A Bar Mitzvah That Will Introduce Ilay to His Jewish Roots.

A Bar Mitzvah That Starts It All — A Mother’s Wish to Introduce Her Son to His Jewish Roots

To anyone who understands the deep love of a mother,

My name is Roni. I’m a single mother raising two beautiful children in Jerusalem, Israel, while living with a permanent disability that limits my ability to work. Despite these challenges, I’m also a student, striving to gain an education so I can one day support my children with dignity. Being a single mother with a disability means I currently can’t work.

For 11 years, I lived with my children’s father, who is not Jewish. Four years ago, I left the relationship, carrying with me the weight of many debts he left behind. Since then, I’ve been in a constant struggle to provide for my children and recover financially. I never had the opportunity to save for Ilay’s Bar Mitzvah.

Ilay’s father has chosen not to participate in any part of the Bar Mitzvah — not in the celebration, and not in the expenses. I carry this entire responsibility alone, with love in my heart, but very limited resources.

My son Ilay is turning 13 this June — a milestone every Jewish child looks forward to. But Ilay didn’t grow up with Torah or a Jewish education. He wasn’t raised with a strong connection to his roots.

That’s exactly why this Bar Mitzvah is so important to me.

As a mother who was raised in a Chabad family, I feel a deep responsibility to reconnect my children to their Jewish identity — to awaken the Jewish soul within them.

It has always been my dream to take Ilay to 770 Eastern Parkway, the Rebbe’s shul, and give him the merit of having his aliyah l’Torah there. Not just to mark his Bar Mitzvah, but to plant a seed of spiritual connection — one that will grow with him for the rest of his life.

Ilay has never flown. He’s never left Israel. He has never met our extended family — all of whom live in New York. This trip would also be the first time he sees his relatives, and the first time we all reunite as a family.

Ilay is a gentle, humble, and sweet soul. He never asks for anything — and yet lately, he’s been quietly watching as his classmates celebrate their Bar Mitzvahs in fancy halls with expensive parties.

I want him to feel that he belongs.

I want him to know that his Bar Mitzvah matters just as much — that he, too, deserves a moment to feel joy, pride, and connection.

That’s why I’m planning two parts to this celebration:

A small but heartfelt Bar Mitzvah party here in Israel, with his classmates and local family and friends — so he doesn’t feel different or left out.

And then, if we’re blessed, a trip to New York for his aliyah l’Torah at 770 and a warm family gathering there.

We are asking for $10,000 to make both of these dreams a reality. This amount will cover:

We will stay with family in Brooklyn to save on accommodation. No hotels, no luxuries — just the essentials, and the heart of the journey: connection.

Because I live in Israel, my brother — a U.S. resident — will receive the funds on my behalf and transfer them to me directly. I personally created and manage this campaign, ensuring every dollar goes directly to this sacred mission.

This Bar Mitzvah isn’t about extravagance.

It’s about roots, soul, and a mother’s hope to pass down the light she once received.

If you can help — with a donation, a share, or even a kind word —

you’ll be part of a mitzvah with eternal meaning.

With all my heart,

Roni K.

This fundraiser is a personal family campaign, rooted in love, tradition, and faith. It is not affiliated with any political, military, or conflict-related cause.