The Bar Mitzvah that bridged the generations
Every Bar and Bat Mitzvah is special but few can match the legacy of faith of the Stroud family at Finchley Reform Synagogue.
Bar Mitzvah boy Joseph Stroud is the great, great, great-grandson of Rabbi Dr Joseph Strauss, Bradford Synagogue’s first Rabbi. He’d already made a significant contribution to the community by creating a beautiful plaque celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Bradford Jewish community, which now adorns the sanctuary wall alongside the original commemorating his ancestor.
As Joseph studied for his big day FRS member David Jacobs, the former Director for Synagogue Partnership for the Movement for Reform Judaism, recognised that part of young Jospeh’s portion contained the words: “Ma Norah Hamakom Hazeh, Eyn Zeh Kee Im Beit Elohim Veze Shaar Hashamyim” (“How full of awe is this place! – This is none other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven” – Genesis 28:17)
David remembered that these very words were the ones inscribed beneath the central Magen David at the top of the front wall of the Bradford Synagogue, likely chosen by Rabbi Strauss himself all those years ago.
He said: “Knowing Joseph’s great-grandfather, Roy Stroud, his son Richard, and now his son James and his son Joseph, gave us all an additional sense of the connections through the generations. It created a deep understanding of the value of relationships within our family of communities and their members.”
The family were taken aback by the amazing coincidence. They said: “The discovery by David made a truly special moment even better. It has had an impact on all of us and made it an occasion we as a family will never forget.”
The Bar Mitzvah they said became a celebration not just of Joseph’s coming of age, but of the enduring connections between the Jewish communities in Bradford and Finchley. It was a testament to the contributions of each generation, building and sustaining Jewish life across the country, and a reminder of the importance of each individual’s contribution to Progressive Jewish life.
- Second picture courtesy of http://bradfordjewish.org.uk/
