A Bar Mitzvah That United 3,000 People

Atunda Village, Nigeria – 2024

In 2024, Yossi Uzan, the 13-year-old son of Rabbi Israel Uzan and Mrs. Haya Uzan, chose to

celebrate his Bar Mitzvah with an act of responsibility and generosity.

Rather than keeping the gifts he received for this important milestone, Yossi decided to dedicate

10% of his Bar Mitzvah funds to support humanitarian initiatives in Nigeria. Among the projects he

personally selected was the drilling of a borehole to provide clean water for Atunda Village.

Together with his family, he traveled to the village to witness the drilling process and later returned

for the official inauguration of the water distribution system. His decision transformed a personal

religious celebration into a powerful humanitarian message.

The project now provides sustainable access to clean drinking water for approximately 1,850

people.

The inauguration became an extraordinary interfaith moment: nearly 3,000 Muslim residents

gathered to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of a Jewish boy, sharing music, dancing, and joy. Large

quantities of food and essential supplies were distributed to families in need, reinforcing unity and

mutual respect between communities.

This initiative was carried out under the leadership of Rabbi Israel Uzan, Chief Rabbi of Nigeria and

Director of the ChabadAid Foundation.

The total budget for the project was approximately €11,400.

■ Watch the project video here: