As most people know, I have been giving Bar Mitzvah lessons for about 10 years now. It is my claim to fame. Most of my job is helping kids prepare to read from the Torah on their big day. Unfortunately, there are many kids in Israel who have been affected by tragedies and can’t afford to have their own celebration or even buy a pair of Tefillin.

That is why I decided to get more involved with Colel Chabad in their Bar and Bat Mitzvah initiative for hundreds of orphaned children and families in Israel who have lost a father or mother and can’t afford a Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration.

As you can read in the below articles, Colel Chabad just hosted a Bat Mitzvah Celebration - of 37 girls - filled with a fully catered dinner, games, with families of those celebrating. Among those celebrating their bat mitzvah was the daughter of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered by a terrorist last January. Her mother is now left with the nearly impossible task of financially caring for her children. This at least, provided a little happiness from what has been an incredibly difficult year for the family.

This coming April we will be hosting a huge Bar Mitzvah party for 120 orphaned boys in Jerusalem.

Like the girls, the boys will have a party - beginning with an aliyah at the kotel, a full Bar Mitzvah celebration, and a dinner filled with a concert with friends and family at the Jerusalem Convention Center. We've also engaged private tutors to teach the boys how to put on tefillin among other responsibilities for their big day.

In addition to the party, our needs for the celebration are great. Included is getting each of the boys a pair of tefillin, a voucher to buy a suit, etc...

Here are some links to articles on past years Bar Mitzvahs:

crownheights.info/shlichus/479731/113-orphans-celebrate-bar-mitzvah-at-kotel

chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/1169492/jewish/Israeli-Orphans-Celebrate-Mass-Bar-Mitzvah.htm

israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/243819

Below is a video from the celebration at the Kotel.

It is an amazing opportunity to help kids directly enjoy a special time in their lives as they become a Bar and Bat Mitzvah after facing many tragedies. Any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thank you,

Corey