Margot and Warren Teens APAR TMEN TS A Wheelchair Bar Mitzvah A Conservative synagogue in Israel helps six disabled teens become Jewish adults. Rehovot, Israel NECHEMIAH MEYERS Israel Correspondent ne often sees a mother cry with joy when her son has his bar mitzvah, but rarely have people seen so tearful a bar- mitzvah mother as Shoshana, whose son Shlomo recently was called to the Torah at Rehovot's Masorti (Conservative) Synagogue. Because Shlomo, an undersized boy with twist- ed limbs, has a severe case of cerebral palsy; Shoshana never expected that he would take part in such a ceremony. When he did, her happiness knew no bounds. He wasn't alone that day. Entering Judaic adulthood with him were five other youngsters. Like Shlomo, they attend the Herzfeld School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, located in Holon, near Tel Aviv. Herzfeld is one of 21 institutions for physically and/or mentally handicapped chil- dren in Israel that have students pre- pared by rabbis and other Masorti educators to become b'nai mitzvah. Once a week the kids learn about the traditional modes of Jewish behavior, as well as become acquaint- ed with ritual objects like Torah scrolls, kippot, tallitot, kiddush cups and tefillin. When they're ready, the students take part in a bar mitzvah ceremony; albeit a truncated one. Thirty to 40 percent of the chil- dren in this program are relatively new immigrants from Russia or Ethiopia, and having a bar mitzvah not only helps them to defy their physical handicaps, but also to assert that they are now Israelis. Yigor, for example, arrived here with his parents from Moscow just three years ago. He's confined to a wheel- chair, unable to speak and with no more than limited use of his hands. But Yigor managed to express himself during the ceremony thanks to symbols on a communication board. Just before the Torah portion of the week was 0 One bat mitzvah was so inspired that she now plays music for cancer patients. read, he pointed to one arrow, causing the appropriate blessing to be heard from a tape recording on his wheel- chair. Then, when the chanting was completed, he pointed to another arrow, causing the blessing traditionally made after the reading of the Torah to be heard. Yigor couldn't actually say anything himself, but he roared like a lion when the ceremony concluded. Ofra, another recent celebrant, was born in Sudan when her parents were on the way here from Ethiopia. She now lives in Jerusalem at the Alyn Woldenberg Family Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Physically Handicapped Children. She breathes through a thick plastic tube embedded in her neck at one end and her back at the other. She moves about in an electrically-propelled wheelchair. So though it wasn't easy for Ofra, she learned all the prayers. Speaking at her bat mitzvah, Ofra mentioned that she now understands the Jewish concept of one individual being responsible for another. Because of that, she now goes to play music for cancer patients. Much the same message came from Rabbi Yosef Kleiner, who presided over the b'nai mitzvah ceremony. Quoting from the Torah, he noted that even the priests in the Temple had limitations as to what they could do. "That is true for the rest of us as well," he said. "But whatever our lim- itations, there is much we can all con- tribute to improving the world in which we live." r1 We're Celebrating 20 Years of Providing Quality Assisted Living for Older Adults We offer: • Spacious, furnished apartments with private bedrooms and full kitchens • Supportive services and Personal Care assistance provided by trained geriatric care staff and social workers • Kosher-style meals, seven days per week • Jewish Holiday Celebrations & Social/Recreational Activities If someone you know desires a shared, family-like setting, please call Jan Bayer at 248-559-1500 ewish Family Service .filler , C7 110litan Detroit h ex tile Magic ALL ABOUT CRUISES INCORPORATED AMERICA'S AWARD WINNING CRUISE AGENCY 2 for 1 Crilige SPECIALS...20-70% ON 1999 CRUISES! All Destinations • All Dates •Senior Discounts* SOUTH AMERICA • EUROPE • ALASKA • PANAMA CANAL • CARIBBEAN eaee 149 (Or ALL yoga bawd 'weds! Hottest wor4otit iN 1-800-343-8970 http://www.allaboutcruises.com metro Detroit! CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS First wor Featuring: • Intensity Aerobics • Military Heat Boot Camp Training • Guts & Butts • Yoga taught by Salle Rosen • Tai Chi a. AL IRISH'S iNIINVTY FitMagg for Me (Jody "(bid & gohe Located in the Orchard Mall • 6331 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield • (248) 538-3200 Detroit Jewish News 7/9 1999 109