November 9th, 2014
The Feldman family from Charlotte, North Carolina, celebrated their son Joshua’s Bar Mitzvah at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Joshua’s mother Stephanie, a designer of invitations, party decor and favors, was excited to finally create those items for her own child! Joshua is an ice hockey player for the Charlotte Junior Checkers. Originally from New York, his favorite team is the New York Rangers.
Pictured L-R: Dad Ross, Bar Mitzvah Boy Joshua, Mom Stephanie and Brother Jack.
The photographer was Wayne of St. John Photography and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
The invitation was designed and assembled by Mom Stephanie owner of Cutie Patootie Creations. The navy pocket invitation included a service card, accommodation card, celebration card and response card
Family and friends gathered at Temple Beth El to watch Joshua become a Bar Mitzvah 
Joshua’s needlepointed kippah and tallit bag were handmade by Grandmother, Joan Feldman
The family looked great dressed for the occasion. Dad’s suit came from Saks 5th Avenue, Joshua and Jack’s shirt and pants were from Nordstrom as was Mom Stephanie’s navy blue gown. We love that she did her own hair and makeup! The family outside the Providence Country Club
The theme of the party was the New York Rangers. It turned out fabulous, thanks to the creative design eye of Mom Stephanie owner of Cutie Patootie Creations.The backdrop of the escort card table was the Madison Square Garden jumbo-tron designed with Joshua’s photo
The escort cards were New York Ranger tickets with the all time greatest players with their jersey numbers as the table numbers
The front and back of the place cards
Mom Stephanie collaborated with party planner Kelly from Head over Heels Weddings and Events to create an ice type feel for the room. The table linens were pewter and the
chairs were covered in white
Ice Sculpture centerpieces were very “cool”
Each table featured a hockey player with their jersey number as the table number
Custom Gobo with Josh’s logo
The entire room was draped in white with blue up-lighting throughout
Concession sign for the kids’ buffet
Cutie Patootie designed all the details for the party including the clever wording on the custom cocktail napkins
Elegant menu for the adults
Custom dessert station toppings
The frame around the sign-in board was created using hockey sticks and the matting was purchased from Michael’s
Joshua was involved in most of the design decisions except for this surprise candle lighting 6 foot long ice sculpture was designed by Mom and hand carved by Artisan Ice Sculptures.This was a surprise for the Bar Mitzvah boy!
The Feldman Family candle lighting
Joshua surrounded by his hockey teammates
All of the great hockey themed favors came from Cutie Patootie. including this hockey puck squishy in silver custom tins
A table scape with party favors displayed beautifully and an amazing jumbo-tron
Customized Hershey chocolate bars with Josh’s logo
Some advice from Mom Stephanie:
“Enjoy the process as it is a once-in-a-lifetime event! Don’t lose focus about what this event is really about and most importantly, the more you stress, the more your child and immediate family members will stress! Just remember HAVE FUN!!!!”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors made Joshua’s celebration special. If you contact any of them please make sure they know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com
Venue: Providence Country Club, 704-846-8475
Party Planner: Kelly, Head Over Heels Wedding & Events, 704-840-6415
Invitation/logo: Mom Stephanie, Cutie Patootie Creations, 704-776-0738
Photographer: Wayne, St. John Photography, 704-889-7800
Videographer: Rob, Visual Impressions, 704-525-0190
Decor Design: Mom Stephanie, Cutie Patootie Creations, 704-776-0738
Music: DJ Big Bad Ben, 800-242-1243
Photo Booth/Draping/Lighting: Charlotte DJ and Events, 888-623-5737
Favors: Mom Stephanie, Cutie Patootie Creations, 704-776-0738
Centerpieces/Candle Lighting: Artisan Ice Sculptures, 704-569-9392
Food Signs/Sign in Board/Table Numbers: Mom Stephanie, Cutie Patootie Creations, 704-776-0738
Mom Stephanie’s dress: Nordstrom
Suits for Family Members: Brooks Brothers and Nordstrom
Hair/Makeup: Mom Stephanie did her own!
November 9th, 2014
Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment specializes in Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties. Their enthusiasm, experience and willingness to address every question and concern will far exceed your expectations. They create a fabulous event that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
For over three decades, Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment is one of the most trusted names in the entertainment industry. They are not just a DJ company, they are a full-service event company and a one-stop-shop for all of your event needs. Awesome MCs/DJs, fabulous photo stations, photography, videography, lounge decor, up-lighting, and much more! The staff at Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment will make sure that you enjoy being a guest at your own party!
Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment’s Website Has A New Look!
Under the Celebrations tab on their new Website, they have a special section dedicated exclusively to Bar & Bat Mitzvahs.
In addition to the extensive information about Bar Bat Mitzvah entertainment, Todd Yahney proudly posts testimonials from satisfied clients on their Website. It’s one thing to read how other families felt, but another to actually hear them! Read and listen here.
As a one-stop-shop for all of your Bar Bat Mitzvah needs, they offer full-service Event Planning:
Their event planning services encompass everything from venue research, to design and decor services and full orchestration of your event from start to finish
In addition to Photography and Videography services, there is section on their Website dedicated to Photo Favors with a variety of options to choose from, for example:
Six Second Photo Magnets combines Classic Black and White photography with the fastest station on the market: two photos in only 6 seconds and all the props and signs to go with it
Color Blast Photos create a dramatic effect by printing all images in black & white, but keep a hint of color resulting in a striking artistic image
The Games & Entertainment section of their Website includes Sport Games & Gaming Systems, a Money Booth, Airbrush Tattoos, Casino & Gaming Tables and so much more!
