A total of 48 orphans celebrated their b’nei mitzvah in the Old City of Jerusalem on Oct. 20, courtesy of the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO). The group was comprised of a tapestry of Israeli society, including Jews, Muslims and Druze, who have all lost at least one parent during active service in the Israel Defense Forces.
The annual celebration has been taking place for more than a quarter of a century, but this year felt different with so many more participants having recently lost a parent during or after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israelis and visitors of all faiths and traditions were affected that day.
More Israelis have become IDF widows and orphans since Oct. 7 than in the entire 20-year period that preceded it.
To date, 885 children have been left without a parent, and 352 partners have been left without a spouse.
For the families of the fallen, life-cycle events are especially difficult, which is why the organization tries to recreate many of the traditional family rituals usually entrusted to the father.
“Nobody will ever replace these children’s parent, but the IDFWO will do everything in our power to give them the tools to grow and flourish, never feeling less than their peers. These families paid the ultimate price for our freedom and deserve to have the best possible celebration as they become young adults,” said CEO Shlomi Nahumson.
The celebrations began this summer with a bar mitzvah trip to the United States, where the group got an opportunity to experience a care-free vacation with highlights that included attending a Mets baseball game at Citi Field and seeing “The Lion King” on Broadway in New York City, as well as spending time at the JCC Camp Chi in Wisconsin.
On Oct. 20, the day started with the children being guests of honor at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, where Israeli President Herzog and first lady Michal Herzog welcomed them with open arms. Everyone had the opportunity to introduce themselves and tell their personal story. When a Bedouin girl apologized for not being able to speak Hebrew, the president spoke to her in fluent Arabic, and thanked her and her family for their presence and sacrifice for the people of Israel.
The next step was a tour of the newly installed Western Wall Heritage Foundation center and a festive lunch in the Western Wall tunnels. They then danced to the Kotel, where boys received tefillin and were called up to the Torah. Girls were gifted Shabbat candlesticks and had their own ceremony. Those of other faiths visited some of their holy sites.
The day culminated in a party hosted by the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, where all the kids celebrated into the evening.
