A gaggle of Israeli teenagers celebrated their Bar Mitzvahs at the Western Wall this week in an event organized by Chabad-Lubavitch centers in Israel and Italy.

Coordinated by Rabbis Yitzchok Hazan, director of Chabad of Rome; Avrohom Hazan, director of Chabad of the Sha’arei Aliyah neighborhood in the central Israel city of Lod; and Eliezer Hazan of Neve Nof, the celebration brought the 22 boys – all either new immigrants or from low-income incomes – and their family members to Jerusalem for a ceremony at the synagogue abutting Judaism’s holiest site and a fun-filled day that included a tour of the Knesset with legislator Ze’ev Elkin.

At the Western Wall, each boy received his own pair of prayer boxes known as tefillin and a prayer shawl known as a tallit from members of the Jewish community in Rome. Western Wall Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz also blessed the boys after they were called up for a public Torah reading. The day concluded with a festive meal where the rabbis and one of the boys gave speeches.

Member of Knesset Ze’ev Elkin greeted and blessed a group of Israeli Bar Mitzvah boys during their tour of the Knesset coordinated by Rabbis Yitzchok Hazan, director of Chabad of Rome; Avrohom Hazan, director of Chabad of the Sha’arei Aliyah neighborhood in the central Israel city of Lod; and Eliezer Hazan of Neve Nof.
Member of Knesset Ze’ev Elkin greeted and blessed a group of Israeli Bar Mitzvah boys during their tour of the Knesset coordinated by Rabbis Yitzchok Hazan, director of Chabad of Rome; Avrohom Hazan, director of Chabad of the Sha’arei Aliyah neighborhood in the central Israel city of Lod; and Eliezer Hazan of Neve Nof.

At the Western Wall, each boy received his own pair of prayer boxes known as tefillin and a prayer shawl known as a tallit from members of the Jewish community in Rome.
At the Western Wall, each boy received his own pair of prayer boxes known as tefillin and a prayer shawl known as a tallit from members of the Jewish community in Rome.

The 22 boys recited their prayers before being called to the Torah.
The 22 boys recited their prayers before being called to the Torah.

The boys, all either new immigrants or from low-income incomes, shared their happiness with their family members at the synagogue abutting Judaism’s holiest site.
The boys, all either new immigrants or from low-income incomes, shared their happiness with their family members at the synagogue abutting Judaism’s holiest site.

Western Wall Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz also blessed the boys after they were called up for a public Torah reading.
Western Wall Chief Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz also blessed the boys after they were called up for a public Torah reading.

One of the boys, Ben Shira, represented the group in an address at a celebratory dinner Monday night.
One of the boys, Ben Shira, represented the group in an address at a celebratory dinner Monday night.

Families celebrate the momentous occasion.
Families celebrate the momentous occasion.