On the eve of Yom Kippur, while most of us were preparing for the holiest day of the year in the comfort of our synagogues and homes, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman stood inside Ofek Prison—bringing light to one of the darkest places in Israel.

That night, fifteen young inmates celebrated their bar mitzvahs. It was a scene that words can hardly capture—tears streaming down faces, voices trembling with emotion as these young men, many for the first time, wrapped tefillin around their arms and recited the Shema.

Rabbi Grossman personally funded each set of tefillin and tallit, determined that every young man would walk away not only with a gift, but with dignity and a renewed sense of belonging. Together with the Israel Prison Service, he organized a heartfelt celebration that included the recitation of Selichot, heartfelt dancing, and the pure joy of rediscovering connection to G-d.

In his remarks, Rabbi Grossman reminded everyone present, “There is no such thing as a bad child—only a child who is suffering. Had these boys come to Migdal Ohr in time, they would never have ended up in prison.”

These are the moments that define Migdal Ohr’s mission: reaching the forgotten and the lost—and reminding them that they are never beyond hope. Through your support, thousands of children and teens at risk are given the love, structure, and foundation to change the trajectory of their lives and realize their full potential.

May this Yom Kippur inspire us all to open our hearts a little wider and to see the spark of holiness in every Jew.