Colel Chabad Grand Bar Mitzvah 2026

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Now, of course, everybody knows Kabad, the religious spiritual movement of the labeer rebi mendelen, but not everyone knows Kabad, but but they should know it. Now, when the rebi spoke when we speak about uh uh sedaka, charity in Hebrew, we say charity, but the rebi related it to the Hebrew word sedc, its original root, which is justice, righteousness. Because charity is something you should do. Justice and righteousness is something you must do. And that brings us to Kohal Kabad because that really embodies that I think uh that principle. With me is Rabbi Zam Dman, the executive director of Kal Kabad. Let's first talk a little about Kal Kabad. Zam, >> good morning, good, good afternoon, good evening from wherever you're watching. Welcome to this special broadcast of ILV. Um uh as we broadcast this most special event, it's big bar mitzvah put on by Kabad. Kabad is the oldest continuously operating charity in Israel established in 1788 and continuous ever since. It was started by the Balata the first kabad reba ribbon of leyadi and um it started the zman himself was very passionate about land of Israel. Many people don't know but the first organized aliyah to the land of Israel was organized in the year 1777 by Ripsher's Alman and he was part of the group that he himself headed out to um together with 300 other people to make aliat the land of Israel on their route as they came towards um as along the route the uh students of Bashamto pressured him to go back to lead and um several years later he got message of the plight of the poverty in the land of Israel at the time and he established Kohabad um creating support continuous support so um and that's and that continues ever since um this is a special uh bar mitzvah celebration >> let me ask you about that because Kakabad does many charitable >> yes Kakabad does many activities across um but uh the rebi had a sort of I think a special feeling for in his heart for widows chosen orphans and that is really I guess the theme of today's event special bar mitzvah event. Tell us about it. >> This special this bar mitzvah is extremely special. It's usually done right around the Reb's birthday and it's always aligned with the Reb's age um for the past several years. Um uh the uh the we honored the Reb's birthday and the days before um unfortunately this year Israel was under threat. It would be impossible to make such a gathering. So it was delayed. So such a unique day, a day of the one day in the Jewish history where Jews were the the Torah, the Bible says that when the Jewish people came to the foot of Mount Si, just 6 days before giving the um the Torah, they stood together as one. And today we stand together as one, helping these children, all different situations, all fatherless children. as the Rambam describes an orphan is these are they're missing the mother or the father. I hear in my ear the a welcoming song that I imagine that they are welcoming the uh entry of the president of the state of Israel. >> Right. A special guest today, President Isaac Herzog. We see I believe they're on the screen uh entering um uh into the hall there. Of course, President Herzog comes from a very distinguished rabbitical lineage himself. >> Yeah. very distributed Kabad lineage. >> Yes, >> correct. Uh and uh he will be speaking to us. Let's talk a little about we're talking about 125 uh when we say orphans though we're talking about who have lost their their father primarily and uh uh of course once Rab once the pre president Herzog starts to speak we will go to him. Uh but we are talking about a lot of orphans. This is now we should say this is event that's been going on for several years but maybe it's achieved a certain urgency in recent years because of the number of orphans resulting from unfortunately the the the conflicts here that Israel has been engaged in. Unfortunately, we've never had this amount of orphans in our 25 years that we've been part of this program that will called a special um fund to help with the education and mentally emotional well-being of of the of these young orphans. So, this is um we've never had this many of families, new families. We had some 115 new families in the past 2 and 1/2 years. something that um we've ne never had this many this many families join. In addition, we never had this many young families, extremely young widows. Um we have multiple multiple children that were born after the passing of their fathers and um carrying their father's name, carrying memorials for their fathers, living memorials and um so it's I think the urgency is now here more than more than more than ever. But most but on the other hand also the outpouring of support around the world for these families. >> We should mention it's not just about giving a bar mitzvah to these to these uh uh young boys. It's really helping their it's a whole process that in a sense is the climax of a process of helping their families. >> Correct. Um uh KV we'll be spending the next two hours together. I would like to uh just um go into the hall where where a fry kamisar fry kamisar is a uh actually a voice known on the radio in Israel music music mu a music channel um a passion and he MC's every year he actually used to run the uh the the program he used to run the pro he used to run he used to run the program of a and he continues to MC the event he is right now welcoming in the uh all the children to the to the event and introducing and he's going to go ahead and introduce the president of Israel Mr. Isaac Heritzuk children had their Yes. earlier today. We were at the hotel. We will uh be able to cut to it in in just a bit. Um could I get the sound in my ear from the hall? I'm sorry. Like this I could try to do a little bit of a translation. We're welcoming the public. This is not the first time that the uh president is partnering with actually it's quite interesting that our largest program is the national project of food security that was started while the president was serving this country in his role as in his role in while the president was was serving this country in his role as minister of social welfare that's when we started the largest program So um a prime kamisar is referencing that that so so the MC is referencing that partnership that started with some several thousand families then and today serves 47,000 families right we do have a a guest with us maybe if we could if you could start before the president go ahead speaks we have with us Sagit Cohen of course she is one of the widows who is with us uh and she is the mother is Eliah was uh who's one of the B mitzvah boys that is being uh was B mitzvah there at the hotel with Kohl Kabad and support first of all tell us a little about your own situation and first of all if you can if the passing of your husband and your situation >> I'm sewen I live in Kashmon I live in Kash Mon there are many Americans there we are family of I have my my husband passed away a year ago I uh was left with 10 kids the youngest is Ariel is a sweet baby was born after my husband passed away I think no one understand for sure what a widow has to cope Right. You have seven children. That's correct. Is it? >> I have nine. Eight. Eight. Eight. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yes. Eight. >> The youngest was born after the loss of my husband >> Mazotav on that. >> I think no one can understand what a widow has to cope with. But I'm so lucky to be part of this Kabad organization. They think about each and each and every kid. They uh let us to be part with on of activities and uh they have many opportunities to grow and they have a teachers uh they allow us to uh to breathe uh deep uh to get a deep breath and uh to gain a strength. >> So stay with us because the president Herzog is is about to uh speak. We're willing to listen to what the president herd has to say and we'll we will let her join us to enjoy the president together if we can. >> Welcome. Shalom. Shalom. And everybody should know means cherish children honor. He's correcting a correcting what the MC said about that he himself was born in America while his serving of Israel of today we're celebrating a special day where each of you are entering into adulthood. The said once as follows, and I'm going to quote, "I believe in physics. What was what existed will continue to exist. It's known that the Reb studied physics in the Serbon. He actually knew my grandfather, the president's grandfather, and the Reb understood physics. He says whatever existed once will continue to exist. And therefore, I believe in the strength of the Jewish people, especially in the youth as an energy, the atomic energy could could serve some great great strength. The great strength beloved children get stronger. I would like to thank the uh the uh theat for this amazing major thing giving me the honor to uh the honor to uh bless you and to be blessed by you. This is for you important days for you but also includes includes um in confusion. I I also remember my age of bar mitzvah and um uh you find you search And each of you are going to grow with both emotionally and each of you are going to find the pains of the world of the world. So obviously like just that's for every teenager. How much more so for you that you're facing your individual challenges and we have a great we have great hope for for each of you to overcome your challenges if it's from your mother your father and to see each of them when their pain you're young and you know know that there's things that can't be undone and things that don't have an end But you found joy in all this hardship. You you grew beside and accompanied with the challenges. You're not only growing, but you're becoming stronger. Each of you is a is is a victor. A victor of substance. A victor of mam. How would I say mamas? A true true victory. You came now from the Kotel. A very special experience. You were by the Kotel this morning and you and you grew up. If you feel that there's challenges in the mix of the bitterness and the joy, And I want to say from my experience sometimes it's necessary to to celebrate through hardship. We are very pleased and I'm pleased to be here together with you and to bless you on the great light that you that you brought you're bringing to the world. And I'm sure that the stories and the memories that you heard from your father shall always be with you and you'll always have the spirits of them today. As a president of of the state of Israel, I want to say we love you and we're proud of you. And on this day, I guarantee you just like we serve your pain together with you, we're here pleased to celebrate the joy with you that you should continue to grow and to sprout and to develop and to dream for the future. Beloved children, I conclude, I have no doubt that you will grow to be a place of pride, a great pride and and consolation for your family, for your friends, for your teachers. And I wish you all only good and kindness should should follow you for the rest of your life. And we love you very much. And Maz, thank you so much. Um the president of Israel Isaac Kurs excellent translation sit let me ask you the president spoke about uh the the the feelings of uh being bomb mitzvah at the hotel. I was bomb misfit at the coel. My family flew from America for that experience. What was it like for your son and also for you