Mazel tov, v’simcha tov, v’mazel tov! That’s how we started the morning: with joyous cheers during the Bar mitzvah service in the Children’s Village. In Judaism, a Bar mitzvah celebrates a 13-year old boy gaining the maturity to become an adult. In the Village, there were about 15 bar mitzvot. Normally, Bar mitzvahs occur on Saturdays but this one took place on Thursday because the Torah is also read on Saturday’s and Thursdays. Everyone’s family was there to celebrate this milestone and we all threw candy at the b’nai mitzvot (those celebrating their bar mitzvah) and danced in celebration. Throwing candy symbolizes wishing the bar mitzvot a sweet life in their transition to adulthood. Personally, I really enjoyed seeing a Bar mitzvah service in Israel and how similar it was to my own bar mitzvah.
After the fun bar mitzvah ceremony, we were off to the Ghetto’s Fighters Houses museum, where we learned about the Warsaw Ghetto. The Warsaw Ghetto was established in 1940 by the Nazi regime in Poland. In the ghettos, Jewish people were walled in and had a lack of food (see picture below). They were also forbidden from practicing their religious rituals, which is just cruel! Unlike the Warsaw Ghetto, in the Children’s Village, you are free to practice Judaism and celebrate things such as Shabbat and bar mitzvahs. After visiting the museum, it was time to return back to the Village and hangout with our mispachtonim (families).
Today we gave mattanot (gifts) to our family. Some gifts included: shirts, hats, sports equipment, makeup, jewelry, backpacks, coloring books, etc. All of the families really enjoyed their mattanot (gifts) and mine loved their new sports equipment (see picture below). It meant a lot to all of us to finally give our families the gifts we’ve been holding on to. All in all, we had a wonderful day and can’t wait for what’s to come tomorrow!
