Special B’nai Mitzvah

On March 8, 2007, approximately 120 children whose fathers died in wars while serving in the Israel Defense Forces, celebrated becoming b’nai mitzvah at Neot Kedumim, in a beautiful ceremony held in Ophira’s Winter Garden. The celebration, organized by the Army, brought together families for a combination of ceremony, learning, and sharing. The children were very excited to have special gifts presented by IDF Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkinazi, and the chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rabbi Avi Ronsky.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff and Chief Rabbi present gifts to b’nai mitzvah at Neot Kedumim

As guests of Neot Kedumim, the day included a special guided tour on the grounds of the Reserve. This year the subject of the walk was the 3 Pilgrimmage Festivals.

Special activities included: Pesach: Hyssop was gathered and ground by the b’nai mitzvah in a special mortar and pestle, reminding them of the hyssop which was dipped in the blood of the paschal lamb and placed on the doorposts of Jewish homes.

Shavuot: Harvest time activity: since March is not harvest time in Israel, the b’nai mitzvah were given kernels of grain and roasted them on biblical-style stoves, creating kali, and ancient biblical food that was given to Ruth by Boaz.

Sukkot: Children visited Neot Kedumim’s exhibit of sukkot and took a quiz associated with the exhibit.

The speech by the Chief of Staff (Heb rew ac ro nym:,רמטכ"ל pronounced: Ramatkal) Gabi Ashkenazi was especially moving. His address to the b’nai mitzvah focused on the Hebrew word for responsibility (Akhrayut in Hebrew). This word was creatively broken down into a number of other words: Akh—meaning brother—each fallen soldier is a brother to all of Israel; Akher—meaning other—in battle, in the military, soldiers view their comrades (others) as extensions of themselves; Reut— meaning deep friendship—it is this deep friendship, the friendship of brothers, that is the core of the Israeli army. The Chief of Staff concluded by reminding the young people that they now carry the responsibility, in all of its depth of meaning, for the future of Israel.