that experience? What did it mean? I am proud of him to be um a continuous boy to his father who continues to keep mitzvot and to be is my son is a is a kohhen. He blesses Israel every day and I am very proud of him and his brothers. I have five kids which that will be kohanim in beta mikdash. Okay, very very very moving and finally I just want to ask because you know we're being watched. This is for an international audience. Kohl Kabad you've talked about how they've helped you. What would maybe be your message to the audience about Kel Kabad >> President? >> Ah uh well okay we may be joined. We're going to see if we're going to be joined by Yes. Si thank you so much. We're going to be joined by uh President Herzog. It is our great honor that the president is going to join us here in the studio. >> Yeah, he's sitting over there. Whatever. If you want me to >> What? Okay. >> Okay. Could we Okay. >> Look right over here. Okay. So, you ready? >> Yeah. >> So, you asked me how was it and >> first of all, Rabbi Herzog, thank her. >> Thank you so much for what was it like? This is an event that of course helps orphans and widows. Uh it's been for several years, but what was it like especially in these days to come here and speak to these authors? >> Well, I think it's a great mitzvah and I want to thank the organizers. Uh it's been very impressive to see the kids beautifully dressed um mixing their feelings in a very unique day where they came from the hotel and I had the privilege to congratulate them as the president of Israel and tell them that you know we bless them with good life. We uh know that they're overcoming enormous pain but on the other hand they're also maturing and moving forward. And I want to thank the Kabad people of all facets of Kabad. >> Well, let me ask you about that amazing word. We're living in a world. Okay. We're living in a world where many people are hesitant to express their Jewishness Judaism in public. We hear what does it mean for Kabad to be out there? >> Well, look, I have an enormous respect for Kabad. I myself was blessed twice by the Reb. I see Kabad operating all over the world. I know that many and many organizations are going through attacks, anti-semitic attacks, but Kabad is going from strength to strength and I want to wish him only good to them to President Herzog. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Well, I am we just heard from uh the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog. Let me get your reaction to uh uh Zman to what the president had to say there. >> It was number one I was very pleased that the uh that the president joined and uh we were actually told by the security that he's not going to come out here and then the last minute I see the president on his own chose to come out here. Um we're actually sitting um just for location we're sitting in the main hallway of facing um Jerusalem of the of the international convention center. I obviously understood there was a hesitation for the uh president uh security to that the president should come out over here. I'm very it shows how important an event like this is to the country that the country is able to uh to uh um that to the country that the president feels an obligation to come to such a uh >> what does it say about the respect he has for kabad and for the rebi and he this is this is someone himself who comes at knows of Jewish tradition and comes from a rich background >> it's like like I mentioned earlier this is not our first time together with um uh no this is Rahul Arton, we'll get to it in a second. Um, this is, like I said, this is not his first time partnering with Kabad in in in the in in uh in in many projects both in his capacity in his when we served when he served the country in the Knesset in multiple capacities primarily in social welfare and then now as president. I'd like to wish him long life, much success and the wisdom and understanding to to stand up to the many challenges that he has now in leading this country and his role in this country and what he and what he um and his responsibility going forward. Now I think we should go to uh right we're joined now we have a guest uh Rakha Martin. She is the director of the widows and orphans intervention program and that this is an event about widows and orphans. I spoke earlier how the how the Rebi saw Saddaka especially applicable to widows and orphans. There was a special place for his heart. Let's talk about your work and what you do in terms of this and how it relates to this event today. >> What? >> We'll translate what she says. Okay. >> She will speak in Hebrew. Yes. Your husband passed away uh three years ago. Uh again our may his memory be a blessing. So your husband you were this your your participation predates your husband was and you were very involved in this in the manaka mental organization and like you see it as a legacy to continue on and to continue his workh Okay. Tell us about the work that you do. Okay. So, you're dealing with young uh orphans uh young people we know uh even below the bar mitzvah age and you are with them and helping them guiding them through their through the whole year through their entire path, >> right? Then you you especially work with them so that they will excel in their studies, in their learning and in in their life as well. So the emphasis is on education, on learning the Talmud, on uh on on on on Him, special classes and special uh seminars for these for these young people beyond I guess their ordinary schooling said that they will excel especially in their in their Jewish education. right as that people Israelis know beyond your normal classes in school these special sessions and seminars can be quite expensive beyond the reach of most kids >> I'm sorry just to disturb I just would like to go live to the uh to the hall where the chief rabbi of Israel chief rabbi go ahead Rabbi Ysef just walked in. I'm not not going to do a translation of his speech. I just wanted to welcome that um he's giving a special blessing, the chief rabbi that's giving a blessing to the stu to the uh students that are here. But I think we should go back to Rahul Martin that Rahul Martin herself um since her husband's passing um gave up not of herself and of her children and including Moishi. Moishi is one of the big helpers here, right? Moishi who he helps in all events from uh for many years and um together with the other Martin boys by all the uh by all the events and we we're close friends and soon when Rahul finishes I'm going to introduce introduce and interview Moishi. >> Okay. So just specific, right? We bring we try to exploit every to utilize every opportunity to bring to these children and to these families uh joy and happiness. >> Okay. Your own child celebrated his bar mitzvah at this event at last year's event. It's not simple. It's even painful for a child to celebrate a bar mitzvah without his father. But for all of the children here who are celebrating their bitzvah, this is a in a sense a kind of like a graduation or maturation that is that is ve that is that is very that is very special. right? When they get this a hug from the Jewish people, from the Jewish nation, they understand they're not alone and that is very special for them. Right? It's not an organization. It is a family. And it really is a family. It's the it's it's it's it's the Martin family uh in a way. and maybe let's hear let's hear from one of the >> soi doesn't want to be interviewed. Okay, >> I asked him but I want to say I want to thank Moi and all of his brothers that they organize they pack the gifts for this pro for this event and for the other events and to the other and we We'd like to invite everybody to Moshi's bar mitzvah. Yeah. >> At the hotel. >> Yeah. Take care. >> We'll make there'll be room for everybody there. >> Yeah. Um, I would like to thank Rah Martin, not just for joining us here on set, but for the work that she does all year. Um, every day, 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, she's always available, an extra source of of uh of uh of energy. Um, and she she she um has been involved in the institution um uh for many years while her husband led and now that she took over the reigns. It's something extraordinarily special and it's really what she said that it's a family. You see it in a very strong way. So thank you very much and I'd like to wish you have much from your children. >> Yes. I'm going to go to the CT from today now. Okay. So let's talk about the B. By the way, I had my own bar mitzvah at the hotel when I was 13 in 1973. My family came from the United States especially. I know what that the the feeling that this spirituality the feeling of doing your bum is called to tell us about that. >> So all right seai go ahead and share some of the footage from by the hotel earlier today. Earlier today each of the children were marched down one at a time their own kopa. We had a to we had a full team um dancing each each each child danced alone on the shoulders um dance the joy that they should feel um their feel special themsel. Um we also had a team of photographers that's going to prepare for each of the children a beautiful album of them by the kotto like any other baritsu boy that um uh that that has the baritu by the koto. It's a really special moment where you see the mothers um uh I'm uh following watching the procession, the dancing. Um it takes several hours um uh for each child but one at a time and it's done each one in isolation but it's collection and each mother has that opportunity to have that feeling of watching their child and the child going them down by themsel experiencing that um that that joy of the mitzvah joy of the bar mitzvah. Now, every child gets a pair of fillin. Um, those that turned 13, their actual 13th birthday was earlier, had their their fillin delivered to them earlier, and those there's a few that soon will be 13. So, we give it to them at at at the at at the bar mitzvah. And it's really a very enjoyous moment, really very special. And I really encourage every everybody that um uh that um it's something an annual event, and if you're celebrating a bar mitzvah, um you should plan it. Um, with this I would like to uh give turn over to Khalif. >> We should say all of this good work would not be possible without people sadim that are willing to contribute to this effort and to make it possible with the financial support that is needed. We have one of those uh benefactors with us uh uh Harry Kowski from my native New York City. And Harry, you're here with your lovely family. Would you just also introduce them as well? >> My wife's Sarah Kowski. >> Yeah. Hold this. >> My daughter Leia Kowski. >> Very much to to meet you. Okay. >> Harry, I want to >> I want to go back. >> Go back. >> It has nothing to do. The reason we give is because of the people we love and support. Okay. Has nothing okay. And the work that they do. So it's not about financial aspect or anything like that. It's more about how we can get things done together. Okay. I may be a financial supporter, but you know what? without having people on the ground, nothing gets done. Right. Well, I want to talk about um I wanted to Excuse me. >> Okay. Harry, I want to just talk about your own background because I I've done a little research. I know your par it comes your your your feeling of wanting to be a part of that effort comes in part from your parents and your