Consider a Wire Artist as a unique entertainment option. All sculptures are created and customized at the event
Their talented Caricature Artists create wonderful fun portraits of your guests to take home
They also offer clients the option to customize their event space, including Lounge Furniture, Room Decor and Up-Lighting:
Lounge Decor
Custom Projected Gobos
Up Lighting
No event would be complete without music from Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment. They pride themselves with providing the best in MC and DJ entertainment, and of course, the incomparable Scott Yahney Band.
Their experienced MCs know Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
The Todd Yahney Band is available for Bar & Bat Mitzvahs
To learn more about Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
November 8th, 2014
By Lila Mueller
Breathing hard, I pushed myself to the top of the next stair, stopping for a quick rest. I looked out over the landscape in front of me. Weeks earlier, I never could have guessed that hiking to the top of Masada meant waking up at four in the morning, groggily pulling myself into the car, and walking up an impossible set of ancient stairs so that I could view the sun rise over the Dead Sea. But sure enough, that was exactly what I was doing. The air was still cool, but the temperature was sure to rise soon, so I continued on, determined to make it to the top before the real heat settled in.
Lila Mueller and her family and friends in Golan Heights
Lila and her brother Simon in Israel
My Bat Mitzvah at home in New York City had happened nearly a month earlier. Being surrounded by my friends and family for one unforgettable night had been so much fun, but in Israel, I felt more connected to Judaism than I ever had been before. During my entire time there, I never picked up a Torah or a prayer book, but I didn’t need to. Everywhere I went — the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea in Ein Bokek, or the lofty Golan Heights — all held with them a sense of family, a feeling of belonging in the land that the Jewish people fought so hard to call home.
Wherever you walked, Biblical figures had stepped thousands of years before. The landscapes were rich with history, and it was almost overwhelming to look upon the scenery of some of the most monumental events in the world and know that you were connected; still are connected.
When I told my friends that I was taking a trip to Israel for my Bat Mitzvah, I was met with different reactions. Some people’s faces twisted into concerned uneasiness. “Isn’t there… like… a war there or something? Isn’t it really dangerous?” they would say. And while they weren’t completely wrong, I never felt unsafe during my time there. True, it was a bit unsettling to see hotel security guards ready to grab their guns at a moment’s notice, but it was actually reassuring to know that everybody was prepared.
Some friends looked at me with pitiful, almost laughing gazes. “Have fun,” they said without feeling, and I could tell they felt almost bad for me that I had to spend time in what was in their eyes, such a boring place. They couldn’t be farther off. The vibrancy of the newer cities, like Tel Aviv, combined with the power of the older cities, like Jerusalem, made for a country so full of life that sometimes you had to step back and just breathe. The overwhelmingly beautiful countryside and the culturally rich architecture and museums were never dull and always exciting and new.
Being in Israel also put things in perspective and helped expand my world view. I soon came to realize that constant war and violence, raging mere miles away, was simply accepted. I also realized that Israel is not just a place for Judaism, but for many other religions and people. From the Armenian, Christian, and Muslim quarters of the Old City to the Druze villages in the Golan Heights, Israel is truly a homeland of acceptance regardless of where you come from.
During our stay in Jerusalem, we visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust remembrance museum, which was an important, although sad, experience. It showed me that people may hate you for whatever reason they have, but there will always be good in the world.
Being in Israel was such a great experience in general. I had so much fun every day, doing wildly different things all the time. I never could have imagined that a trip to Israel would include driving ATVs up a mountain, swimming in the Jordan River, walking through ancient tunnels under Jerusalem, and so much more, all in less than 10 days.
Going to the Holy Land of the Jewish people was uplifting and helped me start to realize my place in the world. It was such an amazing trip and I hope to be lucky enough to go back someday.
Read A Mother’s Take: Visiting Israel For My Daughter’s Bat Mitzvah by Jennifer Unter here.
Lila Mueller is an 8th grader at The Anderson School in New York City.
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
November 8th, 2014
By Jennifer Unter (mom of Lila Mueller)
I had my Bat Mitzvah on Masada in 1982 and I hoped it would be as significant for my daughter, Lila, when it was her turn.
When I started planning a trip to Israel for her Bat Mitzvah, so many thoughts fought for supremacy: will it be too hot in July for my 78-year-old father? Will our 10-year-old son make it through one day doing both Yad Vashem and the Israeli Museum? Will it be safe for all of us? And, most importantly, will it be as meaningful for Lila as my Bat Mitzvah trip to Israel was for me?
I didn’t grow up in a particularly religious family. We celebrated Shabbat by having dinner all together on Friday nights, but rarely went to synagogue. I wasn’t sure about God, but when I went to Israel, I felt the presence of something greater than myself. I saw people at the Western Wall praying together (at the time, it wasn’t separated by gender), leaving notes and I was struck by how powerful it felt to believe. That trip didn’t change the role of religion in my life, but it left me with a love for Israel and Israelis and pride in being a Jew that has never gone away. I returned when I was 16 for a teen tour, but I hadn’t been back since, so I was more than past due for a trip to the Holy Land.
