You are invited to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah with Ohr Meir & Bracha: The Terror Victims Support Center. Here is a glimpse of Chana Fine’s Bat Mitzvah celebration sponsored by her family and hosted by Ohr Meir & Bracha, which took place in August 2010. The Simcha was celebrated in a traditional Sfardi style complete with a decorated tent, throne on which she was carried, and henna. The tent was glamorous, decorated with elaborate rugs, glistening vessels, and a golden throne. The food, included various types of breads, blintzes, noodles, cakes, fruits, etc., which was delicious and served to her family, friends, and children of families affected by terror. Everyone was given traditional Sfardi garb to wear and everyone had fun as they dressed and saw their friends wearing Sfardi robes and hats. Chana was then carried in on a throne, held above the heads of all the guests. Henna was then mixed and applied to the hands of many children, leaving them a mark on their skin that would stay with them for weeks and serve as a reminder of the wonderful event. As part of Chana’s initiation as a Bat Mitzvah she and the other women present took part in the Mitzvah of “Hafrashat (separating) Challah”. The most unique aspect of this day was the presence of the children of Victims of Terror. The joy that was brought to these young children was immeasurable and truly a day for them to remember!
To make a meaningful, enjoyable, and unforgettable Bar/BatMitzvah with Ohr Meir & Bracha-The Terror Victims Support Center, please contact the office
Tamara Kay and her Mother, Debra, traveled to Israel from England to mark Tamara’s milestone birthday. Tamara joined us on October 3, 2013 along with her Mother in packing food baskets for Victims of Terror. Our volunteers joined in the dancing and Tamara”s first time fulfillment of a woman’s Mitzvah of “Hafrashat Challah”. Refreshments and Challah were enjoyed by all.
I am Oriyah C.
I will be celebrating my Bat Mitzvah, G-d willing, on Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet. I will be celebrating with my entire family and a few of my friends but the one I will miss most, the one I am ALWAYS missing, is my father, David Z’L who was murdered in a shooting attack in Hebron/Kiryat Arba. It is so difficult for me that I am an orphan. I live with my mother and brother at my grandparent’s home. They always try to make me happy and they love me so much. But it could be just so nice and so good if only my father, my mother, and my brother, Nuryah, all lived in my house.
I am in the Sixth Grade at the Chabad School in Gilo. I really love my classes especially my religious subjects. I also love to be creative and make things with my hands. I am now accepting upon myself the obligation of fulfilling all the Mitzvot and I am sure that my father, is proud of me from Above. I would be so happy if you would participate in my simcha and if you could assist us in financing my Bat Mitzvah celebration.
Thank you so much,
Oriyah C.
Rebbitzin Reichman was joined on February 24, 2011 by B’Not Mitzvah and their communities from her home in Englewood, New Jersey. The young women were:
Batya Esther Bousbib
Esther Herschman
Avital Leba Weitzner
Sara Esther Hadassah Gidanski
Nechama Tova Reichman
Tova Shoshana Sohmen
Rivkah Ariel Hornblass
Ilana Chaya Haimm
Aliza Sara Goldberg
Rivka Barel
Tamar Avital Balk
Yael Finkel
Chaya Schwartz
This wonderful group of ladies came to celebrate not only their special day but to bring joy and Chizuk to Oriyah C. and her family. Oriyah’s father was murdered in Hebron/Kiryat Arba and Oriyah had written to Ohr Meir & Bracha to ask for financial assistance to enable her to celebrate her milestone birthday. Under a traditional Moroccan tent, Henna was dispensed, Hafrashat Challah was fulfilled and a fun time was had by all!
BAT MITZVAH “TWINNING”
Two young ladies share very little except that they are both named Shira and both are becoming a Bat Mitzvah.Shira Bousbib is a young lady from Englewood, NJ. She is 11 years old and is in 6th grade at the Moriah School. In lieu of gifts for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah, she has decided to raise funds for Ohr Meir & Bracha. She looks forward to helping as many families as she can through her efforts.Shira Bousbib and her Mother Polly, are friends and supporters of Ohr Meir & Bracha for many years. They also enjoy a close friendship with Liora and her family. This February 14 Mother and Daughter flew from New York to Israel to spend quality time in celebration of Shira’s milestone birthday.In Israel, in the Shivtei Yisrael neighborhood in Jerusalem, 2002, Shira E. was walking with her Mother, Aunt and infant brother to the conclusion of a Bar Mitzvah celebration and the reciting of Havdalah. Among the throng of guests was a Terrorist dressed as a religious Jew. Shira’s Mother struggled to watch over Shira and her little brother and asked her Sister to please carry the baby. As her Mother turned to hand the infant over the Terrorist ignited and Mother and child were incinerated. Shira survived only because she was buried beneath all the debris that had fallen from the sky due to the explosion. 10 others were killed that day. These two young women have come together today to mark the special occasion of their shared birthday. We were joined today by another Mother and Daughter visiting Israel to mark the special occasion of a Bat Mitzvah. Zahava Hill and her Mother, Rabbanit Shosh Hill have traveled from England to join in the mutual joy and nachas. Zahava is a student at Hasmonean High School in London. This is Zahava’s third trip to Israel and Thursday morning is always scheduled to be spent at Ohr Meir & Bracha! Zahava undertook to raise funds at her school on behalf of our families.
These young women began their venture as B’Not Mitzvah by spending the morning doing Chsed. They joined Liora and the other guests in the Mitzvah of “Hafrashat Challah”; a Mitzvah unique to women. All joined in packing our weekly baskets for Victims of Terror. No celebration is complete without music and dancing.
Thanks to the students of Ulpanit Pisgat Ze’ev there was plenty of ruach, hugs, kisses and “Mazal Tov” on everyone’s lips.
Gabriella Kay and her Mother joined us during their trip to Israel (December 22, 2011). Gabriela joined us in preparing food baskets on a Thursday morning and Liora in the Mitzvah of “Hafrashat Challah”. This was Gabriella’s introduction to a Mitzvah unique to women. All who attended felt quite honored to be a part of this young lady’s rite of passage.
Esther Nechama Sigal, niece of Lynda Lafazan, volunteer extraordinaire, celebrated her special birthday with us on August 16, 2012. We received the following heart-warming letter from this Bat Mitzvah:
November 29, 2012
Ohr Meir & Bracha
455 Viola Road
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Dear Liora,
First I want to say thank you again for an amazing Bat Mitzvah celebration in August this past summer. I think it’s sad that Israel needs to have this organization but it really does help. When I came back home, I talked to a lot of my friends and some of them want to help next time they come to Israel.
The celebration in Israel that we had with you was just part one of my Bat Mitzvah. I had a party in New York. At this party I talked about Ohr Meir U’Bracha again and praised it for all the wonderful things it does. Enclosed is a check for $500 for your organization. I hope this fills as many baskets as can be.
I hope that next time I come to Israel I can participate again.
Please continue doing the work you are doing.
Sincerely,
Esther Sigal