Ukrainian Boy Raised by Shluchim Celebrates Bar Mitzvah

By COLlive reporter

As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, one moment in the embattled port city of Odessa briefly pushed aside the constant backdrop of sirens and strikes.

Avraham, a boy raised in the Jewish orphanage “Mishpacha Ukraine,” celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in what became a powerful display of resilience, faith, and continuity.

His story began 13 years ago, when he was abandoned and brought to the community’s care at just 11 days old. Since then, the orphanage—run by Chabad shluchim—has been the only home he has ever known. This week, dressed in his Shabbos finest and donning tefillin for the first time, he stood at the center of a joyous celebration, surrounded by hundreds of friends, educators, and community members.

While echoes of war could be heard outside, inside the hall, 124 children from the orphanage danced and sang with unrestrained joy.

“He represents our strength to live,” one of his teachers said. “Avraham is not just celebrating his Bar Mitzvah. He is living proof that even when everything around us is unstable, we continue to build.”

Rabbi Avraham Wolf, Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine, and his wife Mrs. Chaya Wolff have cared for Avraham since infancy. For them, the moment marked a deeply personal milestone.

“When a child arrives at 11 days old and grows up here, reaching his Bar Mitzvah in the midst of war and uncertainty—it is nothing short of a miracle,” they said. “To see him standing there, full of joy, is the greatest blessing.”

The most moving moment of the evening came when Avraham addressed the crowd. Rather than focusing on himself, he offered a heartfelt prayer—for peace and victory in Ukraine, and for the safety of Israel and IDF soldiers.

Despite ongoing security threats and economic hardship, the Jewish community in Odessa continues to press forward.

“A Bar Mitzvah is a declaration of continuity,” Rabbi Wolf said. “In a place where there are those who seek destruction, we choose to build life and a future.”

As the evening came to a close and the children returned to the protected orphanage facility, Avraham’s message lingered: even in the shadow of war, Jewish life continues to grow—stronger, brighter, and unbroken.