Fast forward over 30 years, and here I was, planning a trip for two kids, my husband and father to experience Lila becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Masada. I was planning this trip in the midst of planning her New York Bat Mitzvah. That was a Saturday service with Kiddush luncheon and Saturday night party for 150 people. I knew the event would be special since we love our synagogue, CSAIR in Riverdale, and had wonderful family and friends in attendance, but this trip to Israel was a gift from my father to our family, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I tried to impart my excitement to the kids, especially Lila, but I felt that my words fell short. I figured they’ll love it as much as I did when we got there.
Jennifer Unter and her daughter Lila in Israel on Lila's Bat Mitzvah trip
Instead of doing the Bat Mitzvah tour, on a friend’s recommendation we hired Tiyul Acher (en.tiyulacher.com) a company that organizes private tours (and that I highly recommend) to plan our trip and provide a local guide to take us around the country. We saw the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Dead Sea, Masada, Be’er Sheva and Netanya. Our days were jam packed with activities: ATVing up the Hermon mountain with a dip in a fresh water spring, picking berries I had never heard of (white mulberries!), water hikes, walking over the Old City walls in Jerusalem, Kotel tunnel tour, camel riding, seeing a ton of family on my father’s side in Tel Aviv…I could go on and on. And the food: the best hummus and labne I’ve ever eaten in a tiny restaurant in a Druze village, and to-die-for falafel and unforgettable pita with lamb from a stall in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem.
I knew the kids were having a ball, but our son, Simon, seemed more engaged than Lila, asking the tour guide lots of questions about the places we visited. Despite admonishments from both my husband and me to stay off her phone, we saw Lila pulling it out, presumably to take pictures, but she was also surreptitiously texting and keeping tabs on what her friends were doing. Was any of this sinking in? Was she understanding what a special trip she was on and appreciating it?
Masada was toward the end of the trip, and we planned to hike up the snake trail at 4:30 am to see the sunrise. Close family friends who we met when Lila and their son were in nursery school were in Israel for the month, so we joined forces for a short but meaningful B’nai Mitzvah ceremony at King Herod’s Northern Palace.
The hike up Masada was arduous for my father and I was worried he wouldn’t be able to get to the top and see the ceremony. But, amazingly, he made it and we were all there, at this incredibly well-preserved palace, sweating in the blazing sun and watching the two young teens become bona fide members of the Jewish community. After touring the breath-taking site of Masada, we headed down the cable car, exhausted, to lounge by the pool and escape the overwhelming heat.
We had one more day in Israel after that, and I could tell we were ready to go home. The non-stop days had taken their toll (not to mention some early jet lag) and sleeping in our own beds after 12 nights away was a tempting prospect. Before we left, I asked Lila how she felt about the trip. Enthusiastically, she told me she loved it.
Back in New York, after a few days of sleeping in, she wrote her piece for Mitzvah Market Magazine, and it was then that I realized how much she did take in on the trip. She clearly understood both the beauty and hardship of Israel and the role it plays in the life of Jews around the world. When I think about the trip, I’m overcome with gratitude to my father for taking us, pride in Lila’s growth and maturity, and love for my family and for the country of Israel.
Read Finding My Place in the World in the Holyland by Lila Mueller, Jennifer’s daughter here.
Jennifer Unter is a book agent in New York and mother of two children, Lila and Simon.
BAR/BAT MITZVAH CEREMONY SITES
There are many wonderful places to choose from to have your Bar/Bat Mitzvah services and celebrations in Israel. The most popular days for services are Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays. Make sure to confirm that the location of your choice is open on the day you wish to have your ceremony. Go to bar-and-bat-mitzvah-in-israel.com to view the different locations. Here are some of the most popular ones:
The Western Wall, known also as The Kotel. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation offers a free service to help families with everything from initial planning of the event to helping conduct or explain the service. Additional assistance is available, including lending Tefillin (phylacteries), or Talitot
(prayer shawls), and organizing a tour of the Western Wall tunnels for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child and family following the service.
The Southern Wall, Jerusalem, is no less holy than the Western Wall, for it is part of the remaining Southern enclosure of the Temple Mount. Unlike at the Western Wall, ceremonies are held according to your and your Rabbi’s traditions – so men and women can celebrate, sit and pray together.
Neot Kedumim: The Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel is located halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. This unique recreation of the physical setting of the Bible in all its depth and detail allows visitors to see life as it was lived by our ancestors 3,000 years ago.
The Western Wall Tunnels, (Strictly Orthodox), is one of Israel’s most splendid archeological discoveries. The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem: Private ceremonies may be held in the historic courtyard and gardens at the ancient citadel.
The Hurva Synagogue: Destroyed in the War of Independence in 1948, it is now a simple and elegant memorial. It has become a symbol of the Jews’ return to the holiest city.
Synagogues around Israel: A synagogue in Jerusalem, or anywhere in Israel is an ideal location, especially if you wish to hold the service on Shabbat.
