A Celebration of Belonging: WIZO Marks a Milestone for 36 Young People

For 36 young people from Netanya and the surrounding area, this year’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebration became far more than a ceremony. It was a day of belonging, Jewish identity, community, and memories that will remain with them for years to come.

The event, initiated by the WIZO Netanya branch, brought together 18 girls and 18 boys from 22 schools across the city and surrounding communities. The number 18 carries special significance in Jewish tradition, representing chai, or life, making the equal participation especially meaningful.

Now in its seventh year, the initiative reflects WIZO Netanya’s commitment to ensuring that children from across the community can mark this important transition with dignity, joy, and support.

The day began at the synagogue beside the WIZO branch with a traditional ceremony led by Rabbi Meir Glitzenstein, who has accompanied the project since its inception. The boys put on tefillin, the Torah was read, and the young participants marked their entry into a new stage of responsibility.

From there, the celebrants walked together in a colorful procession accompanied by the sound of the shofar and festive balloons, arriving at the WIZO branch for the community celebration.

This year’s event included twins, cousins, siblings celebrating together, and families returning to the WIZO celebration for a second time, creating a powerful sense of continuity.

The young participants also thanked WIZO Netanya and its volunteers for the care and thought invested in every detail.

“This event was deeply meaningful to us,” they wrote together. “We are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this special moment and take part in an experience we will remember for many years.”

The celebration was made possible by WIZO volunteers, community partners, donors, and WIZO groups from Israel and abroad, who provided gifts, performances, and support for the young people and their families.

Yet the heart of the day was not the gifts or entertainment. It was the shared belief that no child should reach such a meaningful milestone without a community surrounding them.

Through the dedication of WIZO Netanya, 36 young people celebrated their entry into adolescence with pride, identity, and the knowledge that they belong to something larger than themselves.

The event was a celebration of growing up and accepting responsibility, but above all, it was a celebration of community.