Dozens of Israeli military orphans were due to celebrate their barmitzvahs and batmitzvahs at a single event on Mount Herzl yesterday.

The IDF Widows and Orphans Organisation was due to hold ceremonies for 45 youngsters, followed by a festive meal attended by President Reuven Rivlin and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.

"This isn't just a day but a very significant year, and the absence of a very meaningful person for them is felt even more," said the event organiser Shlomi Nahumson. "So we try to show we support them, that we have their back and we are there to celebrate with them."

He said that in Israel barmitzvahs and batmitzvahs have become an occasion for parents and children to undertake bonding trips, making the year particularly hard. For this reason all of the youngsters will be eligible for a diaspora-funded trip to the US next summer.

While the event was laid on for IDF orphans - which in Israel is understood to mean children who have lost one parent, not necessarily both - an American boy whose father died serving in Afghanistan asked to join them, and flew to Israel on Tuesday.

"There is a real sense of family," Mr Nahumson said.