A Service of
simchaAUSTIN THE GUIDE TO JEWISH LIFE CYCLE CELEBRATIONS IN CENTRAL TEXAS
SIMCHAS
B A R / B AT M I T Z VA H S
BANQUETS
C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S
P R I VAT E D I N N E R S
BOXED LUNCHES
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
5 1 2 . 4 4 7. 4 11 3
2019 / 5779-80 SIMCHA AUSTIN
WEDDINGS
PA S C A L S C AT E R I N G .C O M
2019 | 5779-80
Published by The Jewish Outlook A Service of Shalom Austin
Us Host Mitzvah Mitzvah, Let Let Us Host YourYour Bar Bar Mitzvah and and Bat Bat Mitzvah, Wedding or Private Party Wedding or Private Party Private Country offer a relaxed, family-oriented club environment the perfect setting for your Wedding, and Bat Our Private Our Country Clubs offer aClubs relaxed, family-oriented club environment providing theproviding perfect setting for your Wedding, Bar MitzvahBar andMitzvah Bat Mitzvah, Special Mitzvah, Special Occasion or Occasion Meeting. or Meeting. Whether planning a small intimate or a grand affair, attention to top detail is the From top priority. From hors d’oeuvres to lavish dessert Whether planning a small intimate gathering or gathering a grand affair, attention to detail is the priority. delicious horsdelicious d’oeuvres to lavish dessert buffets, andineverything in between, our professional adds touches. all the right Our private clubhouses, private rooms, balconies, andvistas golf course vistas buffets, and everything between, our professional staff adds allstaff the right Ourtouches. clubhouses, rooms, balconies, and golf course create anbackdrop impressive for all your festivities. create an impressive forbackdrop all your festivities.
Stop ByStop and see By and us atsee theusSIMCHA at the SIMCHA AUSTIN AUSTIN EXPO March EXPO25! March 25!
Mazel Mazel Tov!Tov! We’ll take We’ll care of take thecare details of the so details that yousocan thathave youthe canperfect have the perfect Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Bar/BatWe Mitzvah. offer personalized We offer personalized catering and catering our and our dedicateddedicated staff will ensure staff will every ensure detail every is attended detail is to. attended to. Event space Event accommodating space accommodating up to 550 up guests to 550 guests Kosher menus Kosher menus Outside Kosher Outside catering Kosheravailable catering available For more information For more information contact: Catering contact:&Catering Sales at & 512.687.6638 Sales at 512.687.6638
westinaustinatthedomain.com westinaustinatthedomain.com
Twin Creeks TwinCountry Creeks Country Club Club River Place River Country Place Country Club Club 3201 Twin Creeks 3201 Twin ClubCreeks Dr Club Dr Cedar Park, TX Cedar 78613 Park, TX 78613 Phone: 512.250.3956 Phone: 512.250.3956 catering@twincreeksclub.com catering@twincreeksclub.com www.twincreeksclub.com www.twincreeksclub.com
4207 River Place 4207 Blvd River Place Blvd Austin, TX 78730 Austin, TX 78730 Phone: 512.346.1114 Phone: 512.346.1114 ext. 3904 ext. 3904 catering@riverplaceclub.com catering@riverplaceclub.com www.riverplaceclub.com www.riverplaceclub.com
Onion Creek OnionClub Creek Club
2510 Onion 2510 CreekOnion Parkway Creek Parkway Austin, TexasAustin, 78747Texas 78747 Phone: 512.383.2004 Phone: 512.383.2004 catering@onioncreekclub.com catering@onioncreekclub.com www.onioncreekclub.com www.onioncreekclub.com
Special Events are most special when shared with family and loved ones! At Olive and June, we can accommodate private dining for parties of up to 300 guests! Plan your next gathering at our Chef’s table, which is through the doors of our dynamic and exciting kitchen, or a special Shabbat dinner on our third floor, tucked under our heritage oak tree. Use all three levels of our restaurant for your bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah and dance the night away on our patio! Enjoy our hand-crafted, made-from-scratch Southern Italian cuisine by Chef Shawn Cirkiel, which will delight and inspire your guests.
512.467.9898 :: 3411 Glenview Ave. :: oliveandjune-austin.com Contact our special events team at events@parksideprojects.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 1
welcome Welcome to Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas. We hope you find this guide to be a useful resource, as well as a keepsake for those of you celebrating simchas during 2019 (5779-80). The bar and bat mitzvahs occurring in 2019 were included in response to a request by The Jewish Outlook to area congregations for submissions and through word of mouth. All simchas listed were provided before the guide’s publication deadline at the end of October. We apologize for any errors of omission, and hope you will accept our sincere “Mazel Tov” on your happy occasion. Family simchas are also publicized monthly in The Jewish Outlook. To extend a Mazel Tov of your own, send submissions to thejewishoutlook@shalomaustin.org. Thank you to our wonderful advertisers, who helped make Simcha Austin a reality, and for the helpful information you shared with our community.
SHALOM AUSTIN Dell Jewish Community Campus 7300 Hart Lane, Austin, Texas 78731 (512) 735-8012 | FAX: (512) 735-8043 thejewishoutlook.com thejewishoutlook@shalomaustin.org Publisher Shalom Austin Communications Director Wendy Goodman Editorial Staff Editor Julie Zweig Assistant Editor Tonyia Cone Creative Director Kim Cottin Assistant Art Director Rebecca Jarosh Staff Photographers Wendy R. Corn, Dave Hawks Advertising Staff Advertising Manager Diane Dusek Shalom Austin Board of Directors 2018-2019 Chair Abby Rapoport Immediate Past Chair Dan Kraus Treasurer/Secretary Rick Rosenberg Vice Chairs Brian Deitch, David Goldstein, Jill May, Wade Monroe, Keith Zimmerman At-Large Directors Arthur Altman, Martin Berson, Seth Halpern, Carolyn Haney, Adam Kruger, Phil Loewy, Courtney Manuel, Steve Meyers, Lauren Patten, Alex Robinson, Rob Rubenstein, Kim Schocket, Lisa Shapiro, Lily Smullen, Eric Stein, Lecia Sud, Julie Waltzer, Monica Yaniv, Nancy Zimmerman Ex-Officio Directors Daniel Septimus, Laurence Statman, Karen Cohen, Hannah Lapin, Linda Millstone Shalom Austin Officers Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Daniel Septimus Chief Operating Officer Corey Schwartz Chief Financial Officer Laurence Statman Chief Social Services Officer Gil Levy Chief Human Resources Officer Daniel Cox Malyszka Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Rachel Stern Shalom Austin and The Jewish Outlook are not liable for the content or errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost of the space occupied. Nor do they assume responsibility for the kashrut of any product or service advertised. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal F air Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.
2 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
BIG TIME CREATIVES Event Design + Management
Extraordinary is What We Do for Fun.
512.971.2321 info@bigtimecreatives.com www.bigtimecreatives.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 3
features
Banned from Marrying Interfaith Couples, Conservative Rabbis Are Finding Ways to Celebrate Them | 8
This Teen Had A Gender Neutral B’nei Mitzvah | 14 I Don’t Believe in God – But This Is Why I’m Having an Orthodox Wedding | 20 Nearly All Reform Rabbis Perform intermarriages – But Not With Non-Jewish Clergy, Study Finds | 26 The Non-Misogynist, Non-Hypocritical Case for Jewish Continuity. With Music. | 28 Weddings Are Lovely, But It’s the Marriage That Matters | 32 Putting the Mitzvah in Bar Mitzvah | 36 Wedding Traditions Across the Abrahamic Faiths | 40 2019 Austin Area Bar and Bat Mitzvahs | 44
COVER PHOTO: JONAH MALINGER BY DAVID FINKEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Plan your simcha seamlessly! Feel at home at the new DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin Northwest Arboretum, starting with a warm Chocolate Chip Cookie at check-in. Guest rooms are stylishly decorated and include complimentary WiFi, a 42-inch HDTV with premium channels, mini-refrigerator, coffeemaker and laptop-sized safe. Choose a suite for a dining area, living area with sofa bed and adjoining rooms – great for families. Our new Austin venue is perfect for intimate or large simchas for up to 600 guests. Ask our professional team about catering and event options. This DoubleTree Arboretum hotel offers modern decor and up to 7,500 sq. ft. of versatile event space including two ballrooms, boardroom and two conference rooms. We also have an atrium, along with other rooms so we can accommodate up to 300 people in a single space. We’ll make sure that everything will run smoothly. We’re ready to help: setting up your space, supplying the room with what you need, or meeting special dietary needs, we’ll make sure the details are dialed in. Take a relaxing swim in the outdoor pool or work out in our stateshuttle service within a 4-mile radius.
