Today we went to a very moving B'nai Mitzvah for two boys and two girls from a Special Needs School in Kfar Saba. The B'nai Mitzvah children were so proud of wearing a tallit, and their accomplishments of reciting prayers and reading some verses of Torah. The families proudly participated as well, and Ariel even helped one of the boys put on T'fillin for the first time. Our students all joined in with the celebration by throwing candy and dancing around the synagogue with all of the children and families. I was able to arrange for us to be part of this moving life cycle event because my cousin is one of the teachers who trains special needs B'nai Mitzvah children in Israel.
After the service we went to a park for a picnic pizza lunch and then we drove to Akron's sister city- Kiryat Ekron. We visited Limudiah, an after school educational program for Ethiopian children grades 1-4. This successful program receives financial support from the Akron Jewish community Federation. We were warmly welcomed to the school by teachers, administrators and students. Our children had a chance to learn about the program and the challenges of the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. Then the children went into classrooms and interacted with the young Israeli Ethiopian children.
Our next stop was back in Tel Aviv. We went to Kikar Rabin and saw where Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated. Before leaving Kikar Rabin the students were given a list of questions and were asked to ask Israeli in the plaza area where we were to help them answer the questions. The students had fun seeing how friendly and helpful the Israelis were. Dinner at the hotel was very good and then the kids had "free time" to hang around and play with friends until lights out.
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