own personal history. Could you just talk a little about that? >> Okay. My my father was a Holocaust survivor. Okay. He came from a large family in Poland and he and his sister were the only survivors from the family. Okay. My mother turns out my parents were first cousins. Okay. And they met after the war. My mother was on her way back from New York cuz she didn't like New York too much. Okay. She come from Palestine to New York and she was on a boat coming back from New York to Israel to Palestine at that time and my father uh I don't know how my grandfather got in touch with my father but my father was somewhat traveling throughout Europe after the war and at that time he went to pick her up at the bo at the boat at the pier and I don't know the rest the rest of his story is history >> right >> and that's part of that history >> right uh and talk about Kabad and your connection to Kabad and why I mean there are many many worthy causes in the Jewish world but what specifically Kal Kabad this particular also uh uh initiative >> okay Kabad okay I got introduced to Rabbi Dukman I think it was over 30 years ago maybe and it was right away a friendship born and what brought me into it for the I I get involved with a lot of Jewish causes But I like to see hands-on. And that's what I saw in the Dukman family. It's not one gener, it's not one generation, not two generations, but everyone was involved. Okay. Sham Dukman got his whole family involved. And everyone has a different aspect to do in the family. So that's one reason. Okay. And I have not just with Kabad, I try to do that with every organization I'm involved in. >> Right. And specifically, uh, what is it? I'm I'm trying to think of the feelings that you and I have. By the way, I was by misfit at Dakota. My family flew when I was 13 years old. Our first trip, we came to Israel. I know what a special experience it is. >> So, what was that about 25 years ago? >> I wish it was 25 years ago. >> Why wish you don't look a day over 38? >> A little a little a little further back. So, I know what a special experience. What is it though for you to see these these young boys uh have this? And by the way, we just saw the footage of the bar mitzvah. I'm a little jealous. Mine was nothing like that those bar mitzvah. What was it like though for you to to see? >> I've been trying to come for the past I don't know 15 years 12 years to the bar mitzvah. It's an unbelievable experience but the boys get it. I remember one year coming here and a boy came up to me and said to me this is going to be my last bomb mitzvah. I said what do you mean you only turned bar mitzvah? He says yes but I had five brothers who were bomb mitzv prior and afterwards I'm the last one and how am I going to come back? I said you have my personal invitation. But now I'd like to hand over to Mike to um to my wife. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. And she knows my she's much better speaking than I am. >> Well, let me ask you I want to both both your wife and daughter your when you being at the bar mitzvah seeing that seeing these young people and what uh the joy on them and that what they're experiencing at the hotel. How how does that make you feel? >> It's a very touching moving moment. There's so many mix of there's a big mix of feelings. It's such a wonderful occasion and combined with a lot of sadness for these boys that have lost a parent. But it's absolutely unbelievable that Kabad steps in for all of these times which can feel very lonely and gives them a place to celebrate a family and such a warm feeling that it would not have gotten anywhere. >> Right. Do you have any uh would your daughter like to say have anything to say? I talk and and Kabad in general, the connection that your family feels with Kabad. >> It's a very long and strong connection that u my husband has his family and the Dman family and um his father and the Rebi. It's it's generational. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah. Just face the camera. Yeah. Talk of um a long connection with with with Kabad >> is it's generational. It goes back for Harry's father. >> Okay. >> And with the Dman's and the Rebi. Well, let me ask Rabbi Duckman if you have something you want to say to Here's an opportunity to speak with uh with Harry. >> I'd like to share one second. I'd like to share that Harry has uh for the past 15 years been to every bar mitzvah. There was times that he came you having there was times that he came landed in Israel at 400 p.m. came straight to the convention center danced brings great energy and um one thing anybody knows anything you do with Harry is fun. Harry brought a special special energy to the bar mitzvah um and to wherever to all that he does and there's what and um I'd like to wish them both Harry Sarin the whole family kowski family's great health in all the charitable work that they do. Thank you. It's also a generational thing of Jewish leadership from Petraov the Kowski family was the uh was the head of the community where Rabbi Laauo's family were the chief rabinet. So we wish them continued generation. One second. Nord in one minute. As soon as we finish with Kowski, we I want to go to Nord from Jerusalem. >> Okay, first let me let's say uh thank you once again to the Kowski family. >> Thank you for >> for the all their generosity and we'll see maybe next year. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Hope to see you from New York. >> Uh absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much Harry and thank you Kowski family. Now I would like to introduce Nor is one of the boys from the bar mitzvah. He wants to be on television and this is Nor. This is your opportunity for 15 minutes of fame. foreign. Thank you very much. I'd like to give you a lot of a lot of I'd like to give you a lot of success. not only to put on film by yourself. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> So, um I think we may have seen a a future star of Israeli television. 100% 100% I love the energy. I love the energy here. The children are having fun. It's very important to show them to to to them to experience them fun. Um uh in the hallway behind us, you'll see a full uh um pass entry of um many Knesset members um rabbis, Knesset members um entering and exiting. Some of them will be able to see live um uh some of them will be able to see um their speaking. Um there's a very interesting experience that we have together with each of the children is there's a running game show that they ask children questions. Each of the children have a small um uh piece where they could give the answers A B C D 1 2 3 4 and um each of them ask a question and then I would like to uh tie on that side. Um uh Taft to face this way. >> Okay. We have a guest uh here. Have a seat. >> Go ahead. You my Rabbi Shalom Dman. >> Oh, Rabbi. Okay. Rabbi Shalom D. >> Your national director. >> The national director of Kabad. Rabbi, I just asked you to sit. If you could sit, Rabbi Dman facing that camera. >> Hold the camera. And I am >> of course >> the microphone. Not even water. >> We'll we'll get the rabbi. >> We'll give and please if we could get a a glass of water for the for the rabbi as well. Um Rabbi, let me ask you, let's talk about Kal Kabad and the your family your family connection to it. It's extraordinary how the Dman family has become so connected with Kal Kabad, the oldest uh charitable organization in Israel. Can you talk about that and talk about how that began? Well, I don't think that you have enough time for me to speak about the connection of the DMA to make because my grandfather's grandfather going back uh at least 130 years that he was connected with Kabad. We have in fact letters from him that he wrote to his family how he's involved with Kabad, how he brought money to the forabad etc etc. And that got was also with my great-grandfather was exactly the same way. And my grandfather and just be bear in mind that my grandfather passed away at 80 uh 60 years ago. So you're talking about a very very long time ago of people of families that are involved with Kabad. And of course this went to the offstrings both my father and my aunts and my cousins and everybody else. So yes indeed it's a very very special uh privilege to be part of this great organization. Now, Kola Kabad, I mean, we haven't even discussed the full range of its activities here in Israel, which are and abroad, which are many, but let's just start by talking about this particular event and this particular program of uh working of helping with the widows and especially the orphans uh helping them uh uh guarding them in this period of their period of sorrow and hardship and then really climaxing in this magnificent Bob Mitzval celebration. Let's talk about this particular aspect of >> so this particular aspect of kahabat was always widows and orphans was always of course very very dear to every single Jew this central point when the Torah speaks about charity the first thing that the Torah mentions is the widow and the orphan and therefore one understand that they go through extraordinary challenges and extra extra or extraordinary issues. uh what we've tried to do and that what we were revolutionary in doing was not just uh helping out in the uh immediate help of the widow and orphan but really to build something that should be able to be everlasting something that should be able to uh re uh vitalize and rearrange and reorganize the the life of the winners and orphans and we realize that a major part of that is through education. A lot of these children have very difficult issues, challenges in terms of besides economic challenges, educational challenges. And that's where we focus on more than anything else, giving the proper tools to the uh widows and to the orphans that they should be able to uh graduate high school. They should be able to be ready to go to the army to be able to go to yeshiva to be able to be ready to take on the big world. >> Rabbi Dukman, the the the program is not new. working with the orphans and widows and the B mitzvah program. It's not new, but in the last few years, given the situation in Israel, the conflicts, I mean, I was just looking over some of the children uh that are here in the hall there and have been out and their their fathers, victims of terror attacks, uh fathers who fought in Gaza in in in in Ura in Judea and Samaria. uh how has it been just the last few years the relevance unfortunately in a way of this it's almost a program that was faded for this period in Israel's history the last few years have really been extremely challenging and you hit the button on on the head because it used to be more that we have to take care of the orphans the widow is not such a big factor unfortunately since October 7th we have young mothers widows mothers that are in their 30s that have little children at home and besides the children taking care of the children, you have to take care of the mothers. They don't know how to handle it and we have to find the tools for them to give them the tools and the way to overcome these issues. And this is something that we were not ready for, but thank God we have an incredible and incredible dedicated staff, people that are dedicated 24/6. They're there with them all the time and they're finding different ways to encourage the mothers. For instance, once a month, every one of the mothers has a certain place where they go out for