Contact the Sales department at 512.343.0888 and/or come tour our property at 8901 Business Park Drive
Minutes from JCC
Party Planning Advertising Special 45 Pinkberry 45 Archer Hotel Austin 46 Texas Pro DJ 46 The County Line 47 EVENTfull ATX 47 Madeleine Tilin Photography 48 Gail’s Catering 48 David Finkel Photography 49 Medical Parkway Printing 49 Texas Hillel 50 AT&T Hotel & Conference Center 50 Altared Weddings 51 Austin Catering 51 Rachael Hall Photography 52 The Oasis 53 Doubletree by Hilton Austin NW Arboretum 54 Fonda San Miguel 55 Ginny B. Photography 55 Big Time Creatives 56 Olive & June 57 Westin Austin at the Domain 57 The Traveling Photo Booth 58 Pascal’s Catering
6
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
LIFE LOVE Celebrate FAMILY BLESSINGS
E XQU IS ITE INT E RI O R ME XI CA N CU I S I N E A N D F I N E A RT 2330 W. No r t h Lo o p | A u st in, Texas | 512.4 59.4121 | w w w. FondaSanMiguel. com
SOME CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUES ALLOW INTERFAITH COUPLES TO CELEBRATE THEIR UNIONS BY TAKING PART IN AN AUFRUF. (LIOR ZALTZMAN)
Banned from Marrying Interfaith Couples, Conservative Rabbis Are Finding Other Ways to Celebrate Them NEW YORK (JTA) — Emily Schorr
The experiences “made us feel
Lesnick and Jamila Humphrie always
very unwelcomed and very uninter-
The Conservative movement bans
knew that Judaism would play a part
ested in participating in anything in
its rabbis from performing interfaith
in the life they wanted to build to-
Conservative Jewish spaces, specifi-
marriages, so Rabbi Adam Baldachin
gether. But experiences with Conser-
cally,” Humphrie told JTA.
suggested performing an aufruf for
vative Jewish institutions had made the couple feel less than welcome.
dale, New York.
The two women, who live in Har-
the couple, a ceremony usually done
lem, got married in a civil ceremony
ahead of a Jewish wedding in which
Schorr Lesnick, 28, remembers en-
on New Years Eve in 2016. At the time
the couple is called up to the Torah
countering homophobia at her Jewish
they did not consider having a reli-
for a blessing. Baldachin and his syna-
Conservative summer camp. Humph-
gious ceremony.
gogue’s ritual committee had recently
rie, 29, who was raised Christian but
But at the insistence of Schorr Le-
decided to offer aufruf ceremonies
does not identify with a religion, felt
snick’s father, they agreed last year
to interfaith couples as an alternative
singled out as a non-Jewish and bira-
to meet with the rabbi of her family’s
way to celebrate their unions.
cial person when she accompanied
longtime synagogue, Shaarei Tikvah,
Schorr Lesnick and Humphrie say
Schorr Lesnick to synagogue.
a Conservative congregation in Scars-
that planning the aufruf, which will
8 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Sisterhood Agudas Achim Judaica Shop
! a c ai d Ju f no o ti c ele s st e g ar l ’s n i st u A We carry the complete Judaica collection by Michael Aram. They make wonderful gifts!
TAX FREE DAY!!!
Sunday, December 2, 2018 10am-3pm WE GIVE BACK! Support Austin’s Jewish community by shopping with us. 10% of sales are donated back to all Austin Jewish Congregations that their members make with us. We also include the ECP & AJA!!
25% OFF all Invitation Orders thru SAA Call: 512-785-5267 for information.
Gift Shop Hours: *Extended Hours:
Mon - Fri 10am–1pm Tu: 1pm–6:30pm Wed: 1pm–4pm Sun 10am–1pm
(*concurrent with AJA & CAARS schedules)
Located in the CAA lobby entry at the DJCC; 7300 Hart Lane, Austin 78731 saajudaicaaustin@gmail.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 9
JAMILA HUMPHRIE, LEFT, AND EMILY SCHORR LESNICK ARE AN INTERFAITH COUPLE THAT IS TAKING PART IN AN AUFRUF CEREMONY IN A CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE. (COURTESY OF HUMPHRIE AND SCHORR LESNICK)
of interfaith couples. “My job and my goal is to make sure that all members of the Jewish home feel a part of every life cycle event,” he said. “I think the aufruf is a good example of how we can do that in welcoming the couple’s commitment to building that home.” Rabbi Steven Abraham of Beth El Synagogue in Omaha, Nebraska, observes but does not support his movement’s ban on intermarriage. take place in June, has made them more open to exploring Jewish rituals and religious practices.
“The irony of the aufruf for an interfaith couple is that most likely, unless the rabbi made some decision on his
“I do think that it turned on a light switch that ‘it’s not all
or her own, they’re not going to be performing the wed-
the same, and we can make our own spaces, we can make
ding,” he said. “So this is as close as you’re going to get to
a choice about this,’” Humphrie said.
a public ritual where you’re pronouncing fact that they’re
The Conservative movement has long urged outreach
going to be married.”
to interfaith families, on the theory that a welcoming at-
In performing an aufruf for an interfaith couple, Abra-
mosphere will encourage them to engage with Jewish life
ham wants to send the message to others that interfaith
and raise their children with a Jewish identity. But many
marriage “isn’t a capital crime.”
rabbis say the intermarriage ban presents a hurdle.
“I would be able to very easily tell that young person
As a result, some are trying to find creative ways to
who’s sitting in the service, ‘Listen, I would much prefer
honor and welcome couples, who might otherwise steer
that you probably marry a Jew, but if you don’t marry a
clear of their synagogues and perhaps find spiritual
Jew I don’t want you to think that you don’t belong here,’”
homes elsewhere.
he said.
“The Conservative movement in some ways has cre-
Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein at Congregation Beth Or in Bell-
ated a barrier for many rabbis with the policies that are
more, New York, said that many interfaith couples think
constantly reinforced and talked about,” said Rabbi Jesse
they are not welcome in her community.
Olitzky of Congregation Beth El in South Orange, New Jer-
“A lot of people assume that just because you’re a Con-
sey. “Families are making the assumption that because of
servative congregation you will not be welcoming of in-
said policies there is no place to ritually welcome an inter-
terfaith families, and my synagogue is not like that, it is
faith couple or an interfaith family.”
radically welcoming,” she said.
In October, the movement doubled down on its inter-
Though the issue of interfaith aufruf has not come up
marriage ban, after a number of rabbis performed or said
in her community, Bernstein said she is happy to offer her
they would perform marriages between a Jew and a non-
congratulations to interfaith couples on their marriage.
Jew. Marrying a non-Jewish partner is common among
“I generally personally reach out and say mazal tov, and
non-Orthodox Jews: A 2013 study by the Pew Research
check in with them, and give them space to talk and kvell if
Center’s 2013 study of American Jewry found that more
they want to and listen,” Bernstein said. “I think that a lot of
than 70 percent have done so since 2000. While the Re-
Jewish communities try to use shame as a way of ‘maybe
form movement allows its rabbis to perform intermar-
if we are secretive about it then no one will know, and it’s
riages, the Conservative movement, like the Orthodox,
not going to promote intermarriage,’ and it’s not the right
prohibits them.
approach.”
Olitzky has performed aufruf ceremonies for a handful 10 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky of Ansche Chesed in New
York City supports the Conservative
children of that intermarried couple,
In 2017, the umbrella body for
movement’s ban on intermarriage,
‘we still value your relationship, we
Conservative synagogues approved
but says he is open to performing an
still value your lives, we want to sup-
a resolution to allow individual con-
aufruf for an interfaith couple.
port you in your journeys and your
gregations to decide whether to grant
lives.’
membership to non-Jews. Some Con-
“We want to say that it’s possible to have a welcoming face to commu-
“I don’t think there’s a reason to
servative Jews have qualms about al-
nity and still have in-marriage norm,”
say ‘tsk-tsk’ and not have the Jewish
lowing non-Jews to participate in cer-
he said. “We want to say it’s possible
spouse have a celebratory aufruf be-
tain Jewish rituals.
to say to intermarried couple and the
fore the wedding,” he added.
