This week, the Kyiv Jewish community welcomed a group of young boys and girls into adulthood, in a meaningful and festive Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebration.
The celebration followed months of preparation as part of EnerJew’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah project, during which the teens studied Jewish responsibility, personal identity, and Jewish traditions. The teens gathered with their families, friends, community members, and honored guests in a local event that followed the larger EnerJew celebration held several weeks ago.
Rabbi Mordechai (Moti) Levenhartz, the leader of the local community, spoke about the significance of his own Bar Mitzvah and offered words of wisdom to the youth. The Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Ukraine, Mrs. Mila Tzur, was an honored guest at the event and shared the story of her grandfather’s Bar Mitzvah in the days of the Soviet Union, a time when preserving Jewish tradition required great courage and commitment.
The evening included a video featuring prior graduates of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah program, wherein they described how the experience influenced their lives and strengthened their connection to Judaism and to the community. Their reflections highlighted the importance and lasting impact of the milestone as a meaningful step in the Jewish journey of every boy and girl.
The festive and emotional event gave the teens and their families an experience that will remain with them for years to come. Similar celebrations were held in other cities in Ukraine strengthening the bond between Jewish youth, their families, and their local communities.
Jewish families in Ukraine are doing all they can to carry on with their lives, despite the ongoing crisis, and provide kids with a sense of normalcy, as much as possible. After nearly 4 ½ years of continuous attacks and martial law, many people have adapted to the ongoing challenges they face.
Together we save lives and restore hope.
