(Courtesy of Bris Avrohom) On Monday, July 3, Bris Avrohom sponsored a Gala Bar Mitzvah celebration at the Kotel. Twenty-seven of the bar mitzvah boys were from Beer Sheva and five of them were refugees from Zhitomir, Ukraine. The Ukrainian boys originated at the orphanage Oilameinu, from which Bris Avrohom had rescued them at the start of the war and transferred them to Israel.

Each child received a pair of Tefillin; the mothers were given a set of silver-plated candlesticks, and the families were granted a silver-plated Kiddush cup, Siddur and Tehilim for davening, and a leather bound Zemiros Shabbos.

The ceremony began with each boy donning Tefillin and reciting Shema Yisroel in unison. This was followed by an aliyah for each bar mitzvah bachur, with the proud mothers looking on from the women’s section having an opportunity to throw candies at this special moment.

After that, the children toured the Minharot Hakotel, and then they all traveled to K’far Chabad for a festive and elaborate seudas mitzvah, accompanied by lively music and dancing. At the end of the ceremony the families expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Bris Avrohom as well as to Rabbi Zalman Gorelick, rabbi of Chabad of Beer Sheva, and Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm from Zhitomir.

The event was sponsored by many supporters and board members of Bris Avrohom. Three of the supporting families attended the event in person. Leon and Roz Kozak, Martin and Miriam Knecht, and Jonathon Sherman were thrilled to join the families at this simcha.

Rabbi Mordechai and Shterney Kanelsky, who traveled in to Eretz Yisroel to arrange the event and ensure it all ran well, were later invited to visit with the Knesset chairman, Speaker of the House Amir Ochana. After witnessing Bris Avrohom in action, he personally congratulated Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kanelsky. The Minister of Diaspora Amichai Shikley also showed personal interest and was deeply impressed with the great accomplishments of Bris Avrohom in the Diaspora, how they work tirelessly to connect Russian Jews to their heritage.

For more information regarding Bris Avrohom’s activities and events, please contact the office at 908-289-0770 or [email protected]