Can you guess how many black cats need homes? Approximately four million!

Black cats have always faced discrimination due to their association with witchcraft and gloom and doom, which is exacerbated in the month of October. This year, as I celebrate my Bat Mitzvah, my Torah portion, Ki Tisa, delves into the story of the Golden Calf. This story symbolizes a complete abandonment of human responsibility and a confusion of roles. Ki Tisa serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of elevating animals to a pedestal, disregarding our primary responsibility of caring for them.

From a young age, I’ve had a soft spot for cats. Every year on my birthday, I’ve begged my parents to adopt one. Finally, two years ago on Hanukkah, they relented. We adopted two black kittens, whom we named Mitzvah and Shinobu. They were the last of their litter to be adopted and had been at the shelter for three months. Since then, I’ve pondered the unfair discrimination faced by black cats.

Inspired by this, I’ve chosen to raise funds for my Bat mitzvah project to raise awareness about the plight of black cats. I hope this effort will help find as many of them as possible new homes. I’ve set up a fundraiser for Cat Noir Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and foster-based rescue dedicated to saving stray, abandoned, and at-risk black cats. All donations go directly to saving cats in need. You can learn more about them at Cat Noir Rescue .

It would mean the world to me on my Bat mitzvah year if you could donate and support these lovable felines. Together, how many cats can we find homes for? Thank you so much for your support!