Mitzvah project launched in honour of ‘special, special’ Jake Marlowe

What began and continued as an initiative for the hostages – until Monday this week with the return of Ram Gvili – also extended to packing candles for moments of grief in the global Jewish community, including the attacks at Bondi Beach and Heaton Park and the death of JFS pupil Charlotte Niddam in a Swiss bar fire at a new year’s eve party.

“None of us knew each other before October 7. It was really natural the way we came together,” said Jo Woolfe, whose home acted as a regular base for the women to meet. “We wanted to keep ourselves busy amid real pain, and we’ve become lifelong friends.”

“It’s a real sisterhood, we feel so blessed,” Devorah Miller, another member of the group, added.

Jakeymproject members preparing for the group of Israeli girls and mothers (Photo: Daniel ben-David)[Missing Credit]

As the last of the hostages began returning home, the group’s purpose was coming to “a natural end”, Woolfe said, but the bond formed through shared grief, hope and action refused to fade.

Together, the women have now created the Jakeymproject, after Jake Marlowe, who was 26 years old when he was murdered at the Nova festival on October 7, and whose mother, Lisa, is one of the group.

The initiative aims to organise at least one mitzvah each month in Jake’s name to keep his memory alive, with numerous ideas already being developed to do good.

“We just want to help however we can,” Lisa said. “We’re such a close-knit group, there is so much love. It’s what keeps me going, this group.”

Fifteen members of the candle packing-turned-Jakeymproject group travelled to Israel three months ago, volunteering at sites including Sheba Hospital, supply-packing centres and fields, where they went fruit-picking. They also visited the Nova site to support Lisa.

“I spoke about Jake there. Everybody was in tears,” Lisa said. “My son was a special, special person. He must never be forgotten. He would have just loved that we are sharing positivity in his name, and it means so much to me.”

Taking place last week, the first of the mitzvahs in Jake’s name was to prepare food for a group of ten girls around batmitzvah age, whose fathers were killed on or since October 7 whilst serving in the IDF.

Members of the Jakeymproject at the GIFT hub[Missing Credit]

Coming to London for four days with their mothers, from Israel, the girls enjoyed a trip to the spa, shopping in Westfield, sightseeing and a West End show, ending in a party complete with a DJ, dance floor and a photo booth at the GIFT hub in north-west London – the charity that sponsored their trip.
The Jakeymproject has “become a family, we really have,” Lisa said. “When I was in hospital recently, they brought me food every day so I wouldn’t have to cook. I’ve found something really special. It’s a lifeline.”

@jakeymproject