Scotland Rabbi Reverses the Trend, Engages Youth

Rabbi Mendel Jacobs is Scotland’s only Scottish-born Rabbi and spiritual leader of the Synagogue in the Park in Glasgow. While most members of the synagogue are older, Rabbi Jacobs had a dream of building a Minyan of young men over Bar Mitzvah who would regularly attend and take an active role in the Shul’s affairs.

Typically, most Jewish boys opt out of Jewish Communal life after their Bar Mitzvah. Over the past ten years Rabbi Jacobs has worked tirelessly against this trend, despite limited facilities and with nearby Synagogues closing and amalgamating left and right.

Rabbi Mendel’s dream has not only become a reality, but has doubled! Over 20 boys aged 13 and over get up at 6:30am to attend Shul services once a week, thereafter enjoying a full breakfast and then traveling to school, work or college.

These boys are learning not only about prayer, but about continued responsibility for and within the Jewish community, which is so very important for the community’s future.

This program is very unique in Scotland, and Mendel’s is the only Synagogue to have this program on a weekly basis.

After a full year of the program’s remarkable success, Rabbi Mendel treated the boys to a year-end treat: a go-karting trip.

Rabbi Jacobs told CrownHeights.info that he hopes to continue and grow this program in the years to come.

One Comment

  • big fan

    Rabbi Mendel is the best. He has a way of finding and connecting the pintele yid! Keep up the good work together with your dedicated rebbetzin.