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On my last visit to Israel I had two very interesting encounters that I would like to share with you. I was so incredibly impressed with my visit to Orr Shalom, that I believe that Congregation Or Zarua and specifically bar and bat mitzvah children should consider adopting Orr Shalom as a mitzvah project. Orr Shalom is an organization dedicated to caring for children and teenagers who have been removed from their homes of origin because of neglect. These children and teenagers are placed in "foster" families with the goal of providing them with a natural family environment and readying for the army, which is a first step towards integrating them into Israeli society. There are different types of homes or living situations available to take in these troubled children and teenagers. Where they are placed depends both on their age and emotional disposition. The setting that I visited was a family home that included a father, a mother and three children. This family hosted twelve children ranging in age from eight to fourteen. The father works outside the home while the mother takes care of the home and children. The family is supported by a psychologist, teachers and students from the University and two young women from Sherut Leumi, Israel's National Service program. The natural parents are also supported by these individuals whose ultimate goal is of returning the children to their homes of origin. "Foster" family homes are found across the nation in cities, towns and communities from Haifa to Eilat. On the day that I visited the family, I was privileged to see the children arriving home after school. Standing beside a beautifully set table, the mother welcomed each and every child with a hug and a kiss and asked how their day went. The love in the room was palpable and I couldn't tell which of the children were naturally born. The food was delicious and plentiful. After the snack every child cleaned dishes and quietly went in his or her own direction: to after school programs, to do homework or to take an afternoon nap. It was heartwarming to see such well behaved children, and at the same time heartbreaking to realize that they receive only the most basic necessities from the government-nothing more. I propose that we adopt these children for their bar or bat mitzvah by providing them with some extras for a celebration of this lifecycle event. We can help give them the experience of what it's like to have more than the basic necessities for the first time in their young lives.
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