Ohr celebrated his Bar-Mitzvah in the traditional way by having an “aliyah” – ascending to read from a Torah scroll in a synagogue in his home-town of Carmiel, in Israel’s Galilee region. At Zichron Menachem we decided to help Ohr celebrate this special occasion with a most memorable – indeed, unforgettable – experience.

Three Zichron Menachem volunteers – some of our devoted “Sherut Leumi” girls – picked up Ohr and his family from their home in Carmiel. The spacious and comfortable Zichron Menachem vehicle, which is used also for transporting children to and from our Day Center in Jerusalem, brought the group of celebrants to their first stop, to the Western Wall in Jerusalem (how could it have been to any other place …?!).

 

Zichron Menachem’s young male volunteers welcomed the honored star of the Bar-Mitzvah celebration, 13-year old Ohr. The volunteers escorted Ohr to the Kotel Tunnels, where the staff there hosted Ohr and his guests at a special Bar-Mitzvah program inside tunnels under the ancient city of Jerusalem. Following this program, Ohr was given a personal Bar-Mitzvah present by members of the Kotel Tunnels staff.

The Bar-Mitzvah party continued at Jerusalem’s “Marvad Hakesamim” restaurant where everybody’s energized appetites were put at ease. The proprietors of the “Marvad Hakesamim” restaurant generously sponsored the Bar-Mitzvah festive meal for Ohr, his family members and the “Sherut Leumi” girls.

Following the luncheon, all the members of the Bar-Mitzvah group continued onto a jeep trip in the nearby Judean Desert. Two jeeps - filled with motivation and energy - raced through desert paths, winding through breath-taking scenery. This adventure gave Ohr much joy and pleasure which are difficult to capture in words.

Towards the end of this most memorable day, Ohr and his family were brought to the Zichron Menachem Day Center in Jerusalem where a fancy and delicious birthday cake awaited everyone.

While he was inside the Day Center, Ohr decided to visit the Teenagers’ Club House, whose activities are dedicated to the memory of Naava Applebaum, our late volunteer who was murdered in a terrorist attack together with her father, Dr. David Applebaum, on the eve of what was to have been her wedding day.

In addition to amusing himself with a variety of entertaining equipment which fills our Day Center’s many activity rooms, Ohr enjoyed playing a game of billiards in the Teenagers’ Club House.

The smile on Ohr’s face remained in place every single moment of this extensive but enjoyable day. This day will surely be remembered by Ohr and his family as having been the experience of his life up to now.

The Pomerov family, who have been active in our organization for many years and who have “adopted” Zichron Menachem’s “Sherut Leumi” girls, generously gave Ohr a lap-top computer as a personal Bar-Mitzvah present.