Masada: Ceremonies atop Masada are held in the remains of the Zealots’ Synagogue, said to be the world’s oldest Synagogue still in use. Services are conducted by a rabbi of your choice, according to orthodox, conservative, reform or reconstructionist tradition.
RESOURCES FOR BAR/BAT MITZVAH TRAVEL TO ISRAEL
• Tova Gilead, Inc., tovagilead.com – As a tour operator since 1982, Gilead operates small, upscale and unique tours. Three-generation family trips are her specialty.
• ARZA World, arzaworld.com – ARZA World creates 9, 11 and 13 day comprehensive tours of Israel with local reform rabbis performing the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony in Jerusalem at the Southern Wall at the Davidson Center, The Goldman Promenade, Mt. Scopus, or on the rooftop of Hebrew Union College.
• Israel Discover Tours, israeldiscoverytours.com– This company is family owned and operated for 25 years, offering three different tours (12 day Deluxe, 14 day Deluxe or December Deluxe), with options for different budgets. The ceremony is at Masada and presentation of certificates is in front of the Menorah outside the Knesset (the Israel Parliament).
• Authentic Israel, authenticisrael.com – Find a wide range of programs including family and celebration experiences and custom private tours. They arrange the tour, ceremony and celebration. On the family tour, they provide a tour leader and a youth counselor.
• Travel and Events in Israel, travelandeventsinisrael.com – Custom tailored for your family, they help with your itinerary, book hotels according to your budget, connect you with a rabbi who will assign the Torah portion and make all necessary arrangements. They also offer custom special events at unique destinations in Israel.
• Mabat Platinum, LTD., mabat.com – Designs a tailor-made trip for you and your family.
• Gil Travel, giltravel.com – With over 40 years of experience, Gil Travel can help you plan a private tour or organize a group tour, while arranging all of the touring details.
• Jewish National Fund Travel and Tours, jnf.org– Join a Bar/Bat Mitzvah tour or plan a private one and have your service at the Southern Wall in Jerusalem or other sites throughout Israel. JNF also provides other opportunities including planting trees in Israel, coordinating a Mitzvah Project and participating in the B’nai Mitzvah Remembrance Wall.
• Keshet, keshetisrael.co.il – The Center for Educational Tourism in Israel helps you create a tailor-made Bar/Bat Mitzvah trip to Israel that introduces your family to the land and history through youth centered programming, hands-on Mitzvah Projects and encounters with local people.
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
November 6th, 2014
Photo by Andi Schreiber Photography
Bar/Bat Mitzvah 101
By the time your son or daughter steps up to the bimah one Shabbat morning to recite
his or her haftarah, they will understand perfectly well what the first half of this sentence
meant. But will you? And will you be able to explain it all to your guests? Here is a short
glossary of important Hebrew phrases to know before you go:
Aliyah: In Hebrew, the word aliyah means to go up, or, as a noun, an ascent. During the Torah reading portion of the service, some members of the community are offered an aliyah, meaning they are called up to the bimah to perform a certain role. This can include reciting the blessing over the Torah, reading from the Torah, dressing the Torah and returning it to the ark, or some other function. It is considered an honor to be called up, and as such it is often given to family members and close friends of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Aron Ha-Kodesh: Literally meaning “the holy ark,” the Aron ha-Kodesh is an ark where the sacred texts used during a prayer service are held. Mostly, this includes one or more scrolls of the Torah and perhaps a similar looking scroll that will hold the haftarah portions. The ark itself is meant to symbolize the mishkan (tabernacle) in which the ancient Israelites stored the sacred tables Moses received on Mount Sinai.
B’nai Mitzvah: B’nai Mitzvah is the plural of Bar Mitzvah and is the term used to describe the coming of age according to Jewish tradition. Literally meaning “master of commandments,” becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah means the person is obliged to observe the Jewish commandments, and a ceremony, along with a celebration, takes place to mark this moment. The Bar Bat Mitzvah event is a formal and spiritual declaration of a child’s accession to adulthood. Jewish tradition designates Bar and Bat Mitzvah age as 13 for a boy and either 12 or 13 for a girl.
Bimah: Hebrew for stage, the bimah is the raised location in the sanctuary where the Torah is read. At Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, family members and close friends are often called onto the bimah for an aliyah, or to assist with the service.
D’var Torah: Literally “a thing of Torah,” a d’var Torah is a speech that tried to convey a life lesson or message supported by the story in the weekly parasha or haftarah (scripture readings). After the Torah portion is read, the Rabbi will give a d’var Torah, typically as part of a sermon; when a child becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, he or she delivers a d’var Torah as well, often tying it into personal experiences.
Davening: A transliteration of the Yiddish word, meaning praying, to daven is to pray. Like in many other faiths, davening can take numerous, varied forms, from mediation to the more traditional chanting of prayer in synagogue.
Haftarah: Often mispronounced as “haf-torah,” the haftarah is a selected reading from one of the other sections of the Jewish Bible (Old Testament). Traditionally, the haftarah is recited after the Torah reading on the Shabbat or another holy Jewish day, and is usually thematically related to the parasha. It is customary for the Bar Bat Mitzvah to read this portion of the scriptures in addition to any part of the parasha he/she has read.
Kiddush: This is the blessing recited over wine on Shabbat and other Jewish holy days. Kiddush derives from the Hebrew word kadosh, which means holy. By saying kiddush, one is proclaiming the holiness of the day.
