Best Friends Celebrate with Virtual B’nai Mitzvah

Best friends Zachary Tamarkin and Eric Zager of Allentown, PA had planned separate Bar Mitzvah celebrations – Eric’s in March and Zachary’s in June, 2020 – prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. When it became clear that plans would need to change, their families joined forces to celebrate their simchas with a Zoom B’nai Mitzvah and socially distant celebration. Held on Zach’s original date, the day was festive, meaningful and definitely memorable. 

Each family participated from the safety of their respective homes, while their rabbi from Temple Beth El in Allentown conducted the temple’s first-ever virtual service from his house. Both families had Holocaust Torahs in their homes, making their services even more significant.

In the afternoon, they came together at the Tamarkin’s house, where they rented a frozen treats truck and had guests sign up for 15-minute time slots to drive by, get a treat, and have a quick, socially distanced visit with the Bar Mitzvah boys. Outdoor decor included homemade lawn signs, the boys’ custom logo, and photos of the friends over the years. Guests received a custom face mask and other favors made by the families. Prior to the Zoom, they hand delivered or mailed goody bags to create excitement for the event. 

Read on to see photos from this awesome socially distant celebration:

Zach & Eric’s Virtual B’nai Mitzvah

A custom logo was created for the celebration

Prior to the big day, guests received these goody bags at their homes

Close up of letter from the Tamarkin and Zager families

The Tamarkin's (L-R), mom Tama, brother Gabe, Bar Mitzvah boy Zach, sister Hannah and dad Frank

The dining room was used for their service and Zoom set up.

Zach did a great job reading from the Torah

The Zagers joined together in their living room

Mom Miriam and dad Mike on either side of Eric, while his siblings watched from the sofa

Scott Present from Xtreme Event Group coordinated the Zoom service for the families and also produced a montage of well-wishes from guests

Zoom guests

Each boy celebrated with their own hora!

Mazel Tov!

Furry guests were able to attend the at-home service

Eric is joined by his siblings, Zach, Ben, Carly and Matthew

Zach's house was decorated with lawn signs and photos

Close up of lawn signs

Photos of the boys through the years captured their friendship

This frozen treat truck was a surprise treat for drive-by guests

Must-have Mitzvah accessory of 2020

A day neither boy will ever forget!

Mitzvah Advice

“Hire a DJ/entertainment company to help run your virtual Mitzvah,” says Zach’s mom Tama. “While a virtual event was not what we had planned or hoped for, we were able to add meaning and connection. Having someone else run the Zoom, (Xtreme Event Group did ours) it put us at ease and also made for a seamless and professional event which guests connected with.”

Mitzvah Project

For Eric’s Mitzvah Project, he was joined by Zach and other friends when he regularly visited Country Meadows Retirement Community this winter to spend time with residents and talk about his love of sports. The conversations often turned to other topics and the boys loved hearing stories from the residents and learning life lessons.  Eric will now be joining Zach to complete a Mitzvah Project with Mitzvah Circle, a local organization that the Tamarkin family has engaged with that was created to fill gaps and provide items that are not covered by government assistance to families most in need. When it is safe to do so, Zach and Eric will be organizing a service day for their friends and family to go to Mitzvah Circle’s warehouse to help package customized care packages with clothing, shoes, diapers, period supplies, books, household goods, toiletries and more for families in crisis.

Vendor Directory

Virtual Service Coordination & Well Wishes Montage Video: Xtreme Event Group, 732-536-8155
Photographer: Heather Gogal Photography, 610-704-9274 and DAVisions Photography, 610-258-5805
Custom Masks: Big Tex Banners and Flags, 888-849-2749
Invitations: InkRedible, 610-398-8599
Food Truck: Frozen Island, 302-353-8868

Thousands of Bar and Bat Mitzvah families are sharing information and ideas about virtual Mitzvahs, re-booking their celebrations and more in Mitzvah Market’s 17 regional Facebook groups. Join here.