one evening. They do woodwork, uh, all kinds of work. Mothers themselves, we put together 20, 25 mothers together, some older ones, some younger ones. They should be able to encourage each other. Once every 3 months, we take put together 60 mothers together. We take them to Mit for an outing, 24 hours that they're not with the kids. We find babysitters for the kids. they're there themselves. First of all, we pamper them and then we also give them the tools and the therapies how they should be able to come back to their families rejuvenated and to be able to begin again with a new fresh start. Right? >> Just some of these little programs that we do. These are just the little things. But the most important thing is that we have eight uh angels, social workers that are involved and that are together with these mothers every single day 246 except Shabas. >> Right. You know, I said at the top of the program, everybody knows Kabad. I was in India last year. I went to the Kabad house in Pushkar, which is the the Hindu pilgrimage city, and it's right out there. Everybody knows Kabad. Not everybody knows Kohl Kabad. Some of the people watching on TV, this may be their first exposure to it, even that the first time they're hearing of it. I just want to ask what you have to say to them, those who are may not be familiar with the work that the organization has been doing. You're welcome. Welcome to Welcome to join us. Welcome to here. Welcome to uh we we we're very grateful that you've taken your time to be with us. It's a tremendous inspiration, a tremendous to us and and keep up continue to be with us, continue to support us. And as Latashem, we hope that together we can really make a impact and a big difference. >> Right. Do you have anything to say to your father or uh would you rather rather he maybe has something to say to you? >> It's really a unique opportunity something that the Reb spoke very strongly about um about charity and about passionate um communal activity to be done on a not just on a private level but on a uh on a familiar level. you know, in America today, um especially when it comes to um uh um um when it comes to non forprofits, there's a lot of discussion about um uh deterior motives, etc. And the Reb saw the exact opposite with family and nepotism. Not only did the Reb see it as a as a as not a question, but quite the opposite because the passion is usually much stronger. Like my father mentioned, um um my father's a fifth generation involved in Kalabad. I'm number six. um uh my children will be God willing number seven until Msiah comes we hope to continue this tradition and the same thing is on the donor side and on the other side there's many families um uh charities also something that should be done on a family level um we saw Harry Kowski here together with w with with his daughter um already developing for the next generation to continue as a supporter of kabadat and that is the strength of an institution where it's not just the partner partner but we could partner with the entire family and that is something that the rebba spoke very much about and it's something that kabat very much excels in and I think it's something when it comes to uh such things is something that should be really learned so it's a great honor to be part of such a institution like my father wouldn't mention but he was um every single leader of kabad was directly appointed by the kabad rebes from the first yakovsk in 1788 until my father was appointed 190 years later by the Reba in 1978 where he grew the institution from what was then a relative much smaller than it is today to what it stands today. So it's a great honor and pleasure to be part of such a thing. And by the way, while we're talking I'm looking at the screen if we could show the inside, the celebration, the dancing. What a party. What a party. And I'm just thinking to myself, you know, this is not the kind of bar mitzvah that every kid in Israel can afford to have this kind of celebration. >> These kids are our heroes. These mothers are our heroes. These fathers are our heroes. This is this is right here. This is our survival. This is the reason. This there's no greater celebration than this room. This is a a a celebration of soul. This is a soul celebration of this. The reason, the focus of our survival were around after so many years, trials, tribulations, issues. We were always the minute. We're 0.002% of the world. And nevertheless, we're here and we're stronger than ever. You know why? Because of this room. Because we all come together and we're all together and we will never give up. We're we will never give up. We are one. I'm even I'm even a little jealous watching that that that that that bar mitzvah celebration. Um uh I want to talk about maybe a little about the importance of this is I mean it's fun, it's partying, it's dancing, but it is part of a bigger education process. Uh it's about bringing these kids to their their roots and their Jew because we should mention that these are not all kids that are that are coming from a a deeply religious or spiritual background. This is not this is not about bringing children back to roots. This is about educating children. They should be ready for life. Our goal is that each one of these kids should be ready to join the Israeli army. Our success when are we successful? When our orphan goes into the army, we know that we've been successful. >> Right? This is not this is not about religion. Religion is very very important and kids that are religious who want to be into religion, but this is not to promote religion. This is to promote mentalite and readiness to be able to handle the world. Rabbi Dman, I want to thank you for joining us on our broadcast and for all the the good work and the you have done over the years. Thank you very much. >> It's a pleasure and an honor to speak to you. >> It's a privilege to be here and to be with you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> It's a great honor um to be part of such a great event. Um if anybody would like whoever would like to participate, we have another guest joining us. >> Yes, we have another guest joining us, Mr. Arthur Luxembourg. Mr. Arthur Luxembourg, >> Luxembourg, chairman of the United Soup Kitchens of Israel. We talked about we talked about how none of this none of this would be possible without the generosity of people like Mr. Luxembourg. Arthur, thank you so much for joining us. >> Thank you. >> I want to first of all look at the po Look at this party, Arthur. >> Yeah, it's pretty unbelievable. It's uh epic. Awesome. A very emotional experience to be here. >> How did you get I'm a little jealous watching these this kind of abom I wish I had abundance for like like this. Arthur uh you're from New York um uh successful in uh uh in a businessman. How did you get involved both with Kabad Kal and this program? >> You know I was introduced to the uh organization um probably 30 years ago. Reb Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Zman what uh 30 years ago and uh I was giving I was giving money you know twice a year before Rashana before Pesak and I mean it's an unbelievable story and uh uh I was here as I was traveling to Israel a lot during those times and uh one Mo Shabas uh I was staying in a hotel and after Shabas which I typically did very late at night I would go to the hotel and uh I was surprised to meet Rabbi Dukman there and uh I knew Rabbi Dman very well uh and I had very good feelings for him and um it was there at that time that he showed me a spot uh right behind the the hotel facing down the hotel and he offered me an incredible opportunity to partner uh with him uh in in building a soup kitchen there for needy people. And I told him, of course, you know, I would I would help, but helping wasn't what he was looking for. It was more of a a partnership that I would that I would sponsor it. And he basically uh I told him, "I'll think about it." And uh he said, "I have five minutes. I have five minutes to think about it." And uh I said I laughed. I said, 'What happens after the five minutes? He goes, "I go to the next person." He goes, "This will change your life. Sponsor this on behalf of this organization and it will change your life." And guess what? I agreed. And that's what happened. It changed my life. >> By the way, let's talk about where that soup kitchen is located because that's pretty special. So, I'm saying I mean there's no better I mean there's no there's no better real estate, you know, in the world, you know, number five or number one Western Wall Road. I mean, you know, you can't even make that up. >> They're at the hotel at the Western Wall. >> Yeah. It's the actual address. And then, you know, we bought a building right next to it which we use as like a a skybox where we host guests and we uh open it up for dinners and uh it's just a very a wonderful experience to be part of this, you know, great great Arthur. I have done a little research and I know that your wife got you a very special present for the 30th wedding anniversary if I'm correct. >> Yes. >> 20 years ago. Would you tell that story because it directly connects to this event uh tonight? >> Yeah. And it's okay. Take a moment. >> No. Randy Ry's Ry's home. >> Your wife. Randy, my wife, is home. And nobody knows what to buy me, you know. No, nobody knows what to buy me. So what she did was she she sponsored I think on this very this very event this this very day she sponsored they they rented out the whole amusement park in Tel Aviv >> right >> and uh and and that was 2014 >> and that was the gift and and that was the gift and it couldn't be the only the only uh the only thing was I wish that I I knew about it so that we could be there for it >> right hundreds hundreds of kids taken Yeah, >> these orphans who have been in such hardship brought for a for a yum kef a day of fun >> at a water park. I mean, how special? >> It's unbelievable. Uh really unbelievable. You know, you know, check into a hotel we take for granted. Oh, your room is not good or your room is not ready. Uh or some other the airport was too crowded. you waited on a line and then you you you know you come here and you and you plan to spend a few days surrounded by by and you realize how lucky you are uh uh because there's so much need there's so much going on that and and to be part of an organization like this uh which is so powerful and challenges that need on every single level whether it's health whether it's education whether it's uh uh housing uh MS centers dental clinics uh wedding halls we dedicated a wedding hall in in in memory of my father um and this of course bar mitzvah which we're a part of and we're doing and we're part of for for decades and um to see it continue like this you know even during difficult times is emotional and very very important and powerful >> during difficult times. I was just and I've said this to several of the people we've spoken to. This is not a new program. I mentioned that that that 2014 was when you took the offense, but just think of the what Israel has gone through in just the last few years. And I'm looking at the list of the children and some of the children are here. They're the children of war heroes that fell in Gaza, that fell fighting terrorists in in in Judea and Samaria. uh uh the victims of of terror also. How special is that especially at this moment? >> Yeah. I mean um Rabbi Dman inside a few