The Elstree barmitzvah boy is a Hasmonean pupil and avid Liverpool FC and England cricket team supporter. He regularly raises funds for causes including hospital kosher meals, children with leukaemia and Magen David Adom and recently raised £500 with Hasmonean friends for disadvantaged families in Israel
What was special about your simchah?
I had two barmitzvah services within a month of each other because I wanted my two grandmas, one in Glasgow and the other in Netanya, to be able to hear my barmitzvah. Unfortunately, neither is able to travel and so I leined at the Young Israel Synagogue in Netanya, and a few weeks later at the Shul in the Park in Glasgow. Luckily this is held at Burnfield, my 97-year-old grandmother Lily’s care home, and despite her age, she is a regular congregant.
Tell us about the ceremony
I was proud to do my first barmitzvah in Israel, which is what I had always wanted. I had a wonderful day in shul and followed it a couple of days later with a visit to the Kotel in Jerusalem to be called up there. So it could even be said that I had three barmitzvahs. The Glasgow service was very emotional, as we had always hoped that my grandma would be well enough to be there. She enjoyed it very much and called out “Amen” in all the right places.
Tell us about the celebration
We had wonderful Friday-night and Shabbat-lunch meals for family and friends in Netanya and again, on a smaller scale, for Glasgow friends and family, catered by the multi-talented Rabbi and Rebbetzen Jacobs. The downside was two sets of speeches — and two divrei Torah. My marathon barmitzvah ended with another party at our Elstree home for local and school friends. No speeches this time, just lots of dancing.
