Barmitzvah boy’s ‘virtual simcha wall’ logs missed celebrations
Jordan Pearlman, 12, launched the initiative on social media 'as a reminder that we can still all come together'.
A boy whose barmitzvah is in doubt amidst an extended coronavirus lockdown has come up with the idea of a ‘virtual simcha wall’ on Instagram by way of logging Jewish community members’ missed celebrations.
Jordan Pearlman, 12, who is due to celebrate his bar mitzvah at his synagogue in Hampstead Garden Suburb in August, launched the virtual simcha wall on social media “as a reminder that we can still all come together”.
The youngster said: “Many of us have been unable to arrange a bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, wedding, bris, birthday, anniversary or baby naming ceremony, so I decided to unite us and create a virtual simcha wall on Instagram.
“It will feature a photograph of yourself or something that is important to you. I would like this wall to be filled with wonderful photos and a reminder that in these strange times we can still all come together.
Pearlman said he wanted to use the wall to raise money for “three wonderful chosen charities” including GIFT, medical response teams at Hatzola, and children’s charity Camp Simcha, which supports Jewish families affected by serious childhood illness.
Among the first to post was Hasmonean pupil Rina Serfaty, who decided to do a five-mile charity run for GIFT to mark her special day in a meaningful way.
“These difficult times have taught us how lucky many of us are to have what we need to stay safe, showing us how important it is to extend a hand to help those who don’t have what we may often take for granted,” she said.
Another was Mia Samuels, a student at Immanuel College, who baked challah for the elderly in her community. “I was inspired to step up,” she said. “I realised that however hard I was finding lockdown, others were finding it much harder.”
Together with others she baked 18 challahs the first week, then expanded it to include friends and family when she saw how grateful people were. Her mother, Naomi said: “The whole thing has been such a brilliant experience for Mia.”
GIFT’s Rabbi Sandor Milun said: “Amidst so many diversions, it is inspiring to see such amazing children who, as they are becoming adults, choose to ‘Give It Forward Today’. They are a shining example to our youth to step up and make a difference.”
__
If you have celebrated a Simcha since lockdown or about to, or it has been affected, and wish to be included on the wall please forward your photo to:
virtualsimchawall@gmail.com and include your name, function type (e.g. Barmitzvah, wedding or other), date and Instagram name.
If you wish and are able to donate please go to www.jgift.org/virtualsimchawall.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