minutes ago showed me the list and it's a list like like an accountant would have right >> of every child. uh what parent was lost, when they were lost, uh details about every child, you know, nothing done on the back of a napkin. And I said, I I want to carry that around. Make me a copy of that, and I want to carry it around with my other things so that I feel more connected to it. And it's unbelievable. >> Unbelievable. I want to give this Salman a chance to to >> I'd like to thank um Arthur Mr. for Luxembourg for uh his many years not only of his involvement in Kabad but most importantly is in addition to that God is greater is a person that encourages other people to give the amount of people that he lent his name to the United Soup kitchens of Israel that um serves over a million meals to elderly in soup kitchens and during the war delivering to their homes and Arthur takes a very active role in the in our soup kitchens program in the dinner program and also an upgrading bringing bringing us bringing Kabad into the 21st century the way it should be. A great visionary man of passion person that that that that that that puts his money where his mouth is but speaks very passionately about Kabad opened the doors to many to all of his friends for Kabad. Some doors he knocked on and some doors he barged open to bring in Kabad into for his friends and family. And everybody knows that if you want to give Mr. Luxenberger a gift, what's the gift going to be? Make sure a widow and orphan has fun, you want to you want you want to you want to do something for him for Pesak, send something special to uh to to the needy. And that is really the truth is the greatest gift you could give an affluent person. What are you going to buy an affluent person? Another chachka, a toy, a game. The greatest gift is you could bring them a good cause to support and you support a good cause in their honor. And it's something that is that that that the fact that it h that Arthur led the way. There's many people that there's many copycatterers that copy what he does and what he he's a great leader. That's what great leaders do. They encourage other people to do the same. And on that on that note, uh, Reb Zman, >> I want to just again, I did it once before because, you know, typically, you know, you fly under the radar and even though you're on television now, you know, you don't get >> right. I've said that repeatedly today. Everybody knows Kabad, but certainly not everybody knows Kabad. and and and and when you speak about Kabad, Reb Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Sal Z Salman's father, Reb Shalom Dman is is really the the the eagle uh you know behind that. But you know it's it's it's it's a family business. It's a family business. And uh I'll never forget uh during CO uh when there was no dinner uh because you couldn't be open. We had a dinner. We had a dinner. Reb Zman organized a uh Reb Zman organized a dinner uh remote dinner uh of a a virtual dinner and it was epic and he gets a lot of credit for the the back the back office operations that nobody sees the seamlessness of the organization and I want to thank him again for his leadership and his love. >> Thank you very much Arthur. Um I would just like to short share a short video for the audience. Um this is a this is a uh from two years ago's bar mitzvah when uh David came together with his son. It was something that was shown by one of our dinners where Arthur takes a very big lead in for everybody to enjoy. Um a few minute short uh 3minut video scenai go ahead run VTR1. Over the years, we got to know Kal Kabad through the many different programs that they run, through many different events and and meetings with them. It's been amazing to see what they have been able to accomplish. A few years ago, it was our second son, Jiren's bar mitzvah. We had done our first son's bar mitzvah in Israel and we had really thought that we wanted to do the bar mitzvah there but co created other plans and in the midst of co right after his bar mitzvah zman called one day and said why don't you come with your son to Israel for 36 hours and experience something that is very important for him at as he's at his bar mitzvah age we got to experience in those few hours in Israel was remarkable. The main part of the trip was Kabad puts on for anyone who's bar mitzvah age. many different people who have lost a parent don't have the opportunity to have a proper bar mitzvah. Kabad puts on a whole bar mitzvah for them. They do a whole ceremony at the hotel with dancing down and aliyah and Torah reading, singing and dancing, which then goes into a full bar mitzvah, massive hall, fully catered, five-star from start to finish. top-of-the-line food with a multi-course dinner, top entertainment, speakers, and you really felt like you were at a very special Sima. And each kid there, um, you could see it. You could see it in their faces from the time they were at the hotel till the dinner. Um, they really felt like that day was very special to them. And I'm sure that has an impact on them for many years to come. Me and my daughters were so excited. We wanted to take home, you know, the gift as well. It didn't feel like a handout. It felt luxurious and beautiful and the women were so excited to be getting this gift. Just the smiles and the warmth and the joy of seeing them get this gift um was really just unbelievable and priceless and there's just nothing like it. >> You're really giving people fulfilling their dreams. you're providing through the trips that they do and the retreats and the activities during Kam Moade and the fun events that they have to find a way for these families to get back to a life that they deserve and that they will hopefully prosper and have a wonderful life for many years to come. That's just one of the many many moving stories here. I wish we had time for all of them, Zman, but then we would have to do a tellathon of at least 24 hours. Maybe maybe next year. But we speaking of moving stories, we have another the guest here, another of the widows that we're meeting today. With us is Galia Eigaten Bari, right? Barzeli uh the widow of Dave Barzalai and the mother of Neo Gaia. Thank you for joining us. Tell us a little about about your story. >> Okay, so I'm 47 years old. I lost my dear husband two years ago in Zivan. By the way, next week it will be two years. H it was my entire world. We actually been together like 20 years. We raised our children together. We had a lot of difficulties but actually we created from all the from all of this we took the the good things together and we actually succeeded to be a great family loving family. He was a very significant uh character father for them. Uh and then uh one day long story short he passed away and uh we are here we are trying to be happy for him and for us to f fulfill all his uh wishes and uh to live in happy and to do good for this world and that's it. Well, tell us about now Kal Kabad, how they got involved and what they what has it meant for your family? What is it? >> So, I want to I want to say something. I thought my whole life that I'm a a person that helps that gives. But then I met you guys. Uh actually, you have the power to take um to take us and a lot of families and uh keep them keep them going. to live in respect. H everything I need they are helping me h with money with activities to our to our children and now all this uh veritzva party. Thank you. Thank you for having such a great people in our world. Um really it's priceless. >> Ga I actually had a was born and raised in America but I had a bum mitzvah at the hotel at the wall at the western wall. My family flew over and that was a formative experience of my life. May have been an a big factor in my eventually coming to Israel cuz I had a bomb mitzvah at the hotel myself. What was it like for you for Nevo your son and for yourself to have that experience >> at the hotel? >> Yes. Uh it was very moving and touching. It uh combines a lot of feelings because in the one hand you are very happy to see your boy reach it gets to a age of 13 uh Jerusalem the cottel itself it's very moving and emotional for us and the memory of the of my husband their father that probably he's here with us now when he was at the cotton too. They get it's certainly certainly your husband is here. >> So it's it was very very um >> how do we say it? Emotional. >> Yes. >> Very happy also. >> Yes. >> I mean speaking of happy I'm looking at this this this bar mitzvah. I'm actually I've said it. I'm I'm kind of jealous cuz I did not have a bar mitzvah like this. Not many kids and have unfortunately there are many kids in Israel that can't have maybe you know growing up in America you take these kind of celebrations for granted in Israel. No. What does it mean looking at that screen and knowing your son is in there and with with these other kids having this kind of bar mitzvah celebration and what will it mean for him? His connection with his his his Jewishness and his heritage having this kind of experience. Erh I think uh for us it means a lot because we are coming from um >> a secular family. So uh we we don't actually do all the things that you are doing here. >> But uh now >> it's very very uh give us strength. >> Yes. >> To know that we are not alone. that God is with us, that you are with us. And actually there you are teaching my my kid how to lac fill in >> right how to lay to fill in. >> Exactly. >> So for for me it's very very important because I have you to connect me a little bit more a little bit more to >> right to Judaism. >> Exactly. >> Okay. uh Gala >> I would like Gala >> in the name of all of the international family of Kalabad I'd like to thank you for letting us be part of your life um your from my experience the women here are extraordinary heroes that raised their family in such a special way with such a great responsibility and they take it and they triumph in such a special way so I'd like to thank you for allowing us to be part of part of your life and part of your experience and letting us to be part of your story. Your story is you is not your own private story but it's a story that you allow to share it with us for us to be part of this heroism. And I want to wish you much good life and much nas from your kid children and to watch them continue to grow and I assure you we will stand beside you the entire Kabad family beside you until your children are all married off and beyond. Thank you. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. And I really, really, really don't think I could sit here if it wasn't you. