Orphan’s Moving Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel

By a counselor at Camp Yeka

That’s What We’re Here For.

Another Tisha B’av behind us. Broken-hearted we cried out from the depths of our pain. Pleading and begging for Hashem to break us out of the chains that weigh us down. Some may say I’m free for I was born into these shackles, but I don’t feel free. I cried listening to the tears soak the stones of the Kotel. I cried for my brothers and sisters drowning in pain. I pleaded for Hashem to prove to us our hard work is needed. I may not know what I’m missing. I may not know what the world was like with a crystal clear revelation of Hashem, but what I do know is what we’re here for. I knew it when the next morning Abrasha was bar mitzvah.

It was Monday, a few weeks after Abrasha moved from the Alumim orphanage in Zytomer to Israel. Abrasha’s madricha, Shira, knew he was turning thirteen. Boys turning thirteen are a big deal in Judaism. She knew she had to make this a big deal. She reached out to friends and strangers to invite them to take part in the bar mitzvah. When I saw Abrasha dancing on someone’s shoulders, I knew he was dancing on the shoulders of our nation. This celebration was a testimony to the power we can achieve when we unite. An outstanding proof that we are still alive. It was thanks to the man from the Judaica store who thanked us for giving him the opportunity to take part in the mitzvah of getting Abrasha his own yarmulke and tzitzis. It was thanks to the VIP bochurim camp that came in dancing and singing. It was thanks to the Yeka community that became his family.

I watched as Abrasha drank in every second of his Bar Mitzvah. His pride as he got called up to the Torah, was enough to warm the coldest of hearts. Avraham Ben Avraham. Being part of Am Yisroel is a passage to be the stars in the night that Avraham dreamt of. Amongst all darkness, we celebrated the life we were given. A life open to infinite opportunities to connect with others. It is our birthright to seize every chance to celebrate.

That’s what we’re here for. We’re not here to mope and be sad. We’re here to give it our all. We’re here to put ourselves out there in hope to inspire others. We’re here to bring more light into this world. In order to do so, we have to work together to get this done.

The Romans may have succeeded in burning down our Bais Hamikdash, but that fire is what we use to kindle more Jews. The Arabs may attempt to terrorize us, but that strength we find when oppressed is what unites us.

No matter how much I cry for what we don’t have, I find solace in moments like Abrasha’s bar mitzvah.

.מי כעמך ישראל