Under the golden sun, surrounded by the ancient walls of the Kotel (Western Wall), a 13-year-old boy stands tall, draped in a blue and white tallit and donning his new Tifilin (phylacteries), his voice trembling as he recites blessings over the Torah. Around him are caregivers, rabbis, and friends, individuals who have stood with him through pain, healing, and now, joy.
This boy is Avi*. He grew up knowing more about fear than freedom, more about chaos than care. But today, as he becomes a Bar Mitzvah, he looks out at the crowd and says something that silences all:
“Becoming a Bar Mitzvah means so much to me, not just personally, but for my family – and the Jewish family at large. May Hashem (G-d) continue to shine His light and blessings on me and all of Klal Yisroel (the People of Israel).”
A Home for Healing
Avi is one of many children living at the EMUNAH Neve Landy Boys Home, a safe haven for 68 boys who have experienced the unimaginable: war, abuse, neglect, and abandonment. The Neve Landy Home is one of five children’s residential homes maintained by EMUNAH Israel. These residential homes aren’t just places to sleep. They are places to begin again, to heal and grow. Here, children find stability. They receive emotional support, psychological care, education, and — perhaps most profoundly — love. It’s in this environment of safety that their Jewish journey begins.
Rekindling the Spark of Jewish Identity
For many of these children, Jewish identity was either absent, distorted, or overshadowed by trauma. But at EMUNAH Neve Landy and our other Residential Homes, they learn that Judaism isn’t only about tradition — it’s about belonging. It’s about knowing that you are never truly alone and that G-d is ever present, shining His light and love on you!
Through mentorship and gentle guidance, they begin to learn blessings, practice mitzvot (ritual commandments), and connect to their heritage. Some light Shabbat candles for the first time. Others don tefillin and Tzizit (ritual fringes/garment) with tears in their eyes. Many hear words of Torah that speak directly to their hearts — words of dignity, purpose, and hope.
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah: A New Chapter
The celebration of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a milestone in any Jewish life. But for these children, it’s something more: it’s a declaration that they matter. That they are part of something eternal. That despite all they’ve endured, they are worthy of joy, of holiness, and of being celebrated.
Each ceremony is uniquely moving. The children chant their Torah portions with courage. Their eyes light up at the applause. And when they dance, it’s not just celebration — it’s liberation.
A Shared Journey
These moments don’t just transform the children — they uplift everyone around them. Staff members cry as they watch a child who once wouldn’t speak now pray with confidence and joy. Volunteers feel the privilege of witnessing a soul come back to life. And EMUNAH supporters around the world become part of a bigger story — the story of Jewish resilience and renewal.
Planting Seeds of Hope
The journey doesn’t end with the Bar Mitzvah. These children carry that moment forward — as a source of strength, as a touchstone of faith, and as a reminder that they belong. They are our sons and daughters, our future leaders, our collective responsibility.
At EMUNAH Neve Landy and the other EMUNAH Residential Homes, our children are not just surviving — they are growing, healing, and thriving. And when they step up to the bimah and say, “Today I become a Bar Mitzvah,” they are also saying: “Today, I reclaim my voice. I reclaim my story. I reclaim my place in the Jewish people.”
(*The name has been changed and is a composite story.)