Glen Rock Jewish Center in Glen
Treat Your Guests
To Gorgeous Rooms & Exceptional Service
Hanukkah Celebrations for Your Family or Work Place B'nai Mitzvahs End of Year Appreciation Parties Association & Charity Events Employee Brunches, Luncheons & Dinners Contact Natalie Bratcher, Director of Events 512.258.9890 or nbratcher@balconescountryclub.com 8600 Balcones Club Drive Austin, TX 78750 www.BalconesCountryClub.com Facebook.com/BalconesCountryClub Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 11
Unique
Judaica & Ritual Items Your Central Texas Source for Judaica
Rock, New Jersey, allows non-Jewish partners to accompany their spouses on the bimah, or ritual stage, for an aliyah honor on their child’s bar or bat mitzvah, participate when a child is given his or her first prayer shawl, and read certain prayers in English. Still, some members remain skeptical about non-Jews’ ritual participation, said Rabbi Jennifer Schlosberg. “There are community members for one reason or another who feel uncomfortable with their involvement, even if it is permissible. One of the challenges for me is trying to educate the other community members to help them become more comfortable with these things while also recognizing their own voice,” Schlosberg said. During their aufruf at Shaarei Tikvah in Scarsdale, Humphrie and Schorr Lesnick will go up together to the bimah. Schorr Lesnick will recite the blessings before and after a portion is read from the Torah. Rabbi Baldachin and the synagogue’s cantor, Gerald Cohen, will recite a
Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd
l
Austin, TX 78756
l
512.454.6806
blessing for the couple in Hebrew and English. It will be Baldachin’s first time performing an aufruf for an interfaith couple. “This just seemed an easy way for me to be in relationship with interfaith families without the ability to perform their wedding,” Baldachin said. Prior to allowing aufrufs for interfaith couples, Shaarei
Your Personal Shopper
Tikvah’s ritual committee spent time studying the issue. The synagogue already allowed non-Jewish partners to participate in other ways in the service, such as being invited on the bimah during their child’s bar or bat mitzvah
™
ceremony and opening the Torah ark. Before allowing an interfaith couple to take part in an aufruf, Baldachin will ask how they plan to maintain a Jewish home. For Baldachin the difference between marriage and an aufruf comes down to Jewish law. The blessing “for an aufruf in general is not a ritual that changes anyone’s status,” he said. By contrast, a ritual that changes a couple’s status from single to married is seen as binding. For Schorr Lesnick being able to celebrate her marriage in her childhood synagogue holds a large significance. “It’s exciting to think about being able to have an opportunity where we can imagine what Jewishness could mean Count on Twin this season for gift ideas, party planning, advice, pairing suggestions, Online ordering, and more!
Locations, Recipes & Event Info at twinliquors.com Please drink responsibly.
12 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
for us,” she said.
top Your one-s lanning shop for p ! celebration your next ur vendors Meet all yo e, under in one plac one roof.
Sponsored by
ESTHER THORPE, LEFT, IDENTIFIES AS NON-BINARY AND HAD A GENDER-NEUTRAL B’NEI MITZVAH CEREMONY WITH THE HELP OF STUDENT RABBI GABRIEL WEBBER. (COURTESY OF MIRIAM TAYLOR THORPE)
This Teen Had A Gender Neutral B’nei Mitzvah (JTA) — When Esther Thorpe came
something is important in your com-
last year found that 2.7 percent of
out as non-binary a year ago, iden-
ing of age, it should reflect who you
children in the state identify as trans-
tifying neither as male nor female,
are in a person and not squeeze you
gender or gender nonconforming.
Miriam Taylor Thorpe was worried.
into the traditional two genders that
Catherine Bell, senior director of
Esther’s mother already had a child
we happen to have just because of
program and leadership at Keshet,
come out as gay and feared that Es-
history,” Miriam, who lives with her
a Massachusetts-based group that
ther, 14, would have trouble finding a
husband, Martyn, and seven children
promotes LGBTQ equality, said the
Jewish community that would be ac-
in the village of Otterburn, in north-
organization gets requests on how to
cepting and inclusive.
east England, told JTA.
make religious ceremonies inclusive of different gender identities.
The family was already planning for
As transgender and gender non-
Esther’s bat mitzvah, but with the new
conforming people gain more accep-
“A real frontier for the work that
revelation, Miriam wondered how
tance, synagogues are having to think
Keshet does these days is around
her child could be comfortable taking
about how to welcome those with a
gender identity and gender diversity,
part in a Jewish ceremony whose very
diverse set of gender identities. Sta-
a lot around transgender inclusion
name — bar mitzvah for boys and bat
tistics about gender identity in chil-
and making sure non-binary and trans
mitzvah for girls — is gendered.
dren are hard to come by, but a Uni-
youth are included,” Bell told JTA.
“I was quite concerned because if
versity of Minnesota study published
14 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
The Union for Reform Judaism —
Host Your Next Event at Texas Hillel
Do you have an upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a wedding, a fundraiser, lecture, meeting or other special event? Centrally-located near the University of Texas Large Banquet space Various-sized meeting rooms Spacious outdoor patio Capacity up to 500 people Glatt Kosher kitchen Rent by the hour or by the day To reserve your space today or to set up an appointment for a tour, contact Jordenne at jparker@texashillel.org or 512-476-0125 ext. 1009.
2105 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78705 www.texashillel.org
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 15
THE CUPCAKE BAR entertaining that takes the cake
THE THORPE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS MIRIAM TAYLOR THORPE, THIRD FROM RIGHT, AND MARTYN THORPE, SECOND FROM RIGHT, CELEBRATING ESTHER’S B’NEI MITZVAH WITH CONGREGANT HAVA FLEMING. (COURTESY OF MIRIAM TAYLOR THORPE)
the congregational arm of the move-
Webber looked for other possibili-
ment in the United States — has a
ties. He found that other non-binary
toolkit for synagogues that includes a
people had used terms such as “ban
section on how to tailor b’nei mitzvah
mitzvah” (“ban” is a made-up word
ceremonies to align with the child’s
that combines the Hebrew words
gender identity, said Rabbi Leora
for boy and girl, “ben” and “bat”) and
Kaye, director of program.
“zera mitzvah” (“zera” means seed or
“What we’re seeing now is that there are families and there are con-
“Esther uses ‘they’ pronouns, which
gregations that are very open to ex-
is also a plural being used as a singular,
ploring with the kids that are becom-
so [b’nei] fit, and it wasn’t making up
ing bar and bat mitzvah how they
Hebrew, which is probably better than
want to be identified,” Kaye told JTA.
making up Hebrew,” Webber said.
The Thorpe family worked with the
He also looked into how to call up
student rabbi of their synagogue, York
Esther to read from the Torah. Tradi-
Liberal Jewish Community, to adapt
tionally, readers are called up using
the ceremony, which was held in De-
their first name in Hebrew followed
cember. Gabriel Webber is a first-year
by “ben” or “bat” (son or daughter)
student at London’s Leo Baeck Col-
and their parent’s or parents’ names.
lege, a rabbinical school associated
Finding the right way to be called
with the Liberal movement, a partner
up to the Torah held a major signifi-
under the worldwide Reform um-
cance for Esther.
brella. As part of his research ahead
“It felt like a big responsibility for
of the ceremony, he came across ex-
other non-binary kids in the future,”
amples of ceremonies for non-binary
Esther told JTA in an email.
children in the United States but not in the United Kingdom.
A full-service interactive dessert experience for any event! (512) 903-0187 thecupcakebar.com
offspring in Hebrew).
Using a Hebrew name that relayed family ties and fit into the larger Jew-
“Although this is the first one that
ish tradition was important to Esther,
we’ve had on the radar, it’s going to
said their mother, who wrote about
be far from the last one,” Webber
Esther’s b’nei mitzvah in The Jewish
said.
Chronicle.
Webber spent a lot of time thinking
“If you have a name that doesn’t
about how to eschew gendered words
give that tie into your family and your
in Hebrew during what they came to
history, you are much more isolated,
call Esther’s b’nei mitzvah, using the
and that compounds isolation that
Hebrew plural term b’nei, which could
I know Esther still does feel — if you
refer to a mixed-gender group of peo-
are non-binary or trans and you are
ple. Esther uses “they” as a singular
the only person in your shul that
pronoun rather than “he” or “she.”
are already in a different position,”
Before settling on b’nei mitzvah,
Thorpe said.
We create an atmosphere of entertainment with lights, sound and personalities that create memorable and lasting impressions on your guests.
creating AWE in your event 512.255.6788 Info@altaredweddings.com
www.altaredweddings.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 17
Mitzvahs l Social Events l Wedding “Barbara did a fabulous job of taking my vision, making it better, and bringing it to life. I would recommend her services highly and plan to use her again for future events. The evening was a great success and very memorable." Diane “Barbara is a fantastic party planner. She planned our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. She is so sweet and easy to work with. She was able to put together our wishes accordingly with our budget. I can’t wait to work with Barbara again!” Milene
Austin Event Studio Creating Custom Events Barbara Cooper, Owner 512-653-3478 Barbara@AustinEventStudio.com www.AustinEventStudio.com
In the end Esther chose “Esther m’beit Miriam,” meaning “Esther from the house of Miriam.” In addition to the liturgical changes, Esther had of course to read their Torah portion and write a drash, or sermon. Since the family lives a three-hour drive from York, Esther did their learning via videochat with Webber and a congregant, Hava Fleming. In December, Esther led the service in front of some 100 people. Afterward there was a celebration with food, ice cream, popcorn machines and doughnuts, as the rite fell during Hanukkah. The event was significant not only because it may have been the country’s first gender-neutral b’nei mitzvah but also because it was York’s first bar, bat or b’nei mitzvah ceremony in over 50 years. The city’s Jewish history is mainly known for a 12th-century anti-Semitic massacre in which all the Jewish residents were killed. Despite the adaptations, there were still some lingering issues. Though immediate friends and family were respectful of Esther’s gender identity, others gave “bat mitzvah” cards and gifts geared toward girls, Miriam Thorpe said. “It was quite easy to make the service be reflective of [Esther being] non-binary, once you have a rabbi that’s on board with it and you have a congregation that’s prepared to take that through,” she said, “and as soon as you left the service you’re back to it’s either a bar mitzvah or a bat mitzvah and there’s nothing in between.” Still, Esther is happy about how things turned out. “I feel better,” they said. “I feel part of a community, accepted and acknowledged.”
