Bar Mitzvah Jacob Feldman Radlett

**This Week’s Bar Mitzvah Jacob Feldman** !https://files.teamup.com/14723328/attachment/01M0CV1H1EPZ9MW89MAMVFYP95/preview/image.png?hash=61f520170ff2e2dfb5f93753a0acc282e6148ea9368fa9950988fcc9748ff566 We are incredibly proud to introduce our Bar Mitzvah boy, Jacob, who is celebrating this very special milestone with his family and friends. Jacob is a pupil at St Albans School, where he has built a life full of friends, fun and memories. We are especially delighted that many of his school friends are here today to celebrate this important occasion with him, and we warmly welcome them all to our synagogue and to Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah. Outside of school, Jacob is happiest when he is doing something he loves – preferably something involving a football! His passion for football extends to pretty much everything connected with it: watching it, playing it, talking about it and, of course, keeping up with all the latest news and results. When he isn’t following football, you will probably find him watching Formula 1, gaming, or with his head in a book. Jacob is a much-loved big brother to Ariella, and the two of them share a particularly close and special bond. Jacob is and always has been a wonderful and protective big brother who is always there for her. Then there is Barnaby, the family dog, who Jacob absolutely adores – although his love for Barnaby has its limits - licking is a definite no no! To Kate and Nick, one of the greatest joys of being Jacob’s parents has been watching the little boy they knew grow into the wonderful young man he is becoming. They could not be prouder of him, particularly of the gentleman he is growing into. Jacob is warm, respectful, thoughtful and incredibly easy-going, with a natural kindness that makes him a pleasure to be around. He is also remarkably helpful and always willing to lend a hand, often without being asked. He has a genuine curiosity about the world around him and is both interested in and interesting to talk to, always keen to learn, ask questions and understand more about the people and world around him. Above all, Kate and Nick feel incredibly lucky to call him their son and are so excited to see where life takes him. Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah is particularly meaningful because he has chosen to be twinned through the Yad Vashem project, with Yaakov Slowik, a Jewish boy born in Warsaw in 1932 who was tragically murdered during the Holocaust at just nine years old. The contrast between Jacob’s life today – filled with family, school, football, friends, books and dreams for the future – and the life that Yaakov should have had is incredibly poignant. Through this twinning, Jacob is helping to ensure that Yaakov’s name and memory live on. While we cannot know what Yaakov might have become, we can remember that he was a real little boy with a life, a family and a future that should have been. It is a privilege for Jacob to carry his name forward and, in doing so, give him a place in our community once again. We would also like to say a huge thank you to Laurence, Hannah and Daniel, who have guided, encouraged and supported Jacob throughout his Bar Mitzvah preparation. Their patience, knowledge and encouragement have helped him reach this important moment, and we are extremely grateful for everything they have done. We couldn’t be prouder of Jacob as he takes this next step in his Jewish journey. We hope he continues to approach life with the same curiosity, humour, enthusiasm and determination that make him so wonderfully Jacob. Mazel tov, Jacob – we love you very much and couldn’t be prouder of you.