Ami Perlman, Temple Administrator of Or Hadash Helps Yaron with the Pointer

Yaron Levi (name has been changed to protect privacy) celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on June 22, 2004. The ceremony, which took place at Or Hadash, was an unusual one. Yaron suffers from severe retardation and several physical handicaps. His condition is so bad that he cannot even sit in a wheelchair, and he is confined to his bed. He was brought to the Synagogue in his bed, and the bed was placed in the Sanctuary.

The ceremony was covered by the press, and portions of it were broadcast over the national media.

The emotional ceremony, which was conducted by Rabbi Dr. Edgar Nof opened with the singing of Jewish, Israeli and traditional songs. Next, Rabbi Nof invited the family to come up to the Bima to take the Torah scroll from the Holy Ark and to walk around the Sanctuary with it, while pushing Bar along in his special bed. Since Yaron couldn’t recite the Torah Blessings, the entire congregation recited them for him.

After the reading from the Torah, Rabbi Nof blessed Bar and presented him with his Bar Mitzvah Certificate and many gifts, which brought a huge smile to Yaron's face.

The most emotional part of the ceremony came when Yaron's younger sister read a poem that she wrote to her brother, and his mother spoke to him and the assembled guests about his birth, finding out about the seriousness of his problems, and of raising him for the last 13 years. Hardly any of the guests could keep from shedding a tear or two.

Next came the artistic part of the ceremony, which included songs by a young blind girl named Dalia, who studied at the “Hod” School many years ago, singing and music by a talented trio of two young girls and a young man from Kiryat Yam, a Haifa suburb, dancing and instrument playing by the children of the “Hod” School and recorder music, played by children from the Fourth Grade of the Einstein School.

The ceremony closed with a letter of greetings from Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, which was read by “Hod” School Principal, Rachel Arbel.

Or Hadash provided several personal gifts such as a stereo radio/CD player, a tallit, books, toys, jewelry, a photo album, a video tape of the ceremony, clothing and bus transportation for all of the students, who need special transport, and teachers of the Hod School. A large Kiddush/lunch was held for 150 people. This ceremony, which required an extensive additional budget, was sponsored through the generosity of Rabbi Herman Blumberg and friends from Temple Shir Tikva of Wayland, MA. Congregation Or Hadash wishes to express its appreciation to Rabbi Blumberg and the congregants of Temple Shir Tikva for their very generous help with this ceremony.

Tamuz 5764 - July 2004