18 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
FUN. CANDID. FOREVER.
830.708.8877
RACHAELHALLPHOTO.COM
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 19
I Don’t Believe in God — But This Is Why I’m Having an Orthodox Wedding feel far too unnatural. Which is why it may seem a bit strange that I am arranging (if you can call it that: We have less than a week to go and no ring) a second wedding ceremony. This time it’s with a rabbi, huppah, ketubah — the whole shebang. And it’s all at my insistence. To be honest, it makes no sense to be doing it now, when we already have our hands full with two small children. Or at all. While we are both Jewish according to halachah, Orthodox law, neither of us observe its laws. We don’t even believe in God, let alone what Orthodox Judaism says are His rules for matrimony. But after some soul-searching over Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, I realized that my desire for a Jewish wedding is rooted in a growing uncertainty — that of belonging to a persecuted people whose own identity and place in Europe, and Israel, are being redefined rapidly. Essentially, I want to have an Orthodox wedding and a ketubah — a Jewish religious marriage contract — to CNAAN LIPHSHIZ AND WIFE IRIS CELEBRATING THEIR WEDDING IN THE NETHERLANDS, JULY 2, 2013. (COURTESY OF LIPHSHIZ)
guarantee our children’s eligibility for becoming card-carrying members of any stream of Judaism, and for remaining Israeli citizens.
AMSTERDAM (JTA) — My wife and I were married
As things stand today, they already qualify as both even
roughly 5,000 diapers ago, and she’s still waiting for me
though their parents don’t have a ketubah, which in Juda-
to propose.
ism is optional anyway. (In halachah, a man and woman
I know this because she reminds me every anniversary.
technically need neither ketubah nor wedding ceremony
To be clear, ours was no shotgun wedding. Iris and I
to be husband and wife – cohabitation is enough to seal
were hitched in a civil marriage in Holland five years ago
a marriage, although the practice was discouraged by the
— a wholesome two years before our first child arrived.
rabbis.)
But issues persist with my marriage proposal in 2013. Iris claims that I mumbled, over scrambled eggs, “So, like, do you want to get married or something?” But I think we had pancakes that day.
Our kids can obtain Israeli passports because I am a citizen. And because my wife is Jewish according to halachah (her mother had an Orthodox conversion before my wife
What she’s owed, I guess, is one of those orchestrated
was born), our son and daughter meet the definition of
productions involving playful deceit, an airplane banner
who is a Jew under a matrilineal standard accepted by all
and a seaside kneel to the sounds of saxophone played
streams.
by a hired musician who pops out of nowhere at exactly
But amid radicalization in Orthodox circles in Israel and
the right time along with two cameramen and a boom op-
beyond, there seems to be little guarantee that this will be
erator.
the case 20 years from now. Our ketubah may therefore
But for a fuss-averse pragmatist like me, such affairs
20 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
shield our children from scrutiny and complications.
Save the Schlep. Save the Gelt. Have your event at CBI. SIMCHAS
Ideal for b’nei mitzvah parties, weddings, receptions, baby namings, b’ritot, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties and reunions • Over 8,000 square feet of beautiful ballroom space • Portable stage • Commercial kitchen which can be used by your choice of caterer • Professional sound system • Audio visual equipment & internet access • Tables and chairs for 200, table cloths and chair covers.
BUSINESS
Perfect for seminars, retreats, business meetings, workshops, classes and more • Over 45,000 square feet of meeting space • Versatile, well-appointed rooms • •
Internet access (some rooms) Audio visual equipment
Rabbi Steven Folberg • Rabbi Kelly Levy • Cantorial Soloist Sarah Avner
Congregation BethBeth Israel • 3901 Shoal Austin,TX TX78756 78756• •512.454.6806 512.454.6806 • www.BethIsrael.org Congregation Israel • 3901 ShoalCreek CreekBlvd. Blvd. •• Austin, • www.BethIsrael.org
It’s
Your Time to Shine
Unique Styles Impressive Service Creative Cuisine 208 Barton Springs Rd. Austin, TX 78704 512.480.2040 austin.hyatt.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 21
In 2016, for example, an Orthodox rabbinical court in the Israeli city of Petach Tikvah retroactively declared a woman non-Jewish. She had undergone an Orthodox conversion overseen by Haskel Lookstein – one of the most highly regarded Orthodox rabbis in North America. Nevertheless, the Chief Rabbinate has begun to treat all conversions performed in America as suspect, as JTA has reported. Amid this war among Orthodox rabbis, can anyone guarantee that hardliners won’t move to disqualify as Jews those who were born to converts? Or, for that matter, a Dutch Jew whose parents never bothered to get married in a Jewish ceremony? Consider the case of Yossi Fackenheim, the 39-year-old son of the late Holocaust survivor and Reform rabbi Emil Fackenheim. In 2009, an Orthodox dayan, or rabbinic judge, in Jerusalem retroactively declared null and void the younger Fackenheim’s Orthodox conversion to Judaism in Canada at the age of 2. The stated reason: The convert did not lead an Orthodox observant lifestyle. Fearing this radicalization, I want to make sure our son and daughter have documentation to escape such injustice, for example, if and when they choose to marry Jewishly. Deeper under the surface, though,
Adver tise in
Reach One of the Fastest Growing Jewish Communities in the Country! To advertise, contact
Diane Dusek (512) 657-6656 (512) 342-2550 diane.dusek@shalomaustin.org 22 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
there are other concerns driving me to retie the knot. In the eight years that have passed since I moved to the Netherlands, dark clouds have gathered over Western Europe, making it increasingly inhospitable to Jews. Against a backdrop of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and smears, violence against Jews is making a huge comeback in
GinnyBPhotography 512.586.7884 • ginnybphoto.com
Only Sharks Get
Fresher Seafood We offer a huge variety of saltwater and freshwater fin fish. Shipments are flown to Texas up to six days a week from places all over the world, including Hawaii and Ecuador. We buy only from strictly regulated fisheries committed to sustainable practices, and we inspect each piece at the door. Then our fishmongers expertly cut fillets and steaks from whole fish for amazingly fresh results.
CENTRALMARKET.COM
AUSTIN-NORTH 4001 N. LAMAR | 512-206-1000
AUSTIN-SOUTH 4477 S. LAMAR | 512-899-4300
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 23
this part of the world. In Amsterdam, where we live and enrolled our children in a heavily guarded Jewish kindergarten, a Syrian asylum seeker last year vandalized a kosher restaurant while waving a Palestinian flag to protest President Donald Trump’s moving of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. In Antwerp, where I sometimes spend Rosh Hashanah with my relatives, an Arab driver is believed to have tried to run over a Jew and his son while they were walking to synagogue earlier this year. In 2014, an Islamist allegedly murdered four people at the Brussels Jewish museum. In France, a jihadist killed a rabbi and four children at a Jewish school in 2012. Another Muslim fundamentalist murdered four Jews at a kosher store in 2015. And in 2014, gangs of rioters attacked at least nine synagogues in that country as payback for Israel’s war on Hamas. Even Britain, which many local Jews have long thought of as a safe haven, is seeing the resurgence of antiSemitism, including inside the Labour Party under its populist far-left leader, Jeremy Corbyn. A future here is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine for our children, to whom I speak in Hebrew and whom I often sing to sleep by butchering Naomi Shemer’s Zionist song
follow us ...
about Jerusalem, “Yerushalaim shel Zahav.” Israel must remain a fortress that’s open to them. By Israeli law, they are entitled to citizenship as my children even if they weren’t Jewish. But laws can be changed — and by the same group of people who are retroactively declar-
@jccaustin @shalomaustin
facebook.com/thejewishoutlook facebook.com/jewishaustin facebook.com/jccaustin
24 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
@shalomaustin
ing people non-Jewish. Granted, these are pretty somber
motives for getting hitched. But after studying our ketubah with our rabbi, I feel entitled to some pessimism. “It’s basically a prenup,” the rabbi
Custom Invitations for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah produced by
told me about the text written on parchment, which states the man is responsible for the woman’s wellbeing and specifies what alimony he’d
experienced printing professionals.
pay her if he divorces her. “Nobody likes a prenup, so I don’t call it that. And it contains some rosy talk about the joys of marriage. But make no mistake, this document is about what happens if it all goes wrong.” Then there’s the fact that as Jews, we’re told to remember the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem when we wed. That’s why, traditionally, Jewish men break a glass under the huppah, or canopy. Living as a Jew in Europe, a graveyard for 6 million Holocaust victims, destruction is never too far from my
Catalog Invitations are also available, as are
thank you cards party favors reply cards programs napkins maps
mind. Such pessimism also extends to Israel, where despite phenomenal successes and inspiring expressions of unity, polarization in society has joined neighborly hostility as a major threat to a viable future in a homeland for all Jews. Still, I think of our Jewish wedding also as acknowledgment and appreciation of the tremendous privileges with which I’ve been blessed and seek to preserve. The first is living with the best partner I could’ve hoped for. The second is our children’s place in the world’s only Jewish country. In joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, and hopefully long after death does us part.