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you for joining us. It was our honor. Thank you. With this um uh again, we we we see the joy of the hall that's continuing. The party is continuing. And with this um uh the next one is gonna be my younger brother, my little brother. Whatever he does right, he learned he learned from me. Whatever he does wrong means he's not a good learner. This is my little brother of Fryim. >> I'm meeting the the entire DA. >> You're meeting not the entire Dma family. >> Not the entire family, >> but I work with two of my brothers and my father. The four of us work very closely together. And um I'd like to uh go ahead Kh. >> Well, well, first of all uh first of all, sit up with your back straight face. That's your camera. That's your camera. I missed this one here. No, no, >> I'm a good teacher. I teach my brother what to do. >> This one here. But I want to I again, this is the question I've asked your brother, your father. Uh what does it mean to you? Kabad is such an integral part of your family. I mean, it's almost like it's not a business, almost like a family business. What What does it mean for you, especially on a day like this when you come and we see this kind of a magnificent event? How are you just even feeling now emotionally? It's uh it's amazing to be here today. I've been getting messages now on my phone, those that are watching live from uh Boulder, Colorado, and friends from uh Boon Beach, Florida. We have friends in Boston, which are watching, friends in Brooklyn, and uh I see many donations came in as well since the uh live. You know, people inspired to help these orphans, especially many of these boys were helping them to go to camp in a few months. Um it's special uh to be part of the family history and involve the Just want to share. We just kept spending hours this morning by the hotel and being at the hotel dancing with these kids. Every child comes and um you know they come some of them with a mother, some of them with their grandmother or or a relative that brings them to the hotel and uh the way the kabat staff and the social workers meet them and with a smile and a hug and each gets their pier fill in and dancing with them to the kotel. It's a It was It was a beautiful morning. We're talking about 125 boys. Every boy coming, getting a new pair of tillin, opening up from the plastic, fresh, clean, and the first time they're putting on tillin. Right. I just want to say we just before you had a a lovely lady Galia a widow who came from a secular background and said you know without this program of of of for her for her son Nevo she doesn't know that she would be he would be having this experience is this is sort of the essence of what the reby's me mission was the the heav of bringing bringing Jews to their heritage >> and everyone we had there were two boys that I was speaking to from Bethyam They said they had never been to the hotel before. They're twin boys. They got their fill in right there and then. Their father, they're the only two in their family. Their father passed just a few years ago. And they said they were never at the hotel. They would have never came to the hotel besides for their bar mitzvah now. And then there was another two boys from that their fathers were killed in the meron. >> Yes. >> Story that happened many years ago. And these two boys from I'm sure they've been to the cult many times. And we're bringing kids from all around the country of all different types of backgrounds and them coming and celebrating the bar mitzvah together. And they're they're coming, they're proud, they're dancing, they get a beautiful pure fill in beautiful bag with their name on it. Everything just done in the in the most beautiful way. The the the the rides they got here, the lunch, the the dinner prepared. You're able to see the smile. You're able to see the excitement in these kids' eyes. >> And uh like many of the speakers were speaking, you know, it's very hard. These kids went through a lot of pain. They went through a lot of hardship and for them to be able to celebrate and be happy. >> You mentioned the international viewers. You mentioned there are people in Florida, in Colorado speaking. We here in Israel, we know what the last few years have been like and we know as as I said looking at the stories of some of these boys. You mentioned the Marone disaster and and Mount Marone. Um, but of course the war in Gaza, we have children, sons of war heroes who fell in Gaza, of those who fell in in some terror attacks in in Judea and Samaria. What I want to maybe say a word especially to those viewers that are watching out in the United States, what this kind of event, what this kind of program, the relevance it's had, it as we've said repeatedly, it's not new. It's not new, but there is something particular timely and relevant about un in a way unfortunately about the last few years. >> Definitely there's been a there's 180 widows out there since October 7th that left children under the age of 18 out of the soldiers that were killed from October 7th. 114 of those families are already being helped by Kabad. And something new that we started is that not only do these orphan boys besides the bar mitzah that we're doing for them, these boys are getting helped throughout the year. Many of these kids are going to music lessons, basketball lessons, sports, all different other activities and helping them experience their talents and tutoring in school is paying for. But we also started the same program for the mothers. A lot of the widows of October 7th, you can see a lot of them are much younger widows and they also need the time off. That's why we have a retreat for those widows. So the mothers that you're meeting here tonight and you see the way the mothers are standing, watching their kids dancing. Absolutely. They're so that you see that like they're crying, but they're happy to watch their kids uh being able to celebrate. You see the mothers pulling over their kids to the chief rabbi of Israel to get a blessing. You see the mothers like you know they don't have that father there that will push them in. It's their mother pushing them in to get the president to give them a handshake. And um but the October you see many children over here that you know their fathers they lost their fathers some of them even you know it's very sad but you seen the story some of them are from post-t trauma from October 7th kids that lost their father just a couple months ago of the from other causes and effects from October 7th >> right I'm sure you have plenty to say your brother off camera maybe what you have to say to him now on camera and uh on on this special day and what's it like to to do and see the fruits of this labor working together with your family and to see it come to fruition on a on a day like this. From our from my experience, the greatest the uh from our experience to speak for my brother and I, the greatest experience is that when donors thank us for involving them in this institution and the pride that the donors take in their partnership with it, something that is of extremely rewarding, we thank we thank so even though it's my responsibility to thank some uh unique gifts that came in in the last um uh hour, I'm associated directly for the fillain campaign. campaign um for today's film that was given out 125 present fill including Henry Gindi. I'd like to thank and Ira Conn and Andrew Weiss and um uh and Erica and David and Jacob and and Yakov and Brett and Daniel and Justin and Mark and Matthew and James etc. But all those people >> say what a tremendous what a tremendous response. >> It's really a tremendous response from all over. But the greatest gift is that when we when the people thank us. So really we're we serve like a shhatan. We're uh matchmakers to match the right people with the right project. Kabad as a whole as a whole many um a full range of projects. Some of it was being mentioned now and some of them throughout. And this is a great honor for both my brother and I to work together and on a generational level. So I'd like to thank my brother for joining us here on set. he wants to go dance. Um so thank you very much and um uh we look forward to continue growing and of course we wish everybody that should be audiotov that should be only good and y audiotov and even more good and even more good and even more good. Yes. Parting words of crime. Let's go for a few minutes to watch the singing and the dancing without um a little bit break to be able to watch just what's going on live today. Thank you. Um Khv will be back in a few minutes here in studio 8. Sh. Hey. on your finch. Another I don't your down and welcome back with us. And you know, we've talked about some of the stories of these these families and these these these children and let's >> I would like so first I would like to pause for station identification. you're uh joining here live the Kabad bar mitzvah um mega bar mitzvah for 125 orphans live from Jerusalem. I would like to thank ILV for broadcasting live. I would also like to thank CO live based in New York for feeding this broadcast to their viewers. And I would like to thank all those that are watching and for joining us here for the great joy. Each of these, when you say 125, it's 125 children, 125 individuals, but each of these children have a unique story and a unique life. And some of the stories that we captured from earlier bar mitzvah we have that we recorded um from those that came to visit and shares a story special story led by David Sha. David Sha joined um joined us by the bar mitzvah two years ago and we captured a wonderful story that him and together with his friends joined and I'd like to ask Sai if you could please begin and run VTR3 for us to see one of the great stories of a past bar mitzvah. I see a guy in a wheelchair and I see another guy's pushing him and they bump into me. I turn around, I see the guy in the wheelchair and he tells me, "I want to dance with my grandson." I take the grandfather, I push him right next to his grandson and the grandfather shining bright like you never saw in your life. He has a tear coming down his eye and the grandfather grabs the boy like this, puts him on his lap and he gives him a blessing and he starts crying. Week after the trip, Rabbi sends me a picture. He's the oldest of five brothers. That's what Kal Kabad is helping. These are the families that they're helping. They're helping people from broken families like we could never even imagine. And this was just one kid. That is just one of the many stories, moving stories, Alman, that we have so many. I wish we could put all of them, give them all time in front of the camera tonight. Of course, we are limited uh by time, but we do have yet another one of the uh mothers uh here with us, Renat Catz Wolf, uh one of the widows with us. Read, I thank you for joining us. I would like you to tell us a little about your story if as much as you can your personal story and then how you became involved with Kal Kabad. >> Okay. Uh well my my husband uh passed away before 11 and a half years >> and uh we lost him uh because he was sick and uh I just left be with twins. There were 1 years old and 3 months and my oldest was just four. >> Wow. >> Obviously, they didn't understand what's going on and they didn't understand about the ill of my husband and since then I'm uh living with my kids alone and um I'm raising them and uh through the help of the call uh they help me so much. >> How do they help you? I just I just there was a woman magic woman I call her uh named Leia. >> Mhm. >> Uh she's with me on the phone all the time when I need her. >> Mhm. and uh she assist me uh every time I need uh to to get help uh for the kids with private lessons uh in math in English and uh through the the help of their k my my kids got the opportunity they have that they can use the potential to be good person good uh uh and uh be be big people, >> right? I don't know that our foreign viewers understand how much those extra lessons subjects like math or English are are quite expensive here and out of the range for many ordinary Israelis and how significant that is. It is very significant because I couldn't afford it by myself and through the help they could get the help they needed till today and today my son is having the buritzvah and uh he's still going to go tomorrow to his lesson >> right >> through this help >> right if he's not too tired from all the celebrating let's talk about the bar mitzvah yeah specifically >> why it's so emotional you know, today it's I couldn't stop crying in the cartel cuz it was so uh >> I missed my husband so much today especially. >> Well, maybe he was there in spirit. >> I know he's there. I have to tell you something very special. When we finish all the ceremony near the cartel and we get out, he just stood for a few seconds and he spoke with his sister and suddenly a white butterfly just came above his head, turned around and just flew away. I knew he's here. I knew he's here. I know he's here. I know he's with us. >> Right. Right. What does it mean for like connecting your son with his his Jewish roots and his >> It's very important to me. I know it was very important to his father, >> right? And uh we're not a religion family, but we understand and we believe and we uh keep the holidays and in our ways and it's very it's very important to me that he will have all the way that he supposed to do his burita. >> Right. Again, >> I would like to uh the name of the whole Kabad family. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your life. Thank you. >> Because that permission for us to for you that you share what's your was your personal hardships with us and let us share makes our life so meaningful our community. It's what makes us one. today is when the Torah said I just want to share we're right now live um Rabbi Amar the former chief rabbi of Rushim is now um speaking to the Jewish people um the to the children and he's blessing the children and soon he's going to do a special blessing together and um he's asking the children to stand up if you can make it a little bit louder in my ear that I could try to translate what the what the what what what to give an internal draw on your head when you take upon yourself the yoke of Torah because you should have a good life with the together with the passion of Torah because Torah really gives eternal life and that is each of every one of you is connected to God directly. And today you're all living powerfully here today. May you marry great joy and so be thy will. And we say amen. Please children rise to accept upon oursel the yoke of the fear of God. Please all children. And he's asking all the bar mitzvah boys to rise to stand up and he's going to say a prayer together with the boys. Very emotional part here. O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is one. Elohim. >> The Lord is our God. The Lord is our God. Adonai. Elohim. Adonai. The Lord was king. The Lord is king and the Lord will be king forever and ever. And and and everybody is repeating after him stanza by stanza. Oh, please Lord help us. Oh Lord give us success please. Oh please Lord give us success please God return us to you >> and we will return renew our days as the past. Little risky doing this on the fly. May be your will. We turn to our father in heaven, which obviously has a lot of meaning here tonight that we should merit the uh to receive the Torah that that we'll be celebrating in six days on this Friday to love and may the almighty God put fear of God before you and in merit of this auspicious time that we're standing here. God should protect all the Jewish people in the land of Israel and everywhere in the diaspora and the world beyond. May Almighty God protect all the uh soldiers that are and return them each home complete without any wounds, without any pain. And those that were wounded should have a speedy recovery. And may God protect those and bring us all the final redemption with the building of the beta mikdash. Amen. Amen. >> May be split. Amen. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. >> What a special moment. >> Very emotional. >> What a what and and also I'm I'm have to say I'm impressed. We have people coming here uh Israelis from secular backgrounds. So I wanted to hear ask you if you had a moment to talk to the chief rabbi what would you want to tell him now? >> If I would have what >> a moment to talk to the chief rabbi of Jerusalem what would you tell him now? >> To pray for us all. to pray for us all every every Jew all over the the world wherever they are whatever they are doing to be united to be together >> to be united and that is such an again the rebi sought the big 10 >> that's the theme of today of roivan when the Jewish people came to said the verse says that in the singular that they one not usually it's I'm not a Hebrew linguist but that's what I was told when I was a child in Hebrew school that is singular is plural >> and rashi says it's singular like one person with one heart one of the things that we see by an event like today is how we are all one how we are all united although maybe we look different we may vote different We may view life differently. That's what makes life fun. That's what gives life color. Our differences. If we were all the same, it would be boring. >> Yeah. >> But we see the unity, the oneness. Um you have children from all different backgrounds, from all different situations, from uh um medical situations, other situations, but in in essence, we're one. And if you don't if we ever question that, we can always ask the anti-semites. They hate us all equally. They don't care if how how much share Shabbat you are and how much Twin you put on. They hate us all the time. >> I was going to say if only if only Israel could be as united >> all the time as it is today in that room. >> Yeah. >> Uh that would be something special. >> It's correct. And what you said >> it would be easier for everybody. it would be easier and that Msiah will bring >> and until then we have to savor times like today that we come together as one um want to enjoy it's a lot more fun to be joy to be together in joyous occasions thank you so much >> thank you for the opportunity to speak with you and to tell >> so much >> thank you >> thank you so much >> thank you so much all the best >> and again it's a moving story again I wish we had talked for all of the stories. But maybe Z, let's take a look now at another one of the the stories that we have. >> Um another another story could be um Cory Harowitz that also joined us. Um that is VTR number two, Cai and this um we will go for um uh Cai go ahead and roll VTR2. Again I would like to thank CO live for broadcasting. I would like to thank the ILV for broadcasting here live from the Jerus Jerusalem international convention center the everlasting the everlasting capital of Jewish people hakesh Ibanovicon ladies and gentlemen enjoy and then there was one kid that stands up right by the beimma was very familiar I knew his face from somewhere but I couldn't pinpoint where it was from and he stands up there and then I see over the makita I see a woman which was his mother. I recognized her, too. And I'm trying to figure out where I know her from. And it ended up being that this was Ari Fold's son and his wife. Ari Fold's father happened to have been murdered by a terrorist. Uh within that that year, Ari's son stands up next to the Beimma. He's the youngest boy in the family. I showed him the spot and we rolled to the next para and and he lains and he did a perfect job and after the bar mitzvah I told him I'm like you did that was a perfect aliyah and then he turns to me he goes yeah my my father taught me first six aliyah my grandfather taught me the seven I knew I was there for a specific season and just being there, it changed my perspective on everything, my perspective on life. And I knew that I wasn't there just for a bar mitzvah or for 120 bar mitzvah. It was for a way larger picture and to understand what Kola Kabad does for each individual child. They go above and beyond. And I just couldn't be more proud to be part of such an organization, such an amazing such an amazing place. >> All right. Well, we're uh I want to say let's uh again another moving story. Uh now what is happening right now? We had Euro Vision the other night. Uh Israel did pretty good. Came in second place. It looks like we have let's go right now live >> another another um each of we have the many guests, the many rabbis that come in and each one present a question where the boys are given a little answer toy, a little answer machine where they get to give the answer and it's a competition that runs throughout the night. where there's regular trivia questions, Jewish history, um the history of Israel, the land of Israel, the people of Israel. And if you give me a little bit sound, I could try to translate the question. This is in which days of the week do we go up to the Torah? Do we do we when do they take out the Torah and call up to the Torah? Number one, two, or three? And I didn't get to see the choices. It was too f fast. But the answer is number two three times. Now technically obviously on a on a regular week it's Monday, Thursday and Shabbat. But even though today we are continuing to the next question is called Jerusalem the holy city. What are the other three holy cities? Is it akim and aku? Is it and I can't hear the last one or is it and what are the four holy cities? Jerusalem. We know that's a given. What are the other three? And I'll just give you the answer. The right answer is the city of our forefathers where they're buried that tomorrow we celebrate yum 59 years of the of of Jew of Jewish the Jew Jewish community returning back from 1929 to 1967 the Jews were not there and then Taria Tiberius and then of course the holy city of now the next question the next question how My name is Question number seven. The computer is counting all the points to count each to see who is the smartest of the bar mitzvah boys and who knows the answer and who could give an answer question faster. And obviously there's commandments. No, not yet. I think it's I hope our viewers are were playing along with that uh with that with that quiz. >> Because they're not in the room, they could do a quickly quick Google search, get the right answer, right? Misfit at the hotel on a on a Thursday. >> Uh one of the days, of course, where you can go up to the Torah. Let's go. Now, we have one more story. One more. Let's let's let's just let's wait a few minutes as we welcome they are welcome for sure Rabbi okay um Rabbi Beer Shalita um that um came to honor these children obviously it's very unusual for a baritzel boy to have the um the chief rabbis, me multiple kasset members, of course, the president and such a great crowd. Rabbi Beer um is the Ashkenazi chief rabbi from Ottoman times. There's always two chief rabbis serving both the Ashkanazi one that serves the Ashkanazi community and the sari community and of course every cities and of course he's wishing the children um the boys of the baritzvah boy the uh from the depth of my heart I would like to wish each and every one of you and say mazaltov may you merit with god's help to to elevate higher and higher may almighty god fulfill All your heart's desired for good. Honorable. He is right now wishing a new chief rabbi to the city of Tel Aviv that was just appointed that was also present. He's recogniz recognizing some of the uh chief rabbis of cities that is present um that that came for this great honor. Obviously, not each and everyone will be given the honor