Kippah: The Hebrew name for the traditional head covering worn by Jews in synagogue as well as, for some, in daily life. Often called a yarmulke, its Yiddish name, the kippah is meant to signify a Jew’s recognition of the presence of God. In more orthodox Jewish sects, only men wear kippot (plural of kippah), though some observant women cover their heads using hats, veils, or wigs. Less observant Jews often choose to wear kippot only during religious pursuits, such as when in a synagogue or while studying sacred texts. And some more liberal Jews do not wear a kippah at any time.
Minyan: The number of people required to be present for certain prayers to be recited. A minyan consists of 10 Jewish adults, or, for Orthodox Jews, 10 Jewish males. When a child becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, he or she is eligible to be counted in the minyan.
Motzi: The blessing recited over bread, which ordains the start of the meal. On Shabbat and other holy days, a festive, braided challah bread is used.
Parasha: The weekly Torah portion read in synagogue. On Shabbat, a cantor or members of the congregation read the parasha. The Torah portion is divided into seven sections. As a new member of the Jewish community, the Bar Bat Mitzvah will often read a section or even the entire parasha during his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah service. Once children receive their Bar Bat Mitzvah date, the parasha they will read from is known.
Shabbat: The Jewish day of rest, where everyone is commanded to stop all work before sundown on Friday and enjoy the company of friends and family until sundown on Saturday. This is also typically the day on which Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are held (by custom though not by requirement). It is customary to indulge in an extensive meal on Friday night with guests, and the following morning a longer prayer service is usually held. Shabbat is meant to be a moment of peace in an otherwise hectic world and, depending upon one’s level of observance, some choose to refrain from many activities on Shabbat such as driving, writing, or watching TV. A special Shabbat service is held in most synagogues on Saturday morning that includes these three parts: Shacharit, the morning prayers; the Torah Service, which includes the reading of the Torah and the haftarah (the focal point of the Bar Bat Mitzvah); and Musaf, the additional Shabbat prayers focusing on song-like praises of God.
Simcha: The literal definition of simcha is joy. Simcha refers to a special happy occasion in a Jewish life, such as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a bris, or a Wedding.
Tallit: A tallit is a traditional prayer shawl worn by Jewish adults while praying in synagogue. At each of the four corners of the garment are fringes of string, or tzitit in Hebrew, that are braided and knotted as a way to remind Jews of the commandments issued in the Torah. Anyone of Bar Bat Mitzvah age or older who approaches the bimah to take a leadership role in the services is required to put on a tallit; beyond that circumstance, however, there are different customs on who wears a tallit, according to different sects of Judaism. Orthodox sects of Judaism traditionally reserve the privilege of wearing a tallit to married men, while conservative and reform sects allow both sexes to wear a tallit, starting from Bar Bat Mitzvah age.
Torah: Torah has multiple definitions, but in this context it refers to the first five books of the Bible, often called the Five Books of Moses. The Torah recounts the creation of the world and the establishment of the Jewish faith, while also offering a set of laws on which Jewish life is based. The Torah is divided into 54 portions with one read each week (two weeks have double portions). The reading of each week’s portion (or part of the portion in some traditions) serves as the focal point of the Shabbat prayer services.
Trope: In Jewish tradition, sacred text is chanted rather than simply read, whether for public reading or for study. Trope is the Yiddish word for the 1,400-year-old system of distinctive marks that function as musical notation and punctuation for the biblical text. The trope determines the actual tune used by readers for the parasha and haftarah. As part of their preparation, some B’nai Mitzvah learn the names and tunes for each trope marking so they can figure out the cantillation for themselves.
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
November 6th, 2014
By Isabella Spar
For my Mitzvah Project, I decided to do something close to my heart. Last summer, when I got home from sleepaway camp, I found out that my mom had been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. Although it was benign, it was located in a very bad part of the brain and was already causing damage. She needed to go to Massachusetts General Hospital for six weeks of proton radiation. One week after I got home, my family and my grandparents all left for Boston. This was a very hard transition for me and my younger sister, Alexa, since it all happened so suddenly. I was very scared, sad and angry.
During her radiation, we were given pink rubber wristbands to wear, with the words “Hope”, “Faith”, “Strength”, and “Survivor” as a way to inspire the patients and their families. My family and I never took off these bracelets because they meant so much to us.
We then found out that at the end of each patient’s course of treatment, they get to ring a very large bell to symbolize the end of their radiation and a new beginning. The bell has a plaque which reads: “Ring this bell, three times well; its toll will clearly say, my treatment’s done, my course is run, and now I’m on my way.” Patients recite this and then ring the bell three times while family members, staff and other patients celebrate with them. As we watched other patients ring the bell, we saw that it served as a source of inspiration and accomplishment for them.
Isabella was at a dedication ceremony for a bell that she donated at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Watch this special video
here
Everyone looked forward to their bell-ringing date. Towards the end of her treatment, my mom asked my family to get her a pretty bracelet with a bell on it. After we searched the internet but didn’t find anything, she asked if I could make her a bracelet. Together we created a beautiful bangle bracelet with a bell charm and two others with the words “Hope” and “Faith.” My mom liked it so much that I made more for the whole family. Then she had me make extras to give to other patients who had become her friends, in order to help inspire them as well.
