Israel Matzav: Gaza Muslim has Bar Mitzva

This sounds like a story that could yet have a happy ending. A former Gaza Muslim celebrated his Bar Mitzva on Tuesday. 

"I lived for years as a Muslim. Today I stand as a proud Jewish youth," remarked the bar mitzvah boy, referred to as D., at the event. "I won't forget all the days and nights that I knew I was a Jew but lived as a Muslim in Gaza."

The boy lived with his Jewish mother L. and Arab father A. in Gaza with no connection to Judaism until 4 years ago, reports Yisrael Hayom. He comments "I'm realizing a dream thanks to the Yad L'achim organization that brought me to the most moving day in my life."

...

A month later she conceived her first son. In the third month of pregnancy, A. revealed to her that he was an Arab from Gaza, that his parents were poor, and that his family of 20 lived in two rooms, sleeping on the floor.

Towards the end of the pregnancy A. began threatening, beating, and emotionally abusing his Jewish wife. He was caught by Shin Bet (internal security agency) and deported to Gaza in the 9th month of the pregnancy.

From Gaza A. called L. every few hours, telling her to come to him. 40 days after the pregnancy, L. made the fateful decision to travel to Gaza with her newborn infant.

"He promised me that I would be a queen in his parents' home," L. relates. "I went into the refugee camp, I was in shock over the neglect and abandonment. Seven brothers and sisters living in a 2 room house."

"After a week his mother started abusing me while he was out of the house. He took the [Israeli National Insurance Institute] child stipend and single-parent stipend from me every month, and wasted it on his entertainment," comments L. The couple had two more children over the passing years.

As the situation in the house became more violent and dangerous, L. eventually fled and managed to escape Gaza. She and her children have been cared for by Yad L'achim, a group that has returned them to Judaism amid emotional and financial support.

When the organization heard that she was having trouble arranging a bar mitzvah for her son, they gathered donations and enabled the event to take place in Be'er Sheva this week.

Read the whole thing. For those of you in Israel, please watch your daughters carefully. Stories like this - including the part about her not realizing that he was an Arab - are far more common than you think.