“We all do what we can. Some fight, others donate. We felt powerless, and we wanted to show the Israeli people that we haven’t forgotten them—or the 1,200 people murdered on Oct. 7. They are in our hearts,” said Charlie Taieb, creator of Minyan Everest, an initiative that brings Jewish prayer to the highest peaks on Earth.

His passion for mountain climbing began three years ago, when he turned 60, the French Jew told JNS on Thursday.

“I wanted to prove that it’s still possible to achieve great things,” he said. “In 2022, I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, which is about 6,000 meters [19,341 ft.] high. I had no previous experience in mountain climbing, but I set out with three friends—and we made it to the top.”

That first climb in Tanzania sparked a deeper pursuit.

“Mountain climbing is addictive,” Taieb said. “The following year, I wanted to add a spiritual element to the physical challenge. We traveled to Nepal to climb a 6,200-meter [20,340-foot] peak—and this time, we brought a Torah scroll.”

According to Jewish religious law, a quorum of 10 men, known as a minyan, is required for communal prayer. Taieb gathered a group of 10 and led what he calls the world’s highest minyan.

“We aimed to reach the highest possible altitude to perform our prayer together,” he said.