My mom wore the bracelet to her bell ringing. Both the bracelet and the bell ringing ceremony were such a source of motivation and accomplishment for my mother and our whole family. In fact, my grandfather bought her a miniature bell for our home for her to ring every day and remind her of her new beginning.
We soon discovered that only a few radiation centers in the United States have bells for their patients to ring. Suddenly I knew what I would do for my Mitzvah Project. I created Project Bell to raise money to donate these “new beginning” bells to centers around the country.
I began to make and sell bracelets, chokers and leather wristbands with inspirational charms to raise money for my project. One hundred percent of the net profits go to buy bells and plaques for radiation centers that don’t have them. Everything is sold on my Website projectbell.org for $18, or “chai,” which means life. So far I have raised over $5,500 and donated 15 bells.
Photos by Rodrigo Diban Photography
I have been invited to several bell dedication ceremonies, but two really moved me. At Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, I got to watch Gladys, a hospital employee who had just finished her treatment, be the first person to ring the bell that I had donated and rejoice with her family, friends, doctors and technicians. She asked me to take photos with her. We stood next to the bell, hugging each other, as she cried tears of happiness and thanked me for donating it. I had a similar touching experience at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, where I got to observe Art ringing their new bell. He hugged me right afterward and the entire room broke out in applause and tears. I got to hear about his treatments and experiences during radiation, as well as meet other patients who would one day be ringing the bell. It was incredible to see how much the patients and their families looked forward to this special day. I felt so honored to be part of both of their special moments.
This Mitzvah Project has really impacted my life. It brings me joy to know that there is something for the patients to look forward to, like a light at the end of the tunnel. I love seeing the faces of the patients when they get to ring the bell. I also love knowing that the bracelets I make provide a source of inspiration for so many.
This has made my Bat Mitzvah extra memorable because not only did I have a special day, but I was able to help other people have their own special day. Plus, giving back to other patients helped me get through the sadness, fear and anger I had been feeling about my mom’s diagnosis. (She’s doing great, now, by the way!) More than 12,000 patients a year will ring the bells I have donated to hospitals and radiation centers throughout the country, which makes me so happy.
Although my Bat Mitzvah is over, I am definitely not stopping Project Bell. By the time I go to college, my goal is to have every radiation center in the United States that wants one to have a bell. This is a ton of radiation centers, but it would be absolutely amazing to know that I have made that much of an impact.
Isabella Spar is an 8th grader from Ardsley, NY. To learn more about her project, to buy inspirational jewelry, or to donate so she can buy more bells, visit projectbell.org.
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
November 5th, 2014
By Gail Slogoff With Bethany Kandel
If you ask me about my Bat Mitzvah celebration (circa 1970’s), I can describe the dress that I wore in detail — floral Laura Ashley inspired beige and burgundy. I can recall the DJ — Purple Haze — and I can remember the food, especially the desserts that were served — cotton candy; a real out-of-the-box idea for that time period. But, if you ask me to recall what my sign-in board looked like or even where it is 30-plus years later… I have absolutely no idea. I imagine that it was probably thrown out years ago when my parents sold my childhood house after I graduated from high school.
Flash forward to January 5, 2013, and my son Zachary’s Bar Mitzvah. I really wanted to do something unique for his sign-in that would not only celebrate the occasion, but also give him something useful that he would cherish. I decided that a quilt made of his favorite t-shirts would be the perfect memory saver. In it I also incorporated several pieces of baby clothing that I had saved, including the onesie he was given at birth at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. At his celebration, friends and relatives wrote their Mazel Tov wishes on the back of the quilt using fabric markers and now Zach has a lasting reminder of that night that he sees daily since it sits on the end of his bed.
(Pictured above: Zachary’s t-shirt quilt)
WHAT’S NEW
Sign-ins have long been a way to give guests a chance to leave a heartfelt note for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah child, but they keep evolving. While the traditional boards are certainly one option, and can be a way to display some beautiful photos of your child, there are many other creative ways to showcase your child’s interests, personality and style, inject some fun into the décor, extend the party’s theme or add some “wow” factor. The bottom line is to try to find something that will be both decorative and worth saving over the years to memorialize the event and won’t end up hidden away in the basement or
worse, in the garbage, says Melisa Imberman of The Event of a Lifetime, Inc. “I usually recommend something you can somehow put to use after the party,” she says, like mirrors or pillows. “They’re functional and don’t take up much space.”
The Pieced Palette offers giant floor pillows or 37” beanbags that can be imprinted all over with your child’s logo or name
and covered with messages from your guests. “Afterwards, it becomes a piece of furniture,” says company owner Jane Sheinfeld. “It’s a great place to sit and play video games or hang out and it actually means something to you.”
Sign-in pillow from The Pieced Palette
Sign-in beanbag from The Pieced Palette
BJ Boyd often recommends a photo booth album to her clients at Parties! Rare to Well Done, which combines an activity, a favor and a sign-in all in one. “For every picture taken we print out an extra that the attendant pastes into a book,” she explains. Then the guests sign next to their pictures. “That’s worth keeping,” she says. “It’s easy to store and years from now it’s going to be cool to see what that person looked like the day of your party.”
