Sonia, 12, from Odessa did not plan to celebrate her bat mitzvah in the Jewish community of Chisinau, but the war did not leave her many choices.
In the days when they are repaired, Sonia lives with her grandmother Laura in Odessa, after being orphaned by both her parents.
Her mother died seven years ago of an illness, and a year ago her father also fell ill and died.
Sonia Bat Mitzvah Celebrations, Photo: Iosif Snegovik
At the beginning of the war, Sonia and her grandmother, along with Sonia's little dog, hid in a shelter in Odessa until they were allowed to flee to the border.
After a journey of more than 20 hours, including a six-hour wait at the border crossing, Sonia arrived in Moldova and was absorbed into the Jewish community of Chisinau, which has been providing "first aid" to refugees since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
When Rabbi Pinchas Salzman, rabbi of Moldova, learned that young Sonia was celebrating her 12th birthday, he decided to organize a bat mitzvah celebration for her by surprise.
On Friday, in the midst of preparations to sit down with hundreds of refugees, community volunteers surprised Sonia with a proper bat mitzvah celebration, with music, balloons and gifts.
"They managed to surprise me"
"I already thought that because of the war I would not be celebrating a bat mitzvah. But the good people here in Chisinau managed to surprise me. It's so happy," says Sonia, excited by the gesture.
"It's just a shame Dad and Mom can't be with me that day."
"In the midst of the horrors of war and escape from hell, we do everything to give the many refugees who come to us moments of happiness and sanity," says Rabbi Pinchas Salzman, who manages the refugee absorption activities in the Jewish community of Kishinev.
"Sonia's story touched us all dearly, and we hope we were able to give her some moments of joy and a smile."
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