Rebecca Bloom, daughter of Patty and Jonathan Bloom of St. Louis, and Jacob Letwat, son of Sheryl and David Letwat of Arlington Heights, Ill., have announced their engagement. 

Rebecca is the granddaughter of Joel and Risa Bloom of Houston, Alice (z”l) and Howard (z”l) Handelman, and Peggy Bloom (z”l). 

Jacob is the grandson of Laurel and Marvin Letwat of Morton Grove, Ill.; Sy Shiminovsky of Wheeling, Ill.; and Rodna Mathus (z”l).

Rebecca attended Clayton High School and Indiana University, where she double majored in Jewish studies and media advertising. She is the assistant director of admissions and marketing at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School in Chicago.

Jacob attended Buffalo Groves High School in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and Emory University, where he studied business. He worked for four years as a consultant at EY-Parthenon and is currently an MBA student at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Rebecca and Jacob met in 2016 when both were counselors at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI) in Oconomowoc, Wis., and led countless hiking, biking, canoeing and climbing trips together. They continued dating through college and then moved to Chicago together.

Jacob surprised Rebecca with a trip to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin, where the couple had led many hiking and climbing trips when they were counselors. This has remained a special place where they return with friends each year. While on a hike, he proposed on a bluff overlooking the lake. They returned home that evening where the surprises continued with family and close friends (many from out of town) joining them for a weekend of celebrations.

A September 2024 wedding is planned.