It was no ordinary bar mitzvah at the Kosel on Monday 5 Tishrei for the young boys were the sons of soldiers and others who fell in Operation Protective Edge HY”D. Uri Greenberg’s dad died when terrorists infiltrated into southern Israel. He was assisted by IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz in putting on his tefilin.

Nata Etzion was also celebrating, remembering his father Ze’evik, a security officer of Kibbutz Nirim who was killed too. Originally the bar mitzvah was going to be held on the kibbutz but the events that occurred led to the change in venue.

During the day the bar mitzvah boys and their families visited the Kosel and the Har Herzl Military Beis Hachaim. Towards evening they were hosted in the President’s Residence by President Reuven Rivlin. Also in attendance were Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)