He Cried to His Mother in Prison: ‘I Also Want a Bar Mitzva’

What happens when a child is embraced not just by a program, but by a community that refuses to let go?

For Lazaro (Elazar Zev), the answer unfolded this year in a Bar Mitzvah shaped by warmth and love. It was a milestone built on years of perseverance, guidance, and an extraordinary circle of care.

Six years ago, Lazaro’s Jewish journey began after his family moved to the Bronx. At the time, he faced circumstances few could imagine: his mother was incarcerated, and he had recently been adopted by his non-Jewish family. Recognizing the spark within the young boy, Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Chabad of Riverdale encouraged his enrollment in Camp L’man Achai —a decision that would ultimately help reshape his future.

From the very beginning, two years before his move to the Bronx, Mrs. Dina Minkowitz, Director of Operations for Family Services at the Aleph Institute, played a pivotal role. Serving as the family’s dedicated liaison, her involvement started early and went deep; she was a constant presence who ensured Lazaro never slipped through the cracks. Rabbi Mendy Majeski from Chabad in Cincinnati was the family’s first Jewish connection and introduced him to CGI Camp Chabad. As his commitment deepened, Mrs. Minkowitz worked in close, quiet collaboration with Camp L’man Achai and Rabbi Heller to arrange Lazaro’s bris—a sacred milestone reached through their collective dedication.

From his first summer, camp offered more than activities; it offered belonging. Rabbi Yitzchok Steinmetz, director of Camp L’man Achai, recognized Lazaro’s sensitivity and potential, surrounding him with stability and consistency. With the continued encouragement of camp staff and Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Lazaro enrolled in the Chabad of Tenafly Hebrew School, commuting daily with remarkable dedication.

Camp soon became a second home. Lazaro returned year after year for Shabbatons, winter programs, and holidays. Throughout it all, he often spoke about one dream above all others: his Bar Mitzvah.

When the time came to turn that dream into reality, Meir Levy of Camp L’man Achai stepped forward to lead the charge. Meir didn’t just coordinate the logistics; he took it upon himself to personally raise every dollar needed for the Bar Mitzvah celebration and Lazaro’s first pair of tefillin. His tireless efforts ensured that no financial barrier would stand in the way of this boy’s simcha. Because to Meir and the staff, Lazaro wasn’t just a camper—he was family.

The Bar Mitzvah weekend, hosted by Rabbi Levi Shemtov at Chabad of Riverdale, was a full Shabbaton coordinated in partnership with the Aleph Institute. Despite forecasts of nearly eighteen inches of snow, the bond of this community proved stronger than the elements. Boys and staff traveled from thirteen states to attend; not a single person backed out.

The celebration was elevated by moments of profound connection. A letter from the Rebbe was read aloud by Rabbi Shua Brook, Executive Director of Family Services of the Aleph Institute. In an especially moving gesture, Rabbi Levi Shemtov presented Lazaro with a dollar he had personally received from the Rebbe thirty-eight years ago, offering it with heartfelt wishes that Lazaro merit the same blessings of success, growth, and strength.

The weekend was filled with spirited davening, singing, and dancing. By Sunday, more than forty staff and campers were celebrating a Bar Mitzvah overflowing with joy. Rabbi Shua Brook later remarked that it was “the most joyous Bar Mitzvah I have ever attended.”

Lazaro’s family shared that they finally understood what camp and this community had meant to him—the stability, the pride, and the deep connection to his Jewish identity. Lazaro’s Bar Mitzvah was not the result of one summer or one event, but of years of steady dedication from a community that chose to show up, again and again.

And that is something truly worth celebrating.