The parents of a barmitzvah boy in Exeter have praised the "kindness of strangers" after the family received offers from JC readers to help make a minyan on Christmas Day.

More than 30 families responded to their appeal for "three wise men" so that Joe Gabriel (right, with his parents and younger brother) can lay tefillin and be called up for the first time at a service on Sunday.

His parents, Dr Norman and Gina Gabriel, had arranged for two rabbis from Brighton, Pesach Efune and Zalman Lewis, to come to their home for the service - there will be a full barmitzvah ceremony in Hove the following week. The Gabriels praised Exeter Synagogue for helping them find Jews in the area. But the small community is spread out, and they were concerned that they would not have enough men for a minyan.

But now, after a JC story, the Gabriels have heard from people all over the country, among them a man living just minutes from their home, whose own barmitzvah was held in secret in Communist Hungary. "We are overwhelmed," said Mrs Gabriel. "We want to thank all the people who contacted us for their kindness. This will be a very special occasion."