Edmonton youth, Adam Parker’s Mitzvah Ride will support cancer research

By Regan Lipes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

(AJNews) – A bar or bat mitzvah is a sacred right of passage for young Jews as they take on the responsibilities of adulthood and embrace the mitzvot commanded by G-d.  Hollywood has added a twist to how this milestone is portrayed, and beyond the glitz and party-planning, there is a deeply personal journey that the young celebrant undertakes.  Regardless of whether the simcha takes place in an Orthodox or Progressive shul, there is always the auspicious moment where the young person, moving into the early stages of adulthood ascends to a new level of maturity.

Recently, Alberta Jewish News received a moving letter from a local Edmonton bar mitzvah boy who is taking more than an adult load of responsibility upon himself. Adam Parker, who has been studying diligently for his bar mitzvah with Rabbah Gila Caine from Temple Beth Ora, has devoted his energies to biking for a cure. “I’m biking to support people battling cancer,” explained Adam. “I’ve joined Wellspring Cancer Support and will be cycling 25 kilometers as part of Wellspring’s event in Banff, Alberta on September 12, 2026. I’ve named my project Adam’s Mitzvah Ride.”

Adam’s dedication to this cause is deeply personal in inspiration. “I decided on this project because my Zaida, Earl Parker, of blessed memory, unfortunately passed away in 2014 due to a lost battle with blood cancer and my other grandfather in Poland is currently battling bladder cancer.”  Adam may not remember his Zaida, but he has many pictures to hold near and dear. Now, as his maternal grandfather bravely faces the disease, Adam is able to comprehend the gravity of this struggle with an adult’s consciousness having reached bar mitzvah age.

“The idea was his own,” his mother Asia told AJNews with a mix of bashful humility and the sort of pride only a kvelling mother can feel.  “We just guided him with questions along the way, and he put the rest of the pieces together himself.”  During a phone interview from Poland while visiting her parents Asia explained that first Adam had the idea to do something for cancer research, and that it was through his own ingenuity and initiative that he found the appropriate cycling event. “Last summer his bike became his key to freedom. He was old enough to go off on his bike independently with his friends, and it was a pretty special time to see him maturing.  I think that’s why it’s meaningful that he’s cycling as a part of his project.”

This same maturity has only grown in the past year, and now it is not only Adam’s parents who are marvelling at his sense of Tikkun Olam. “What Adam is doing now was not part of our b’nai mitzvah classes,” clarified Rabbah Gila Caine. “Of course we talk about what it means to build community, and we undertake larger projects as a group, but Adam has taken this to an even greater level.”

Rabbah Caine holds b’nai mitzvah classes each year for boys and girls, but this is also a time for parents to get involved. “This way the kids get to know each other, but so do the parents.  Instead of only learning from me, we can all learn together. This can be a chance for families to get to know members of our shul in a lasting way, and for parents and children to form deeper bonds,” she explained thoughtfully.  “Adam has really impressed me with his sense of community.”

“It was Adam himself who came up with the idea of contacting the Alberta Jewish News,” explained Asia.  “I told him I could support him by reading the email he’d drafted, and I let him use my email address, but really it all came from him.”  A young Edmonton Jewish community member of barely thirteen envisioned such a large-scale project and pursued it with the same zeal he intends harness for his big upcoming ride.

“I’m turning to my community in hopes of asking for people to contribute to my fundraising,” wrote Adam. He is grateful for all gestures of support but is definitely thinking big picture with dreams of doing his part to better the lives of those facing cancer. It might be a drop in the bucket, or even more like a drop in a great big ocean, but Adam knows that it takes lots of little drops to make waves, and he’s determined.

All contributions are greatly appreciated, and those interested in contributing to Adam’s bar mitzvah project can do so at: https://give.wellspring.ca/fundraisers/adamparker.  “We all wish his Zaida was with us to celebrate his bar mitzvah,” said Asia softly.  “We have pictures of them together from Adam’s brit milah, and his first birthday, and he’d be so proud to see than man he’s becoming.”

When asked about her father ‘s reaction to hearing about Adam’s deep sense of social responsibility to be the change he wishes to see in the world, Asia replied: “He’s not a man who shows a lot of emotion, or says a lot when he’s touched, but I know how impressed he is and how moved he is by what Adam is doing.”

Adam will be hitting the pavement full throttle after his big day, but he will absolutely not lose momentum. Rabbah Caine has never required an independent project as part of the TBO B’nai Mitzvah programme, but she encourages all youth inspired by Adam’s vision and passion to also explore what they can do to repair the world around them.  The entire Edmonton Jewish community wishes Adam Parker, his proud parents, and adoring grandparents a hearty mazel tov!