to speak, but as a chief rabbi present, he is me he's mentioning some of the uh some of the u honorables that are there. From the depth of my heart, I'd like to bless um those those that work every single day each of day each of the day of the year to serve these young these children. Rabbi Shalom Dman that in his merit that this event is taking is taking place. I'd like to tell you about Rabbi Shalom Dman. He is a true messenger of the Reb. And what is the wisdom of a real and what is a real he knows what would bring the rebba satisfaction and the necessity of a is just as a sidebar has to have his own rationale to be able to deliver the message on their own or the accomplish it on their own. He's referring he's he went to speak about um where somebody commented about the Reb's great memory and he said that the Reb's great memory is perhaps the Reb has a great memory but the memory is when a child a parent remembers the details of their children and every parent remembers a detail of their children and this is something that as a of the Reb of Rabbi Sha representing and being appointed by the Reb. So he has and learned from the Rebba how to care for each and every single one. And may almighty God bless you to continue this great how to bring great joy and nas to the Reb because obviously everyone knows that everybody knows that if we fulfill what the Reb wants us to fulfill, we'll be doing the right thing. And then he's also recognizing some of the donors that are also present that contribute including Ali Alaw Schlassber um some of the local donors that contribute um this day and and every day and I think the important those all those that help all year and do all the projects including this project. I came here I would like to tell you children a few words. This joy is your joy. But I would like to tell you what is the joy of your mitzvah. The says Vladimir. He says that there was a a gentleman from a small village, small village, a simple guy, Vladimir. and he and he had was very successful. He wanted to do have a great opportunity to go to Moscow. He knew his horse and wagon won't make it. So they told him that you should go to the nearby great city in Nrainsk. And he saw a big train to be able to buy to take a train to the to the to he asked him which class of service do you want for the train from to uh to uh to uh to Moscow. So they said you have a choice. You could take first class, second class or third class. And he gave each he gave each of the advantages of each of the ones a first, second or third. Vladimir was a simple person. So he bought a first he says for me I'll pay for a first class ticket and he puts a first class ticket into his pocket. But he was never on a train. He's a villager, so he doesn't know what to do. So then he sees a group of youngsters that are secretly quietly going in, going in quietly unto the train as soon as it arrived. And these are uh I forgot the term for it, but these are people that don't buy tickets and they hide in the uh in the uh in this in the storage Yeah. in the storage compartments and they hide whatways the stowaways was the word I was looking for and he sees the stowaways sneak in so he followed along the snow stowaways although he had in his pocket a first class ticket he followed in the stowaways to hide it's a famous story that's a the mitzvah age story for every Jewish for every Jewish boy is probably a white So they obviously they catch him and um the stoways they say the next stop we're going to throw you off. They say you can't just steal on. And he says what do you mean I bought a ticket? He pulls out his ticket and he shows them that he bought a first class ticket. So they say what do you why are you hiding in the storeway if you have a first class ticket? You should should be in the first class. Boys, baritzvah boys, remember that you have first class tickets and your contin your continuity of life should be on the first class level, top level. We are right now right before that almighty God chose us from all the uh other nations. We're not just another nation. We are something unique, something special. We have to be one nation. And that is what brings light. So I'd like to express to you, ladies and gentlemen. Ladies, ladies and gentlemen, if we could just lower the chief rabbi a little bit as the rabbi continues. I would just like to share um uh we are six days before the giving of the Torah and it was me you mentioned earlier the concept of tadaka we only have a few minutes left um it's something that I been discussing lately we're facing with a lot of youngsters in the United States that unfortunately young Jewish children that have not been educated possibly and don't realize that they have first class tickets to take the ride and it's necessary to teach so we have sitting over here on the table three sadded pushkas and these are simple things simple stock pushka that I mentioned earlier um different shapes and sizes what many of us were raised with and it is to give a small coin every single day and even young children that are able to give um should give every single day and this is something that we could train even young children as the age of two or three to be able to give staka every day a young child that does something practical ical every single day to support the land of Israel to help the land of Israel will never end up where we see many Jewish children supporting today. So it's something that we must start as a young age training children to give sudaka to be able to do it every single day even as a young age. And of course Kabad also lives in the 21st century where we have many people do not carry. So children must use fiat um old school pushka. They could go to our website khab.org/pushka and we'll send out a free stock of pushka. And for those people that don't usually carry change, we actually have an app on the app store. >> I think a lot of young people are not carrying change. >> Most young people are not at home. >> They don't even know what change is, >> right? They don't know what change is. It used to be where of course you could download the Kabad Pushka app. Um just go to your play store and search Stucka Stuck Pushka and you could give every single day. Um uh you give a little bit every single day. And of course, it has the same sound and experience of the coin dropping into the pushka. >> Oh, that's great. >> You get the full sound and the full experience. >> Children need the old school, make sure you go to the bank, you can pick up a roll of coins. Adults and teenagers, especially your teenagers, talk to your teen teenagers. They could drive down. And the point over here is not just the amount, but the frequency. every single day. Um uh we have a little uh street counter to make sure that every single weekday a person gives saddaka and this is something practical that anyone could do every single day when we when we leave our charity privately to we don't share with our children what we do and we don't don't so they don't have that education that's necessary so especially even from before barbbitza from the age of two or three we should be educating our children to uh be giving stuck up and we should be doing it oursel trust me there's no better Anyway, with that, I would like to um uh >> Well, I think we're coming now to the end of >> one more story, one more VTR. >> I don't know that we have we don't have Sorry, we don't have time for >> No problem. So, we have another few minutes. >> We have another few minutes. Um I just want to say first of all, let me just say, you know, Zman, I've said several times I um was had a bumitz for at the hotel that meant so much to me. Uh I lost my f I lost my father at a young age. I was 13 years old and he passed away on actually era of Roshashana uh 1973. Uh I want to thank you for allowing me to join with you on this experience. It has been so moving hearing these women hearing these these these mothers speak about their experience uh hearing some of the donors and seeing the the emote how much it is for them. I mean there is a saying in Torah that when you give you you give to enrich yourself not to enrich others but to enrich yourself and how much we saw that really demonstrated certainly speaking to some of the benefactors here. How does so how does it feel for you joining such a you yourself that you lost a father at a young age. How does it feel for you personally to take part in a bar mitzvah like this? >> Emotional. I mean it really really does. Uh I was fortunate my father that was a thing that touched me because fortunately my father was at my bar mitzvah. He passed a few months after that. But hearing >> what would you tell these children for them on this day? >> I I would say to them what we heard from some of their mothers that they're here. They're doing their fathers proud. They're doing their father's proud. Whether their father passed away from an illness, whether he was killed in a terror attack, whether he died a hero fighting terrorists, what they're doing today is doing their father just like the rabbi said. You know, they are not stowaways. They are in first class. They're leading the train now. This is the day. This is the what do we say on Aba Mitzvah? This is the day you become a man. And this is their first step towards it. The first step to taking over the train. and Kabad is equipping them, giving them the necessary spiritual equipment to lead that train, the Jewish people, the Jewish history into the future. >> Khal Ben Davidid, I'm sure sure that you are doing your father proud today, taking part in this extraordinary bar mitzvah. And may the father, our father in heaven, and the fathers of each of these young boys that saw take great pride and beseech the almighty god and to beseech our father in heaven to see the great kindness that the Jewish people around the world. This bar mitzvah, the the the 125 children are the children that are enjoying the bar mitzvah. But it's a partnership of thousands of people around the world. tens of thousands of people that contribute to this cause and to many other causes like this and may our father in heaven look down and see the great kindness and the unity that we have on this day roesh >> like what a way just say to start the month of Sivan and to start the week of shuis >> absolutely and this Friday is going to be shot where we're going to receive the Torah and together with receiving the Torah we're create recreating that bond between us and God that that that that brisk that covenant between us and God. Everyone should make sure to bring your children to the synagogue on on Friday to listen to the ten commandments um this upcoming Friday for shuis. But remember what unites us all together as one. Jews here in the diaspora is our connection that we do together. Um the connection when we help each other um our connection all together as one. And with that, I'd like to give station identification. I'd like to give station identification. We are here together. ILV, the Kabad Mitzvah that is also being broadcast on CO live. And we would like to thank each and every one of you for joining us. I'd like to thank Khalib. I would like to thank all of our donors and all our contributors. And thank you so much. And Khaliv, I'll give you the last word. >> Just thanks to the viewers. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. And have a great day. and nana. Everyone join us together.