Reserve Soldier Celebrates First Bar Mitzvah During Active Duty in Israel

N, a 36-year-old reservist in the Arbel Battalion of the Ori Brigade, recently celebrated his first-ever bar mitzvah during active military service. Born in Ukraine and immigrating to Israel at age eight, N had never marked this Jewish rite of passage despite his strong connection to the Jewish people. When the October 2023 conflict erupted, N volunteered for active reserve duty. During the operation, he confided to his platoon that he had never gone to the Torah or worn tefillin. His comrades organized a proper bar mitzvah ceremony for him near the end of their deployment, complete with a tallit, tefillin, and participation from children of a nearby community who came to celebrate.

Just days before the event, N officially changed his foreign name to a Hebrew one at the Interior Ministry. On the day of the ceremony, he also received a commendation from his platoon commander. Reflecting on the experience, N said, "I felt I experienced something every Jew should. The battalion is like family to me. People understood the significance, and now they call me by my Hebrew name. This is an event I will carry with me for life."