HONOR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT WITH A DONATION TO A TRIBUTE FUND IS THERE SOMEBODY SPECIAL IN YOUR LIFE CELEBRATING A SIMCHA, such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary or bar/bat mitzvah? Not quite sure how to show your concern about the loss of a loved one? Honor someone you care about while making a difference in our community with a tax-deductible gift to a Tribute Fund. Donations can be designated to one of 20 different funds. The honoree or family of the person you remember will receive a special card in the mail. In addition, all tribute gifts will appear in The Jewish Outlook. To make your Tribute gift today, visit shalomaustin.org/tributes.
Questions? Contact Jenifer Thompson at (512) 735-8034 or jenifer.thompson@shalomaustin.org.
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 25
Nearly All Reform Rabbis Perform Intermarriages — But Not With Non-Jewish Clergy, Study Finds
MOST REFORM AND RECONSTRUCTIONIST RABBIS WILL NOT CO-OFFICIATE A WEDDING WITH CLERGY OF ANOTHER RELIGION. (ABHISHEK JACOB/FLICKR, CC BY-SA 2.0)
(JTA) — The vast majority of Reform rabbis will perform
and nearly half of the country’s more than 300 Recon-
interfaith marriages, but most will not co-officiate wed-
structionist rabbis, as well as nearly 60 Conservative rab-
dings with non-Jewish clergy, a new study found.
bis and some from smaller denominations.
According to the survey, 84 percent of Reform rabbis
In the latest survey, most Reform and Reconstructionist
perform intermarriages, while 16 percent do not. Among
rabbis (59 percent) require couples they marry to com-
Reconstructionist rabbis, 88 percent officiate at intermar-
mit to keeping a Jewish home and/or raising Jewish chil-
riages and 12 percent do not. Eight Conservative rabbis of
dren, according to the survey. Forty-three percent of rab-
the 59 surveyed said they officiate at intermarriages de-
bis from the two denominations require that the children
spite a prohibition by their movement.
not be “promised” to another faith, and 22 percent require
Orthodox rabbis also do not officiate at intermarriages. The Reform and Reconstructionist movements allow their rabbis to officiate at intermarriages.
that the non-Jewish partner not be committed to another religion. About a quarter of the Reform and Reconstructionist
The findings represent a jump over the past two de-
rabbis require the couple to study Judaism ahead of the
cades in the percentage of rabbis who would perform in-
wedding, and nearly a third said they counsel interfaith
termarriages. In 1995, a survey of Reform and Reconstruc-
couples differently than couples in which both people are
tionist rabbis found that a combined 47 percent would
Jewish.
officiate at intermarriages.
But most Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis will not
The study was conducted in 2017 between August and
co-officiate a wedding with clergy of another religion. Only
October and commissioned by InterfaithFamily, a group
26 and 22 percent of Reform and Reconstructionist rab-
that supports intermarried couples in Jewish life. It sur-
bis, respectively, will do so, and only 20 percent of the rab-
veyed nearly a quarter of America’s 2,200 Reform rabbis
bis will conduct a ceremony with theological references
26 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
Certified Kosher Catering Services • Highest level Kosher certification • World-renowned Kosher chef • Old Jerusalem spices and cooking Exclusive caterer of the Texas Hillel Foundation
to another religion. About half of the Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis who do not co-officiate did say they would allow non-Jewish clergy to perform readings or prayers at the wedding. Reform rabbis who were ordained in recent years were more willing to
www.gailscateringservices.com Galit Zadok • 512.994.6622 • Ask about getting a taste test.
officiate at intermarriages than rabbis ordained in previous decades, but were less willing to co-officiate with non-Jewish clergy. Approximately 90 percent of Reform rabbis ordained after 2000 said they perform intermarriages, as opposed to 80 percent of those ordained before 2000. But 27 percent of rabbis ordained before 2000 said they would co-officiate, compared to 23 percent of those ordained after 2000.
read online thejewishoutlook.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 27
LEONARD BERNSTEIN CONDUCTING A PERFORMANCE AT THE TANGLEWOOD MUSIC CENTER IN LENOX, MASS. (BSO PRESS OFFICE)
The Non-Misogynist, Non-Hypocritical Case for Jewish Continuity. With Music. (JTA) — This is Leonard Bernstein’s centennial sum-
against Romeo and Juliet getting together.
mer, and the Tanglewood Music Center in the Berkshires
This was just a few days after The New York Jewish Week
is staging a series of outdoor performances to celebrate
reported on sexual misconduct allegations against the
its favorite son. I’m not saying that everyone who goes to
influential Jewish sociologist Steven M. Cohen. Cohen’s
Tanglewood is Jewish, although I always think a typical eve-
persistent question has been how many Jews are do-
ning there is what the High Holidays would look like if the
ing Jewish. He studied the impact of interfaith marriage
Israelites had enjoyed picnics and white wine.
on Jewish continuity and vitality, and became associated
Last month I had lawn tickets when the Boston Sympho-
with a camp of social scientists who believe that intermar-
ny performed Bernstein’s score of “West Side Story” live
riage, late marriage and lifelong singlehood hold “disturb-
while the film was shown on large screens. The effect was
ing consequences for Jewish community.” A generation of
sort of magical and almost distracted me from my usual ac-
Jewish communal professionals was galvanized by studies
tivity, which is basically contemplating the fate of the Jewish
showing the ways that Jewish connections and behavior
people. I say almost because there’s an unmistakable gap
diminish among the children and grandchildren of inter-
between the message of the musical about forbidden love
marriage.
and the normative — or should I say, once normative —
Cohen has already stepped down from some of his key
Jewish preference for Jews marrying other Jews. I’ve joked
roles and been removed from some others. Longtime crit-
before that American Jews are the only group that roots
ics of his research and advocacy are already stepping into
28 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
the breach: The Forward published two op-eds decrying Cohen’s emphasis on fertility and statistics; three female scholars accused him and the Jewish communal establishment of making “patriarchal, misogynistic, and anachronist assumptions about what is good for the Jews.” Cohen and his colleagues in Jewish sociology have made mistakes. As Jane Eisner at the Forward pointed out, Cohen had license, perhaps unusual for a social scientist, to be an advocate for specific policies. In championing traditional modes of Jewish engagement — synagogue attendance, attachment to Israel, a sense of peoplehood — he and his colleagues could appear dismissive of new ways that Jews were experiencing their Jewishness. Sometimes they shifted blame, intentionally or not, onto women and the choices they make about career, marriage and childbearing. That’s the feminist critique of the communal obsession with “continuity.” More familiar is the cultural critique, which you are less likely to find in academic journals than in the Wedding section of The New York Times. Jewish kids marry kids of other faiths because Americans marry Americans. The idea that you should “stick to your own kind,” as Anita spits at Maria, goes against a liberal grain that embraces multiculturalism, diversity and tolerance. Tribalism is the enemy. That was Michael Chabon’s point in a speech he gave this year at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. The novelist called Jewish-Jewish marriage a “ghetto of two,” which he further likened to “a gated community, a restricted country club” and the heavily guarded Jewish enclave of Hebron. “I am for mongrels and hybrids and creoles, for syncretism and
Adver tise in
Reach One of the Fastest Growing Jewish Communities in the Country! To advertise, contact
Diane Dusek (512) 657-6656 (512) 342-2550 diane.dusek@shalomaustin.org Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 29
A generation of Jewish
communal professionals
was galvanized by studies showing the ways that “Thank you to Jessica for planning the perfect event for us! She helped us make decisions and thought of every detail along the way.” Laurie W.
Jewish connections and
behavior diminish among the
children and grandchildren of intermarriage.
confluence, for jazz and Afrobeat and Thai surf music, for integrated neighborhoods and open borders and the preposterous history of Barack Obama,” Chabon whitmanized in defense of intermarriage. “I am for the hodgepodge cuisines of seaports and crossroads, for sampling and mashups, pastiche and collage.” Adam W.
But where I usually agreed with Cohen and his school of sociology was when, responding to declining Jewish numbers and engagement, they would champion Jewish literacy and distinctiveness. The goal was not to shame people into sticking with the tribe but to identify and promote what it is about Jewish life that is worth preserving in the first place: a textual inheritance; a particular moral and ethical language; a series of distinct and meaningful rituals; a living awareness of a Jewish past, in all its glories and horrors; a profound sense of connection with people who share that story. That’s not tribalism; that’s not Bubbe saying she’ll sit
“We highly recommend Jessica! She took everything for Amy A.
