In the heart of Boston, a young boy’s coming-of-age celebration has transcended borders, turning a personal milestone into a powerful act of giving. Amichai Kluger, a 12-year-old who recently relocated from Zichron Yaakov, Israel, to Boston, decided to mark his bar mitzvah not with the grand festivities often associated with the milestone but by helping those in need back home in Israel.

The Kluger family arrived in Boston last year, expecting a temporary stay to ride out what they thought would be a short war and while Amichai’s father completed a work assignment. A year later, as Amichai prepared for his bar mitzvah, the family found themselves still in Boston but deeply connected to their roots in Israel. Inspired by the kindness they received from the Boston community, Amichai and his family saw his bar mitzvah as an opportunity to give back.

The Klugers chose to partner with American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri’s Bar Mitzvah Twinning Project, an initiative that helps underprivileged boys in Israel celebrate their bar mitzvahs with dignity. The program pairs donors with families in need, providing tefillin, new clothing, and other essentials for modest celebrations. The initiative not only provides financial relief but also brings a sense of joy and dignity to families struggling to celebrate their sons’ milestones and strengthens bonds between families across the U.S., Canada, and Israel.

To maximize his impact, Amichai launched a fundraiser, crafting and selling keychains with the help of friends and family, including his b’nai mitzvah friends from Solomon Schechter Day School in Boston, who spent hours helping assemble the keychains. His project quickly gained momentum, with more than 200 keychains sold, involving people from all over in his mission of kindness.

“Becoming a bar mitzvah is about more than a party,” Amichai said. “It’s about becoming an active participant in the community, learning responsibility, and finding ways to give back.”

Amichai’s efforts will directly touch the lives of numerous families. The funds raised will be divided to support two meaningful causes: a portion will sponsor tefillin for a bar mitzvah boy from an underprivileged family whose celebration coincides with Amichai’s. The remaining funds will help co-sponsor a communal bar mitzvah event for an evacuee community, including a bar mitzvah boy whose family member is currently being held hostage in Gaza.

Amichai’s mother shared, “Through this project, I hope Amichai learns that being a leader means inspiring others to do good as well. His keychain fundraiser is a beautiful microcosm of how we, as a nation, can come together to support one another. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to mark his becoming a bar mitzvah than by bringing Am Yisrael together to make a genuine difference.”

She explained that their decision to work with American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri was rooted in their trust in the organization’s ability to channel support directly to families in need. “This project allowed us to make a meaningful connection to Israel while involving our Boston community.”

The significance of Amichai’s name, meaning “my people live,” resonates deeply. Both of his parents come from families of Holocaust survivors, and the name symbolizes resilience and continuity. Amid the challenges following Oct. 7, Amichai’s actions remind us that the strength of Am Yisrael lies in its unity and compassion.

By choosing to celebrate his bar mitzvah through acts of kindness, Amichai has bridged two communities, inspiring others to follow his lead. His story is a testament to the enduring power of generosity and the shared responsibility to uplift those in need.

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