On Sunday, Moshav Netiv HaAsara held a bar and bat mitzvah ceremony for its teens who are coming of age this year in a grand ceremony in Tel Aviv, despite the war displacing the residents to several places around the country. Among the celebrating teens was Koren Tasa whose father and brother were both killed in the deadly Hamas terror attack on October 7.
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"When they are together, seeing their deep connection is simply moving. Despite all that we've been through, they are our future generation. We tried to preserve the tradition of the bar mitzvah celebrations for the families and, with a lot of effort, we succeeded. This is part of our victory," said Orit Lev of Netiv HaAsara, moments before the bar mitzvah boys and bat mitzvah girls from the moshav took to the stage in an emotional ceremony held in their honor in Tel Aviv.
Some 20 members of the moshav, located very close to the northern side of the Gaza Strip, were killed in the surprise terror attack on October 7. The terrorists infiltrated the moshav from the air, using paragliders, and went on a killing spree. The members of the moshav fought them fiercely and valiantly.
Since that Saturday, the moshav members have been displaced to various locations and are still dispersed in Tel Aviv, Gan Yavne, Ashkelon, and the surrounding areas. The moshav residents still do not know when they will return home, as the close distance between Netiv HaAsara and the Gaza Strip border does not allow it.
"Since the outbreak of the war, we have tried to preserve the tradition of the bar mitzvah celebrations, and it has not been easy at all. It's a year filled with activities, plans, meaningful tasks and contributing to the community," Lev said.
"We managed more or less to preserve the tradition, but it wasn't easy because everyone is scattered and still adapting to the new conditions. They also don't study together in the same schools because they are dispersed across the country. But with a lot of effort, we succeeded, and this is part of our victory," she added.
On Sunday, the moshav held a festive event in Tel Aviv, to celebrate the bar mitzvah boys and the bat mitzvah girls, with their families. One of the teens celebrating his bar mitzvah was the young Koren Tasa, whose father was murdered in Netiv HaAsara when he heroically shielded his children from harm and jumped on a grenade. His brother, Or Tasa, was murdered on Zikim Beach.
The event was made possible thanks to the heart-warming gesture of the Belgian-Jewish Michael Kitai and his wife, with the assistance of Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terrorism.
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The boys and girls celebrating their bar mitzvah with Michael Kitai, Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin and Keren Hayesod's Danny Kaplan
(Photo: Yuval Chen)
"The bar and bat mitzvah event for the children of Netiv HaAsara is another testament to the support and mutual commitment of Keren Hayesod donors to the residents of the State of Israel. We will continue our important role in raising funds for the State of Israel and its people," said Edna Weinstock-Gabay, CEO and director general of Keren Hayesod.
Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, chair of the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terrorism, added: "Very few events have moved me since the October 7 tragedy like the bar and bat mitzvah event for the children of Netiv HaAsara. It's a strong and amazing community, and its mutual support system is a testament to human resilience. I thank the donors for the warm embrace of these children. It will undoubtedly serve as an anchor in their personal and communal rehabilitation process."