Bringing experience, creativity and fun to your event!
shiva if you marry out. That’s a deep kind of cultural engagement that even Chabon should appreciate. And if the Jewish world created too few places that promote that affirmative vision of Jewish continuity, that’s not the researchers’ fault. But those who are committed to this kind of Jewish continuity face a dilemma. It is what Ross Douthat, writing Sunday in The New York Times, calls “liberalism without/
512-434-0429 • jessica@eventfullatx.com
eventfullatx.com 30 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
conservatism within.” Liberal Jews are prone to embrace a world with fewer borders, more diversity, the whole Mariaand-Tony thing. At the same time, the Jewish community maintains “a certain conservatism about its own patterns
WELCOME TO A different PLACE! All large and newly renovated, suite-style rooms Free shuttle within three-miles radius Free WiFi • Pets allowed
of marrying and begetting and cultural transmission (and, in the case of Israel, the safety of its lonely nation-state).” Does that make many of us hypocrites? I suppose. But it is hypocrisy with a purpose. Yes, “West Side Story” is itself collage: of classical music and jazz, ballet and modern dance, Shakespeare and New York slang. It was originally conceived in fact as a clash not between “Americans” and “Puerto Ricans,” but Jews and Catholics. It’s creators — four gay Jewish men — were at least doubly outsiders. But like a lot of American hybrids, it wouldn’t have come about at all without something distinctive in the upbringings of its creators. Chabon wants “syncretism” without explaining where the distinctiveness of the ingredients comes from in the first place. There’s no Afrobeat without the West African musical traditions out of which it grew. Collages would be pretty bland unless the elements were distinct in one way or the other. I’d flip it around on Chabon. If there was a small, distinct indigenous culture and its millennia-old folkways were about to be swept away by a tide of colonialism or cultural appropriation, would he celebrate that as “syncretism and confluence”? His call for an open-source Judaism suggests that tradition has run its course, and deserves to be subsumed by the mainstream. There are many, many Jews, however, including Jewish liberals, who see themselves as that besieged indigenous culture. And they are willing to fight to preserve it — not as a museum piece but a living, breathing, ever-growing thing.
3612 Tudor Blvd. Austin, TX 78759 512.231.8491 www.hyattplace.com
Minutes from the JCC Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 31
CINDY SHER AND KURT ANDERSON ARE TO BE MARRIED ON THE SAME WEEKEND AS TU B’AV, THE JEWISH HOLIDAY OF LOVE AND MATCHMAKING. (COURTESY OF SHER)
Weddings Are Lovely, But It’s the Marriage That Matters CHICAGO (JTA) — My sister was married on a beautiful summer day many years ago. Those of us in the wedding party took pictures in a gar-
petty wedding details just didn’t matter. All these years later, despite the garden mishap, they’re happily married with a brood of beautiful sons.
den before the ceremony. As maid of honor, one of my
In American culture and the Jewish community, too, we
duties was to hold up the train of her dress so it wouldn’t
get caught up in weddings. We pour ridiculous sums of
drag through the dirt. But there was a lot of dirt, and the
money into them — the average price tag for a wedding
dress was soiled despite my best efforts. She couldn’t see
rose to a record $35,329 in 2016, according to The Knot.
the grime, but her bridesmaids could, so I silently made eyes conveying my distress over the maid-of-honor fail.
But more than that one big day, it’s all the days after the wedding that count — it’s really about the marriage.
I can’t keep a secret from my sister. So a minute lat-
Torah teaches us about the origins of (what we now
er, nearly in tears, I blurted out, “Um, look at your dress,”
call) marriage in another more famous garden — the Gar-
pointing to the gray smudges on the bottom edge of the
den of Eden. For that’s where God saw that “it is not good
gown.
for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18) and created the first
“Eh, oh well,” my super un-diva-like sister replied with
human couple, Adam and Eve. Marriage for them — and
a shrug. “We’re still getting married.” She recognized that
for all the married couples who follow(ed) in their foot-
32 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
steps down the aisle — was and is both meant to ensure the survival of humanity and help people find companionship and joy. Now the Garden of Paradise may be gone, but our hopes for happy
Real People. Real Stories.
marriages endure. One of the Jewish wedding blessings we still say under the huppah reflects that hope: “Make these beloved companions as happy as were the first human couple in the Garden of Eden.” That’s a tall order, and ought to take a lot more energy than whether to have sushi or mini hot dogs during the cocktail hour. In a few days, it’s my turn to get hitched — in fact, on the same weekend as Tu b’Av, the ancient Jewish holiday of matchmaking, which starts this year on the evening of July 26. It’s the day, the Talmud tells us, when young women would go out dressed in white and dance in the vineyards — in the gardens, if you will — and try to catch the eye of eligible bachelors. My fiancé and I are having fun planning the wedding — so long as we remember not to take it too seriously. Like when we spent hours singing
Life is funny, sweet, joyful, and poignant. Your photographs should be too.
along (loud and off-key) to Motown, big band and pop classics to select for our wedding playlist. Oh, and there were many buttercream cakes
madeleinetilin.com
512.708.0102
to be tasted —now that’s my version of paradise. But I’d never given thought to some of the other details in planning a wed-
Read
ding; I spend more time daydreaming about what comes next. Take the wedding registry. I didn’t care whether we choose All-Clad or Calphalon pots and pans, nor could I tell you the difference between the two brands. What I do care about is sharing joyous meals around the
E-Edition Get your free electronic exact replica of the print edition at thejewishoutlook.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 33
kitchen table with my future husband and, God willing, our children someday. And then there’s the décor. I was asked to post some of my “dream wedding” pics on Pinterest, which for me first meant signing up for Pinterest. Then I was supposed to envision “the look” of the wedding — the col-
But more than that one big day, it’s all the days after the
wedding that count — it’s really about the marriage.
Maybe it’s because I’m a little older than the average bride — or maybe it’s some of my past experiences that have led me to this place and helped me put the wedding day in perspective. Whatever it is, I won’t sweat the details; I’m not going to fret over boutonnières, table numbers or the bustle on my dress
ors, the flowers, down to the
staying bustled. Instead, I’m go-
napkin rings.
ing to stay focused on what I’ve
When I picture the wedding, I don’t see napkins. What I do see is my fiancé standing under the huppah waiting for me with our loved ones surrounding us. And the only rings
wanted for a very long time: a wonderful man who loves me to build a home with. But maybe, just the same, we’ll skip the garden pictures.
I care about are the ones we’ll exchange to signify that I am his beloved and he is mine.
(Cindy Sher is the executive editor of Chicago’s JUF News,
There’s an episode of “Sex and the City” in which Char-
where a version of this article first appeared, and assistant
lotte is married for the second time after an unhappy first
vice president of marketing & communications for the Jewish
marriage. During the second (Jewish) wedding, the bride
United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.)
trips under the huppah, Miranda’s toast to the bride and groom goes up in smoke, and Charlotte spills wine on her gown. When the bride cries to Carrie about all the calamities, Carrie consoles her by reminding her that her first wedding was picture-perfect, but the marriage — not so much. “I say the worse the wedding, the better the marriage,” Carrie tells her friend. “[Y]ou have a wonderful man who loves you.”
34 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
C eleb rate
START PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL DAY. Cheryl Shirley, Director of Catering, 512.404.3631
photos: RACHAEL HALL PHOTOGRAPHY
MeetAtTexas.com Social: @MeetAtTexas
A Gift for You from the J to Celebrate Your Simcha! Save $75 after your big day when you join the J! We'll waive the registration fee for teens celebrating a b'nai mitzvah and newlyweds. Just bring in your certificate.
Plus, you'll be able to take advantage of our Jumpstart Personal Training Special. That's another $69 in savings!
shalomaustin.org/membership Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 35
RABBI CHANOCH YERES, DIRECTOR OF THE DEAF PROGRAMMING DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ISRAEL MOVEMENT (IYIM), LEADS A 2013 BAR MITZVAH FOR 63 DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN. CREDIT: JUDY LASH BALINT.
Putting the Mitzvah in Bar Mitzvah By Judy Lash Balint
JERUSALEM (JNS)—It’s 9:30 a.m. on
danced up the steps to the Jewish
kids to share their celebration with
a sunny Monday morning in the Jew-
Quarter and on to a lavish breakfast
needy Israeli kids.
ish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City.
spread at one of the many restau-
Two large groups of revelers almost
rants or halls dotting the area.
collide in the alley leading to the main square.
Some of the Americans come over with their families to take part
But not every bar or bat mitzvah
in the simcha they have sponsored,
age teen in Israel is fortunate enough
Ozarowski explains, while others con-
Both groups are accompanied by a
to have that kind of experience. For
duct fund-raising projects at home
clarinetist and a drummer belting out
the tens of thousands of youths from
and send over funds to help support
traditional “simcha” tunes, and in the
dysfunctional families who are cared
AMIT’s efforts to inject joy into the
middle of both are 13-year old boys
for in residential facilities all over the
lives of Israeli kids from difficult back-
dancing with beaming grandmas and
Jewish state, it’s often Diaspora Jews
grounds. Part of the donation is des-
uncles under a small chuppah as they
who make the difference between
ignated for the Israeli “twin” to receive
make their way under the stone arch-
having no bar/bat mitzvah at all, or
a traditional bnei mitzvah gift of a sid-
es from the Western Wall.
having a meaningful transition into
dur or tefillin.
