Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed to his office on Monday, a group of 13 year old boys celebrating their Bar Mitvah, and spoke of his regard for the work of Chabad Shluchim and the legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Orphans of Israel’s war heroes, or survivors who have lost a parent to terror, the boys celebrated their Bar Mitzvah at an event sponsored by Colel Chabad. One of them,Yonatan Amzelag, was named for Bibi’s brother who was killed in the Entebbe raid. The Prime Minister recalled that he was at Amzelag’s brit.

“This Bar Mitzvah is very emotional. I hope that the day will remain carved in your memory. Life comes with great joys, but also with grief. And I know that each of you has experienced the grief of loss. Remember that the Jewish People embraces you.

Colel Chabad made a gift of tefillin to each of the bar mitzvah boys, personally handed to them by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also accepted a gift of matzah from Chabad, for his own Seder.