While most bar mitzvahs involve reading and being inspired by the Torah, William Solomons went a step further – by creating something lasting for his community.
His bar mitzvah parsha was about the design and construction of the Mishkan (the holy tabernacle) that the Israelites built as a sanctuary in their desert wanderings, and the skilled craftsman, Bezalel, who created it out of gold, silver and finely carved wood.
Taught by his father Cliff and supported by Brentwood and Shenfield Reform’s Rabbi David Hulbert, William decided to turn a creative idea into a meaningful act of dedication.
Inspired to craft his own ritual object utilising the ability and knowledge he had at his disposal, William turned himself into a 21st century Bezalel and fashioned a brand new yad (Torah pointer) using his 3D printer.
“I like working with my 3D printer and I thought I’d give it a go,” William said. “Rabbi David said it would be a good thing to do, but it wasn’t easy. My bar mitzvah was getting closer, and my first three attempts at printing a yad all failed. Happily, though, with just a couple of days to spare, I managed to get it right.”
William’s mum, Andrea, said it was “a very touching moment, really amazing to see him read using his own yad. He was so keen to do it as he recently got a new printer. It wasn’t easy either. It’s quite a difficult job because it needed to be carefully strengthened to make it sturdy enough to do its job.”
William spent several days printing and improving the design of the yad, each time adding more material to it or instructing the programme to print more slowly, to ensure the yad would be strong enough to do its job for years to come.
It is not only William’s synagogue that is benefiting from his 3D printing abilities. He previously helped to raise £100 for his school, the Anglo European School in Ingatestone, by printing and selling a range of small items and gadgets including fidgets, which are “very popular” with boys his age, and accessories to attach to keyrings. He even once created a bust of one of his friends.
William’s interest in technology goes back several years, having built his first computer using spare parts at the age of 10.
As well as science, his favourite subject at school is languages. He is fluent in German, having learnt it from his Austrian-born mum and is now quickly picking up Hebrew too, with the help of his dad.
Rabbi David, thrilled with the use of the modern technology, praised William for having “left a positive legacy for some time to come” through donating his yad to the congregation, which now sits permanently in the shul’s ark.