It’s the Israeli version of the bar
Jewish responsibility.
Some lasting relationships have
mitzvah extravaganza, and it’s repeat-
Zemira Ozarowski, coordinator of
been forged, Ozarowski notes, and
ed every Monday and Thursday (days
donor relations for AMIT, a network
the program was recently expanded
when the Torah is read) throughout
of educational programs that serves
to include twinning between Israeli
the year. Boys from all over the coun-
28,000 Israeli children, is responsible
pre-teens from established Jerusalem
try get called up to the Torah for the
for the twinning program that encour-
neighborhoods and kids in AMIT’s
first time at the Wall, and then get
ages American bar and bat mitzvah
Beit Hayeled facility in Gilo.
36 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
Looking for a place to host your next event? From weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs to meetings and conferences, The Dell Jewish Community Campus has lots of unique spaces for your event.
Details and Pricing shalomaustin.org/hospitality aaron.herbster@shalomaustin.org | (512) 735-8150
In Netanya, the Beit Elazraki Chil-
and fun in and around Jerusalem.
hearing children were called to the
dren’s Home run by Emunah, a prom-
Founder and director Tali Tarlow ex-
Torah in front of parents who were
inent religious Israeli women’s move-
plains that Israeli kids can train to
visibly moved by the moment, which
ment with worldwide supporters,
guide their friends and family on a
was sponsored by the International
hosts many bar and bat mitzvah twin-
fun-filled, educational, thematic navi-
Young Israel Movement (IYIM) and its
ning events. American bnei mitzvah
gation through the city as they engage
Deaf Programming Division in coop-
and their families have sponsored
with its history and figure out their
eration with the Jewish Agency. Boys
several major projects at the home,
place in its future. The program is
with cochlear implants opened up the
which houses almost 300 children
tailored to the interests of each child,
brand new prayer shawls provided by
whose families cannot care for them.
who works with one of the Scavenger
the IYIM with a flourish, while groups
Back in 2011, a group of budding
Hunt professional guides and educa-
of girls chattered in sign language and
musicians from Teaneck, NJ, raised
tors to develop a presentation at one
waited for their turn to recite a special
more than $20,000 as their bar mitz-
of the stations used in the Hunt. “We
blessing for becoming a bat mitzvah.
vah project, which funded new equip-
believe a bar or bat mitzvah should be
Ben Zion Chen, the head of the Asso-
ment for the music therapy program
a special occasion and an opportunity
ciation for the Deaf in Israel told the
at Beit Elazraki. Several times a year,
for a meaningful experience,” says
kids, “I grew up with hearing parents
American and British bnei mitzvah
Tarlow, a long-time informal educator
and didn’t know what Torah was. You
join their peers at Beit Elazraki for a
who made aliyah from South Africa.
are all very fortunate.”
lively party that always features loud music and a festive meal.
Any family that’s been part of the
“It’s important that you know your
Package from Home Bar and Bat
rights and how to deal with your deaf-
A popular bnei mitzvah activity
Mitzvah Project would agree with that
ness as you grow up,” Chen added,
for institutional groups as well as in-
sentiment. Started by American immi-
while a sign language interpreter
dividual families is a visit to the Yad
grant Barbara Silverman at the begin-
translated his words to the attentive
Lashiryon Latrun Tank Museuma
ning of the Second Intifada in 2000,
students.
few miles west of Jerusalem. Elisha
the volunteer-run program prepares
“He didn’t sleep all last night,” said
Kramer, a U.S.-born graduate stu-
and sends tens of thousands of care
Orna regarding her son Shai, a pro-
dent, spent part of his army service as
packages to Israeli soldiers, focusing
foundly deaf 13-year-old from Ramle.
a tour guide at the museum. “Some
particularly on Lone Soldiers (soldiers
“He’s gone through so many opera-
weeks there would be two or three
without family in Israel) and wounded
tions, and had so many difficulties
bar mitzvah groups every day,” Kram-
soldiers. Bnei mitzvah in the U.S. can
in his short life—it’s a joy to be here
er recalls.
raise money for the project, and those
with him and see how happy he is,”
“It’s a great place for kids to learn
visiting can take part in the packaging
she exclaimed as Shai took his place
about the need for a strong Israel and
and distribution of everything from
under the prayer shawl spread over
the legitimacy of fighting for Israel,”
warm clothing to toiletries to snacks.
his group, while Rabbi Chanoch Yeres,
Kramer adds regarding the outdoor
Each package includes letters of ap-
director of the IYIM Deaf Program-
museum where more than 150 ar-
preciation for the soldiers, which kids
ming Division read the Torah portion.
mored vehicles are on display along
are encouraged to write.
In true Israeli bnei mitzvah style, the
with a moving memorial complex dedicated to fallen Israeli soldiers.
For children with physical as well
kids and their families, who had come
as emotional challenges, it takes a
from all over Israel, were treated to a
Many bnei mitzvah want to take an
special effort to create a bar or bat
celebratory lunch and a tour of the
active role in their celebration, and
mitzvah program they can relate to.
Old City to mark the day.
Jerusalem Scavenger Hunts provides
At a recent ceremony in a Jerusa-
creative opportunities for learning
lem synagogue, 63 deaf and hard of
38 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
PLAN NOW TO ENSURE...
their future
A NEW DAY
Every dollar matched by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Mabee Foundation Challenge Grant Through October 2019
FOR THE J TOGETHER WE CAN REACH THE FINISH LINE!
our future
your future shalomaustin.org/foundation (512) 735-8010
Expand and renovate the Dell Jewish Community Campus to create exciting new facilities where people from across our community can meet, socialize, learn, and play.
HELP US GET THERE | GIVE TODAY shalomaustin.org/generations harriett.kirsh.pozen@shalomaustin.org | (512) 735-8076 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 39
AN ISLAMIC BRIDE'S HAND IS DECORATED AS PART OF THE "HENNA" PRE-WEDDING RITUAL. COURTESY: IBTISAM MAHAMEED.
Wedding Traditions Across the Abrahamic Faiths By Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman
Mazal Tov. Mabrouk. Congratula-
same religion. In other words, accord-
and should “touch not the unclean
tions. No matter one’s religion or lan-
ing to the letter of the religious law,
thing” if one wants to be received by
guage, a wedding is a joyous occasion.
intermarriage is forbidden.
the Lord. In Sura 60:10, Muslims learn,
While there is no apparent consen-
The Torah, New Testament, and
sus, varying reports say that between
Quran indulge in many stories de-
“Do not maintain your marriages with
60 and 80 percent of all marriages in
signed to warn men against marrying
In Israel, where couples can wed
the United States are performed in
women who worship foreign gods or
only through religious ceremonies
a religious ceremony. Where do the
are nonbelievers.
administered by the Chief Rabbin-
unbelieving women.”
religious wedding traditions come
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 states, “Do not
ate, the intermarriage rate is relatively
from? What are the similarities and
intermarry with them. Do not give
low. The 2015 Israeli Democracy In-
differences between the marriage
your daughters to their sons or take
dex survey found more than one-
traditions of the three Abrahamic
their daughters for your sons, for they
third of both Jewish (36 percent) and
religions—Judaism, Christianity, and
will turn your children away from fol-
Arab (38.8 percent) Israelis support
Islam?
lowing me to serve other gods, and
organizations that work to prevent
the Lord’s anger will burn against you
Jewish women from marrying Arab
and will quickly destroy you.”
men, even if their activities are radical
The most obvious similarity between Jewish, Christian, and Islamic marriages is that in each case, the
For Christians, 2 Corinthians 6:14-
tradition requires that the union be
17 explains that one should not be
In the U.S., however, intermarriage
between a bride and a groom of the
“yoked together with unbelievers,”
is almost the norm. The 2013 Pew
40 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
and/or violent.
Lindsay Rosenberg Owner/Event Planner 512.653.3602 info@hotdotevents.com hotdotevents.com
Research Center survey of American Jews found an intermarriage rate of 58 percent, up from 43 percent in 1990 and 17 percent in 1970. Among non-Orthodox Jews, the intermarriage rate is 71 percent. How do these intermarried couples plan their weddings? Are the traditions similar enough to make it
Don’t Plotz! We’ll do the planning!
work? The modern idea of a secular marriage based on love is rooted in Christianity. But according to Karen Armstrong’s “The Gospel According to Woman,” the first detailed account of a Christian wedding in the West dates back to the 9th century and was identical to the old nuptial service of an-
Your event.Your vision.