Sign-in mirror from Parties! Rare to Well Done
Photo Credit: Creative Photography by Maya
Here are some hot trends to inspire you and take you way beyond the traditional guest book of days long gone:
DIGITAL
Here’s a digital twist on the photo/sign-in book that’s also a great cocktail party activity; the iSign® Guestbook from Simon Elliot Events. It all starts at the iSign® kiosk where guests sign or write a message in their own handwriting on a tablet with the special iSign® App, choosing ink colors and custom backgrounds that can be tailored to your event. A professional photographer takes each guest’s photo and then the messages and pictures are transmitted wirelessly to a LED screen for everyone to see. One month after your party you receive a customized hardcover keepsake book with all the images and greetings on personalized pages as a great reminder of your special event. It also comes with a disc containing all of the messages in digital format for emailing to family and friends.
The iSign Guestbook by Simon Elliot Events
PROPS
Here’s where you can really get creative. Almost anything and everything can be turned into a guest sign-in. Sports jerseys,
guitars, camp trunks…the list goes on and on. Does your daughter have a passion for fashion? Consider having everyone sign a plain white dressmaker’s mannequin that can serve double duty if she’s into sewing her wardrobe. Have a world
traveler? Sign a globe. A mirror is a great sign-in (but note, Sharpies smudge; you need to use paint pens). Be sure to cover a section in the middle with tape if you want a clean area to remain so the mirror is still functional when it’s hung in your child’s room. How about just using your child’s initials? Head to a craft store and buy a giant wooden letter (or several for their first, middle and last names); spray paint them to match your color theme and hand out the pens. These make a fun wall hanging when the party’s over.
Or, consider using something from your child’s own room, says Imberman. Turn a young musician’s plain black music stand, a desk chair, bookcase or even their bedroom door into a sign-in prop. Since 2008 when MitzvahMarket.com suggested using a child’s own closet door as a creative sign-in board, hundreds of kids have taken the suggestion. Simply unhinge your child’s door and deliver it to your venue. Have family and friends sign and tag it; return it home and rehang. Permanent memories! For those who aren’t so good with tools, the custom painted children’s lockers offered by Airgraphics Entertainment are one of the hot trends in sign-ins. The lockers are available in 11 colors and can be painted with cool graphics before being delivered to your venue.
SPORTS
Sports items are always popular sign-ins. Skis, surfboards, giant tennis balls…you name it; if there’s a sports activity there is likely a Bar/Bat Mitzvah theme and a related sign-in. The bigger, the better. A snowboard has more surface area to sign than a skateboard, but even a basketball works; everyone just has to write a little smaller. And most party planners can have your logo or name airbrushed on almost anything. These items can be displayed in your room afterwards or used, especially if it’s something like a basketball backboard or even a ping-pong table that’s truly functional.
OLD SCHOOL
Do kids today actually know what a typewriter is? For a retro look, why not stick a typed note in a vintage typewriter that says, “Please sign our guestbook.” Guests can practice their QWERTY typing skills as they type their notes onto colorful cards which can later be placed into a book. Other fun ways to leave lasting messages or well wishes is on smooth rocks, in colorful envelopes, even written on Jenga game pieces. These can be displayed in a glass bowl at home; perfect to peruse when your child is looking for love and inspiration. So let your creative juices flow as you decide on your own unique way to keep the memories of this milestone alive. The sky is certainly the limit.
Does your child want to help others through their sign-in? There is a way with The Adaptive Design Association’s Kids
For Kids Mitzvah Project. For a $300 donation to the ADA, you get a custom chair made of super strong cardboard,
primed and painted and ready to be decorated by you and your guests. After the party, the chair becomes both a
lasting memory and a useful piece of furniture. All proceeds go right back into building custom adaptations for children
with disabilities. For more information contact jen@adaptivedesign.org, 212-904-1200.
The Adaptive Design Association Chair
RESOURCES:
Airgraphics Entertainment: www.airgraphics.biz, 973-247-1844
Simon Elliot Events: www.simonelliotevents.com, 516-586-6822
The Event of a Lifetime, Inc.: www.theeventofalifetime.com, 914-762-5770
Parties! Rare to Well Done: www.partiesraretowelldone.com, 267-312-1990
The Pieced Palette: www.thepiecedpalette.com, 914-420-1746
Adaptive Design Association: www.adaptivedesign.org, 212-904-1200
This story is from the new 2014 Mitzvah Market Magazine. If you would like to request a free copy, click here.
November 5th, 2014
Who better to find the latest and greatest for all things Bar Bat Mitzvahs than our own Mitzvah Moms!
We have spotlighted over 200 families and we thought it would be fun to call out some of the “Mom Finds” that you might have missed.
When the Segelman family from Randolph, New Jersey, celebrated their daughter Alana’s Bat Mitzvah, it was a three-day celebration!
We love Alana’s idea for thank you cards: she included photos of each guest in their individual thank-you note; a very thoughtful and personal touch!
Alana spray-mounted photos to the inside of the card so each guest received a photo of themselves at the celebration!
To see more ideas from the Segelman Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight story, click here.
To see our past Mom Find, click here.
November 5th, 2014
Recently twins Blair and Zach celebrated their B’nai Mitzvah in a very unique way! Their celebration was at Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park in Deer Park, New York.
