But when they finally arrived in Israel, they did not dream they would be able to celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs at the Western Wall. Most of them do not speak Hebrew and this is the first time they have ever been to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The language barrier did not prevent the Bar Mitzvah boys and all those attending the bar mitzvah ceremony held yesterday at the Western Wall from being all excited and crying for joy. They kissed the stones of the Western Wall, prayed, and sang songs in Hebrew and Aramaic while wrapped in Israeli flags as a circle of drummers sang and danced with them. "We are happy that Ethiopian immigrants receive the proper place they deserve here at the Western Wall and celebrate their Bar Mitzvah with tefillin, dancing and singing," said Boaz Yosefi, principal of the AMIT school in Hatzor Haglilit.

Source: Ethiopian News February 26, 2018 16:07 UTC