The 2025 Bar Mitzvah trip, delayed by the war last year, culminated in a deeply emotional Torah reading ceremony at the Western Wall, followed by a central celebration at the Cave of Zedekiah. Starting in Tiberias and Safed, the boys were accompanied by rabbis and community leaders from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Poland, Montenegro, and Uganda. For many of the participants, this was their first visit to Israel, and especially to Jerusalem.

The trip’s primary goal was to strengthen the Jewish identity of the boys and connect them to the Jewish people, fostering a deep connection with their heritage. The touching scene of the Bar Mitzvah boys placing tefillin at the Western Wall and expressing their heartfelt prayers was a moment to remember. One participant reflected, “I never knew there were so many Jews around the world.”

The group was warmly welcomed by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, along with the management of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The central celebration took place at the Cave of Zedekiah, where the boys received heartfelt blessings and encouragement from Rabbi Kalman Bar, Chief Rabbi of Israel, who was deeply moved to meet them. Also participating in the ceremony were Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Shikli, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, who led the children in singing “Shivchei Yerushalayim” and offered heartfelt blessings.

A truly special moment occurred during the celebration when the boys had the privilege of meeting Mr. Danny Miran, the father of captive Israeli soldier Omri Miran, whose family recently received a sign of life from him. Mr. Miran shared the story of his son’s abduction and urged the boys to unite in prayer for his son’s release. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to witness the boys from Europe at the Western Wall, having been among those who liberated the site in 1967.

Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, CEO of the Center for European Rabbis, emphasized the significance of the trip: “Despite the challenges of the war and difficulties with flights from Europe, we made every effort to carry out this journey, as now, more than ever, is the time to strengthen Jewish identity across the globe in the face of rising antisemitism.”

The rabbis and community leaders expressed their deep appreciation to the organizers of the trip, including the chairman of CER, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, CEO Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, and other key figures such as Rabbi Yossi Beinaker, Rabbi Avraham Aba Turtski, and the entire office team. They also thanked the Jerusalem Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the Jewish Journey Organization, and many other contributors who helped make the journey a success.

Rabbi Eli Aidelkop from EJDF, along with Rabbi Binyamin Lipsker and Colors & Productions for their exceptional work in organizing the Bar Mitzvah ceremony, also extended thanks to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and its CEO, Mr. Solly Eliav, for their support in making this uplifting trip a reality for the young Bar Mitzvah boys from across Europe.

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