A Rescheduled Covid Safe Backyard Bar Mitzvah Celebration

In March 2020, Ethan Diamondstein’s Bar Mitzvah plans came to a screeching halt, a week before the event, due to COVID. Like many other families, the Diamondsteins decided to reschedule and picked a date in November, hoping for the best. Over the summer they realized that November was likely not going to be much different so they decided to move forward with a backyard Bar Mitzvah being able to accommodate more people than their Temple would allow in the sanctuary.

Pictured above: Ethan with his parents, brother and sister.

Mom Rebecca tells Mitzvah Market, “There were a lot of firsts and unknowns going into this process. Our two biggest concerns were how to figure out and manage the technology required to pull off the event and how will it be for Ethan to have the clergy not here with us?”

In the end Ethan did an amazing job, as they knew he would. After their backyard Zoom service, they had a total of 27 in the backyard, including all 6 of his grandparents, a couple of cousins, one aunt and uncle and a few of his friends. Everyone sat socially distanced and just with their families.

Below are photos and details of how everything turned out!

Temple Beth Elohim lent them a Torah to use which was very special – and it was the first time they’ve done that in temple's history

The Diamondstein's created an intimate and sacred space in their backyard for their son Ethan's service

Shana Gondelman helped with the back end production and guided this family on what would work and would not!

One set of Ethan's Grandparents proudly present him with his tallis

Ethan’s sister, who had practiced for months, played a wonderful rendition of Hava Nagila on the piano

They even figured out how to have Ethan's aunts and uncles do a motzi remotely and pass the challah through zoom to one another!

Ethan was surprised and delighted when he was lifted in the chair for the horah - it was one of the things which meant a lot to him

After the service, the 150 online guests watched a Tribute Video/montage. Other entertainment included Ethan's uncle who did an amazing job organizing a Kahoot filled "Ethan trivia" game which kept guests "hanging around" to celebrate

Masks with custom logos were provided to guests. Lights Camera Ethan was the theme for their original celebration

A Cookie Monstah truck was parked out front with their amazing ice cream sandwiches

Kids used a sign up genius to register for 20 minute slots so that it was never too crowded

Ethan with his siblings

Events by Chrissie Sue helped integrate Ethan's love of books into the design for their backyard dinner

The literary mocktail was called the Bookworm and came with a gummie worm!

There were wooden engraved bookmark favors and custom library due date place cards

The creative personalized folded books were from Etsy. Some had his name, birthday and others were based on Ethan's various hobbies

The dinner was special and kept to all guidelines with masks and safety protocol

Chrissie Sue Chubka made sure everything looked special, beautiful and in the spirit of the day and worked around all the AV equipment perfectly!

Morins Catering + Events provided delicious food and exceptional presentation for the three course dinner

Mitzvah Advice From Mom Rebecca

Let it go. Even if you are planning for a big party sometime in the future (which we might still do) – don’t “save it all for then.” You are celebrating their accomplishment from now and let them see and feel it. Remember what is most important. Decide what means the most to you and to your child and build the celebration around that.

Mitzvah Project

For his Mitzvah Project, Ethan spent two years volunteering at Cornerstone at Canton, a Senior Living Facility for Adults with Dementia. He also has been volunteering at the Newton Food Pantry for 4 1/2 years. When his March date fell through, the family donated a ton of food that they had gathered to use as a sculpture – and donated it all to the food pantry. Ethan is now on the Teen Advisory Council of the Newton Food Pantry.

Mitzvah Vendors

Venue: Family backyard
Party Planner: Chrissie Sue Chubka, Events by Chrissie Sue, 978-621-5932
Zoom Mitzvah Production: Shana Gondelman, 617-201-7499
Photographer: Robert Castagna, 617-833-9271
Invitations: Greenvelope.com
Caterer: Rusell Morin, Morins.com, 888-552-7822
Flowers: Red Fire Farm, 413-467-7645
Folded Books: JoJosReticules, Etsy
Logo: Logo Design Emily Hoadley, 917-696-1749
Masks: Masks by All Sportswear, 617-244-4220
Suits: Simon & Sons, 781-559-3212
Hair/Make-up: Traveling Beauty To You, 617-966-8572
Tent: Come Rain or Shine Tent Works, 508-620-1961
Food Truck: Cookie Monstah, 978-539-8564