JERUSALEM—Naor Shalev Ben-Ezra, the 13-year-old boy who was stabbed and nearly killed by two Arab teenagers while riding his bicycle in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Ze’ev two months ago, gathered with family and friends at the Kotel (Western Wall) today and was called to the Torah in celebration of his bar mitzvah.

Among the guests was David Dalfon, a paramedic with the Magen Dovid Adom national emergency rescue service, who was the first responder at the scene and is credited with saving the boy’s life.

Following the attack, the critically wounded Ben-Ezra was rushed to the hospital, where doctors performed life-saving surgery, after which he spent a week in an induced coma connected to a respirator.

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Having survived the ordeal, the bar mitzvah “was a lot of fun; the whole family was together, everyone was dancing,” Ben-Ezra told Israel’s Channel 2 News at the celebration. “It’s nice when there are a lot of photographs taken of you and you are in the news, and all of the Jewish people see you,” he said, sounding like a 13-year-old.

“But it is not so nice when people ask you about the terror attack you were in. It is not nice to recall something sad when you are having fun,” said Ben-Ezra, sounding like someone older than his years.

Ben-Ezra was attacked by Ahmed Mansara, 13 and his cousin, Hassan Mansara, 15. The older teen was shot and killed by police. The younger assailant was hit by a car while attempting to flee; he was subsequently arrested and is facing charges.

Naor, left, and David Dalfon, a paramedic with the Magen Dovid Adom national emergency rescue service, who was the first responder at the scene and is credited with saving the boy’s life.
Naor, left, and David Dalfon, a paramedic with the Magen Dovid Adom national emergency rescue service, who was the first responder at the scene and is credited with saving the boy’s life.
Wrapping tefillin before being called to the Torah.
Wrapping tefillin before being called to the Torah.