Stars… they’re just like us!
Well, in some ways.
Most of us don’t see much in common between ourselves and celebrities, who stay in luxury hotels, wear designer clothes, and jetset around the world. But a surprising link between some of our favorite celebrities and ourselves holds us all together – Bar Mitzvahs.
From learning to read from the Torah, to throwing a lavish party, to those awkward teenage photos, Jewish celebrity Bar and Bat Mitzvahs remind us that the lifestyles of the rich and famous are not so far out of reach. Below are photos of seven superstars at their own coming-of-age ceremonies, and what they had to say about their big days.
- Drake
At thirteen years old, Toronto-native rapper Drake (born Aubrey Graham) celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, a modest and traditional event much like any other B Mitzvah party at the time. In a 2012 interview, Drake described himself as “a proud young Jewish boy”, claiming that at the time of his Bar Mitzvah, he vowed “that if I ever got rich, I’d throw myself a re-Bar Mitzvah.”
Well, get rich he did, and in keeping to his word, Drake thew himself a “re-Bar Mitzvah” in 2017 for his 31st birthday (31 being the inverse of 13, the traditional Bar Mitzvah age).
The star studded-event featured A-list guests, lots of partying, and even a bit of Torah reading.
2. Tiffany Haddish
The funny and talented comedian Tiffany Haddish didn’t discover her Jewish heritage until her late 20s when she reconnected with her estranged father, an Ethiopian Jew. From there, she went on to study Hebrew and Jewish law, finally consummating her religious identity in 2019 with a Bat Mitzvah celebration on her 40th birthday.
On the same day as her big celebration, Haddish released her comedy special Black Mitzvah which delves into her identity and experience as a Black Jew.
3. Chelsea Handler
Comedian and author Chelsea Handler remembered her Bat Mitzvah back in 2014 with a throwback photo of her up at the Torah. The caption put any doubts about her religion to rest, saying “Don’t ever say I’m not a real Jew. My bat-mitzvah. Mazel.”
4. James Franco
In 2015, James Franco took his Mitzvah Project to a whole new level. Teaming up with fellow actor Seth Rogen, he threw a lavish Bar Mitzvah party to raise money for Rogen’s Hilarity for Charity which donates its proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association. With performances and appearances by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Jeff Goldblum, Zac Efron, and many more, the nontraditional coming of age celebration raised more than 4 million dollars for Alzheimer’s research.
Here’s a bonus photo of Franco’s best bud Seth Rogen at his own Bar Mitzvah:
5. Nick Kroll
Funnyman Nick Kroll has documented the trials and tribulations of pubescence and growing up in his hit Netflix show Big Mouth. As promotion between the show’s 4th and 5th seasons, Kroll shared this precious picture from his Bar Mitzvah.
6. Diana Agron
The Glee star took a trip down memory lane in the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, sharing an old snap of her Bat Mitzvah to Instagram.
7. Ben Platt
Broadway superstar Ben Platt, known for his roles in Dear Evan Hansen and the Pitch Perfect franchise, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in Los Angeles back in 2008.
By Vered Ornstein
