A Bar Mitzvah/school boy from Crouch End has smashed his charitable fundraising target by completing a Bar-Athlon – a Bar Mitzvah-inspired Triathlonand has raised more than £1600 for World Jewish Relief and Jewish Care. Jacob Shulman-Miller decided to swim, walk and cycle as part of his Bar Mitzvah celebrations Over the last six weeks the self-confessed ‘couch-potato’ has swam 1600m in the pool, walked 13km from school to home and cycled 40km in his local gym.
As with all sporting challenges there were a few adventures and setbacks along the way including a detour on the way back from school which meant Jacob and his group of friends clocking up 18km in total.
Jacob says, “Now that it’s complete I’m relieved and proud of myself. Volunteering is important and I feel good about making a contribution.
“As my Bar Mitzvah approached I decided that as well as celebrating this amazing milestone, I also wanted to make a difference. Following a very moving trip to Moldova with my family last year, I saw first-hand how important World Jewish Relief’s work is for Jewish communities across Eastern Europe. I became a World Jewish Relief Young Advocate so I could tell people about their amazing work.
“This year I’m taking part in Jewish Care’s Bnei Mitzvah programme and I’m really enjoying my time volunteering with older people in Jewish Care homes and learning about becoming an active member of the community.
“It’s been amazing to have been supported by so many friends and family in raising vital money for these two great charities”.
Sarah and Larry, Jacob’s parents say, “We are so proud of Jacob’s achievements. It’s very impressive given he’s not a naturally keen exerciser but he’s been taking on the challenges over a period of time, breaking it down into achievable chunks. He very much believes in the causes he’s fundraising for, following our family visit to Moldova with World Jewish Relief and his volunteering work with Jewish Care. We’ve always done quite an amount of volunteering and fundraising with Jacob and his older brother Noah, so we’re pleased it’s important to Jacob too. We want him to have a sense of tikkun olam and making a contribution to the world.”
Simon Morris, Jewish Care’s Chief Executive commented, ““A Bnei Mitzvah is an important time in a young Jewish person’s life, it is the time they commit to their own personal Jewish and a commitment to our community. Through this event Jacob has demonstrated his commitment to our community. He has not only signed up to participate in our Bnei Mitzvah programme but has set himself his own challenge and smashed his own personal target. A huge thank you and mazel tov to Jacob”.
Paul Anticoni, World Jewish Relief’s Chief Executive says, “Jacob has made a huge effort to complete his Bar-Athlon, raising an extraordinary amount for charity. It is wonderful when a young person get involved in charitable work and we’re delighted that going to see our work in Moldova inspired Jacob to raise money. A big thank you to his family and friends who supported him and mazal tov on his Bar Mitzvah.”
Find out more about how young people of Bar/Bat Mitzvah age can get involved with Jewish Care visit www.jewishcare.org/how-you-can-help-us/volunteer-with-us and World Jewish Relief