shabbat candles, keeping kosher, and family purity. I know that most of us light shabbat candles, but could we make the mitzvah more beautiful? Here are some ways: lighting in time, giving tzedakah beforehand, thinking about what it really means to be Hashem’s partner on Shabbat, davening for other people, being ready for Shabbat in your Shabbat outfit. And also bringing Shabbat into all our actions for the day, same with keeping kosher and family purity – we should always do it in the most beautiful way. Although us girls are not really so involved in family purity, the Rebbe said it is the key to peace in our homes, and that’s something we could all try harder with for sure. Let’s be careful with how we speak to our brothers and sisters and our parents and let’s look for the good in them.

Thank you all for coming and I especially want to thank my grandmother for being here tonight and always caring for me. I also want to thank my grandparents and great-grandmother who were very special in my life. Their care and love contributed to who I am today and I treasure how they taught me to appreciate the time I have with people who are in my life. My parents for raising me with Torah and Mitzvot and always taking me on adventures. They are always there for me, teaching me right from wrong and made me a beautiful bat mitzvah. My teachers for educating me on how to live my life as a Jew. I am also thankful for my sisters, Frayda for being a shining example of all that a big sister is. Chaya, while I still work hard every day to forgive you because you took my first name, you’re still a really fun sister to hang out with. Chana, for making my beautiful cake exactly the way I wanted it and for being a very trustworthy sister who’s so easy to talk to. Nechama for being an awesome roommate and keeping me up all night to party. My uncles and aunts for enriching my life and loving me for who I am today, my neighbor Fruma for helping me with this beautiful speech. And last but not least for my classmates for always bringing joy and excitement to my life.