This 40,000 square foot facility offers five lanes of Foam Zone, three lanes of Sky Slam, four 3-D Dodgeball Courts, an enormous main court area and plenty of bouncin’ fun!
The pictures (and video) below tell the story and show the fun at this party! Enjoy…
Big signage and photos of Blair and Zach on the big screen greeted guests at the entrance to their celebration
Additional blow-ups of both Blair and Zach were around the room
Light-up highboy tables for guests in the main area
Plenty of room for guests and staff (all in orange) ready to supervise the young guests
The Entertainment Tonite crew ready to celebrate with guests
Playing in the main area
A game of dodgeball
Just bouncin’ around!
Bat Mitzvah girl and friends having fun!
three lanes of Sky Slam
Foam Zone fun
Blair and Zach are all smiles!
Watch this video to see all the fun action at this B’nai Mitzvah here
To learn more about Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, visit their Website.
November 3rd, 2014
By Adam Koss
This Fall, I will become a Bar Mitzvah. About a year ago, my parents asked me how I wanted to celebrate the milestone event in my life. Most kids, like my sister, have a big party after their synagogue service. My brother decided not to have a big party, but rather to celebrate by having his Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem at the Kotel. The idea of a big dance party wasn’t really interesting to me and since we’d already been to Israel for my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, I wanted to do something different. My parents were supportive and decided to give me the freedom to celebrate my Bar Mitzvah in a way that would be meaningful to me. The one thing they stressed was that I needed to come up with something that would fulfill the mitzvah of giving back to my community in some way.
My mom also told me that a good Mitzvah Project involves something you are passionate about. I love baseball a lot. So I came up with the idea to take a road trip and go to all 30 Major League Baseball parks in the USA and Canada. My parents work from home, which made it possible for us to travel all summer long. I did some research to find out that other people have done this trip in one summer. I read an article about two people who did the trip in college and reached out to them for some advice. They gave me some great advice about planning and contacting the teams. They also raised money for charity when they did their trip, which gave me the idea that I could do the same and connect it to my Bar Mitzvah. Their advice ultimately made this trip possible.
I thought that instead of a party, I could ask friends and family to help me raise money and support three charities that help kids with life-threatening illnesses. The first was the Make-A-Wish Foundation which grants wishes to kids with serious diseases. Since this baseball trip was my wish, I wanted to help make other kids’ wishes come true. The second organization I picked was the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for research and cures for childhood cancer. My dad and I had shaved our heads as part of our synagogue’s team and raised money for them in the past. The third was the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which raises money to help create a world without type 1 diabetes. I have a grandfather who struggles with diabetes and I hate seeing him go through it. It is something I want to help cure.
To raise money, I created a “Home Run Club” where instead of Bar Mitzvah gifts, friends and family could pledge a certain amount of money for every home run I witnessed on my trip. At the end of the trip, they would pick one of the organizations to donate their pledged amount. Based on averages, I knew there would be about 60-70 home runs in 30 games, so it would be a great way to raise money to help other kids.
As my parents and I started planning, we created a Website (adamsmlbroadtrip.com) that explained who I was and what I was doing. Then, we reached out to every MLB team and told them about my road trip. The idea began to take on a life of its own as people started to “get it” that this was so much more than a trip to see some baseball games. I was amazed that 22 out of 30 MLB teams gave my family free tickets to a game. Other teams offered stadium tours, on-field batting practice, signed items and merchandise. Two highlights of the summer were when one team let me throw out the first pitch and when I met a player who donated money to my fundraiser.
Adam scores a signature from Cincinnati Red’s Second Baseman Scooter Gennett
Adam gives an on-field interview at Busch Stadium in St. Louis
We also decided to reach out to Hilton hotels to see if they would help us out. Again, the response was great. In almost every city with an MLB ballpark, Hilton put us up for free. In many cases, they had Bar Mitzvah “gifts” of snacks, drinks and personalized items waiting for me in the hotel room. One manager said that he remembered secretly leaving his own Bar Mitzvah party to go check the ballgame scores.
There were so many people I met who shared stories of their baseball memories and I realized there were a lot of baseball fans in this country. The trip itself was amazing. I successfully saw a game at every MLB Park and we were able to complete the trip in 60 days. I gave lots of interviews as we went around the country. People seemed really excited about my trip and fundraising project. Several MLB players even donated.
By the time the trip was done, I saw a total of 73 home runs and raised over $20,000 for the three organizations. More than 200 individuals and families have donated so far. Many of them are family and friends but almost half of them are people I met while we were on the trip.
It was also a great way to spend time with my family and see a lot of the United States. We recorded our experiences throughout the summer in a blog that is on my Website. Even though the trip is over, we are still accepting donations and they keep coming in. Instead of a Bar Mitzvah party that lasted a few hours, I had a Bar Mitzvah experience with my family that lasted for two months, with memories that will last a lifetime. I learned that the world is full of truly generous and amazing people. As I take my place as an adult in my community this Fall, I realize that I have made a difference and it feels great.
Adam Koss is a seventh grader from Syracuse, NY. To learn more about his Mitzvah Project or to make a donation visit www.adamsmlbroadtrip.com.
Get a copy of Mitzvah Market Magazine here.
