Twenty-eight children from across Israel who lost a parent killed while serving in the country's security forces participated in a three-week delegation to North America as part of the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization's annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.The journey began earlier this month in Chicago, where the children spent a weekend with host families before traveling to Camp Chi in Wisconsin for nearly a week of activities with American kids.They then continued to New York City, where they visited Times Square and saw The Lion King on Broadway, before heading to New Jersey.
For many, it was their first visit to the United States.FREED HOSTAGE ROM BRASLAVSKI DETAILS ABUSE, STARVATION DURING 738 DAYS IN GAZA CAPTIVITYThe IDF Widows & Orphans Organization's annual Bar/Bat Mitzvah program delegation in NYC at Times Square.(Yiftach Moran)"Everything is planned very carefully.
The Lion King, for instance, is more than a Broadway show for them.It’s the story of an orphan who is able to honor his father’s memory and move forward because of the support of his friends.
Nothing about this trip is accidental.It is deliberately designed to give them as powerful and meaningful an experience as possible," Daniel Elbaum, executive director of the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization, told Fox News Digital.With the United States home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel, the trip gave the children an opportunity to meet people from diverse backgrounds and levels of religious observance while, for many, experiencing international travel independently for the first time — which Elbaum said reflects their entry into the covenant with the Jewish people in a tangible and meaningful way.Although the trip was not designed as an initiative to combat antisemitism, Elbaum said fostering a strong Jewish identity, pride in Israel and solidarity with its people are among the most important ways to help American Jews confront the world's oldest hatred.Mem...