OUR PLEASURE.
cient Rome. This is likely because at its core, Christianity looks down upon marriage. In the New Testament (Matthew 22:23-30), Christians are taught that in heaven there are no marriages. St. Paul describes marriage as a last resort for those who cannot restrain
AT ARCHER, BEING THE CONSUMMATE HOST MEANS ALWAYS HONORING TRADITION. IT’S OUR PLEASURE TO HELP YOU CREATE THE PERFECT SETTING FOR YOUR SIMCHA WITH VERSATILE EVENT ROOMS AND LUXE GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS.
Celebrate effortlessly at archerhotel.com.
themselves, saying that being chaste is the ideal. In contrast, there are deep Jewish and Islamic marriage traditions that begin even before engagement. Arranged marriages—or the use of a “shadchan” (matchmaker), in Jewish terms—is something that’s not only condoned, but encouraged by both faiths. Rabbi Etan Mintz, leader of B’nai Israel Synagogue in downtown Baltimore, says that matchmaking is experiencing a resurgence. There are now any number of religious- and secular-rooted websites helping couples meet and match. Likewise, there’s a growing phenomenon of executive matchmakers. “This is rooted in a very traditional idea,” says Mintz.
archerhotel.com DOMA I N N OR THSI DE
3121 PALM WAY AUSTIN, TX 78758
LOCA L
581.836.5700
TOL L- F REE
855.437.9100
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 41
ENGAGEMENT
In the time of the Talmud, Jewish engagement (erusin)
looked very different than it does today, says Mintz, as engagement and marriage nuptials (nissu’in) were different ceremonies that took place about one year apart. When a man wanted to marry a woman, he would ask her father for permission, and documents of commitment would be signed. During that time, the couple was able to plan their lives, but no direct or immodest contact was allowed. Today, the erusin and the nissu’in ceremonies generally happen at the same time—under the chuppah (wedding canopy). The ceremonies are divided by the reading of the ketubah (marriage contract). This is not too different from how Muslim engagement practices look today, in some circles. Ibtisam Mahameed, a Muslim woman from the village of Faradis in Israel, tells JNS.org that in order for a couple in her town to get engaged, the man and his family must meet with the woman’s family. “The boy has to come and sit in the parents; house and say he wants to marry the daughter. The parents have to agree. If they don’t agree, the couple cannot be married,” explains Mahameed. If the parents agree, then the village sheikh will come to the house of the woman’s parents and go over Muslim marriage law—what is owed to the bride and groom, the obligations of the man to the woman, and the ramifications of divorce. “The rights are fully explained before the wedding,” Mahameed says.
each other after a week of separation before the wedding, the bedeken is wrought with emotion. While one understanding of the bedeken is that it relates to the fact that the biblical patriarch Jacob was forced to marry Leah instead of Rachel when the brides were switched by their father Laban—and by extension, today, the groom symbolically makes sure he is marrying the right bride by checking and then veiling her—Mintz says there are other more spiritual interpretations of ritual. “Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach asks, ‘If the purpose is to make sure she is the right one, why does he veil the bride at the bedeken? Shouldn’t he be taking the veil off?’ Carlebach says the radiance of the bride is so powerfulunder the chuppah, so beautiful, that the chatan (groom) veils her. That intensity, that beauty, is just for the two of them in their own personal space,” Mintz says. Mahameed describes Islam’s “henna” ceremony as powerful and intimate, too. She says the groom’s best friends and relatives gather in his home to mix and paint the henna dye. Then, they mix more of the dye to deliver to the bride. Carrying a uniquely woven basket with a golden plate of henna, the groom and his mother walk handin-hand to make the henna delivery to the bride. The groom’s mother carries a woven basket, too, and inside are gold and other jewels for the bride. When they arrive at her house, they exchange gifts. The bride and her family give clothing, a watch, a ring, and other gifts to the groom. Both parents present cash gifts (discreetly in an envelope) to the couple so that they can start their new home. “The whole village comes to see what gifts are going to
PRE-WEDDING CEREMONIES
be given,” says Mahameed.
The Jewish bedeken ceremony is “so powerful,” says Mintz.
WEDDING CEREMONY
Both Muslims and Jews enjoy rich pre-wedding rituals.
Often marking the first time a bride and groom are seeing
At both Muslim and Jewish wedding ceremonies, a mar-
riage contract is presented and read aloud. There is also quite a bit of food and dancing. One hallmark of the Jewish ceremony is the reciting of the sheva brachot (seven bless-
Mazal Tov. Mabrouk.
Congratulations. No matter
one’s religion or language, a
wedding is a joyous occasion.
42 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
ings), says Mintz. “Seven is a wonderful number in Judaism—creation, Shabbat (the seventh day), a sense of completion. Here it is the sense that two souls are coming together. Kabbalah teaches us that each person’s soul fits like a jigsaw puzzle with his soulmate, something which was decided even before conception,” says Mintz.
The sixth blessing of the sheva brachot talks about the love of Adam and Eve. Mintz asks, “What was so special about Adam and Eve?” He explains that since they were the only two people on Earth at the time, the sixth blessing articulates that the couple’s love should be like that of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as if there is nobody else there. Similar emotions run high at both Jewish and Muslim weddings: a combination of unbridled joy and deep sorrow or solemnness. Mahameed explains that the whole village comes out for Muslim weddings, and the dancing lasts late into the night. But there are also likely to be tears on the faces of the bride’s parents and siblings. “It so emotional,” says Mahameed. “They are crying because they are so happy. But they also feel a loss. They know that from this day, everything changes. They will not have their daughter home each day. They are hopeful for her future, but they also worry—will she be happy?” Mintz likens these mixed emotions to the moment when the groom breaks a glass under chuppah, remembering the Jewish people’s loss of the Temples of Jerusalem and any other losses the couple might have personally experienced. “People talk about tears of joy and tears of sadness and sometimes tears of both. We feel the deepest joy and the deepest sadness—at that moment when we are at the peak of our joy, we realize what we are missing and the pain and the suffering that still exists in the world. We
We’re Saving A Chair For You!
break the glass, and then we say ‘Mazel Tov,’ and we pull ourselves out after going to those depths,” says Mintz. “It can be very intense.” Adds Mahameed, “If they love each other, then life will be good.”
At Chez Zee we love birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, engagements, baby showers, bar and bat mitzvahs. Celebrations for all of life’s events. We make Amazing cakes. And create Magical Celebrations.
Take your Celebration photo in our New
GIANT Chair! Make a reservation today. 512.454.2666 chezzee.com
Best Desserts - Austin Chronicle Best Brunch - Open Table
5406 Balcones Dr. | Austin Texas | 512.454.2666 | chezzee.com Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 43
2019 Austin Area Bar and Bat Mitzvahs CONGREGATION AGUDAS ACHIM Noa Adelman Maia Belofsky Karenna Caplan Sadie Cohen Max Eisenstein Emily Furrer Matthew Gilbert
Zac Kahn Ellie Kaplan Goldie Klein Seth Landau Eliana Legatt Benjamin Lewis Lilia Marshall
Eliza Merren Becca Nathan Naomi Nathan Sandi Neiman Helen Payan Mara Salitsky Michal Sananes
Lucy Shaftel Noah Simons-Sealy William Simons-Sealy Ethan Steinfeld Mason Steinfeld Ezra Suez Avigail Zeifman
CONGREGATION BETH EL Sophie Aguilar
Sarah Jurist
Natalie Koeller
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Edie Birkholz Charles Cahoon Matthew Dreyer Bianca Goldstein Meredith Grotevant
August Hersch Kira Kraus Dorian Kweller Benjamin Levy Madeline Marks
Katherine Miller Bryce Newman Liam Restivo Asa Rosenberg Jordan Smith
Lulu Wertheimer John Williams Gideon Witchel Lucy Zanker
Briella Lippman Sterling Meyerson Aiden Monahan Joshua Natinsky Ari Novick AJ O’Brien Aden Postelnik Theo Raiskin Sophie Saur Max Scheindlin Bailey Shuford Carly Siegel Aaron Silverman
Jacob Smiley Eli Speiser Julia Tyler Emma Tyler Sam Vane Ben Waisman Alexandra Webster Sophie Weiner Hudson Weinfeld Jordan Weinfeld
CONGREGATION SHIR AMI Shay Toon
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM Zoe Bellomio Jack Benveniste Filipp Bergstein Ben Booher Sam Campbell Claire Cohen Eloise Embry Reid Feldman Max Filderman Sasha Fisher Isabel Fisher Besher Garcia Zachary Gawiser
Caroline Goldman Skylar Goltzman Ethan Gorn Simon Gorn Emma Harrison Meyer Hirsch Gustavo Hochman Eli Jones Lev Kleinman Asher Koppel Alissa Laves Rachel LeRoy Dash Levy
44 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
y
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Bring on the Swirly Goodness!
Make your party a stand out sensation. Serve Pinkberry – the hip new dessert that kids and grown ups both love. Surprise and delight your guests by offering a Kosher Pinkberry® frozen yogurt sundae bar! We bring our craveable flavors, custom toppings, and interactive team to swirl up some fun for you! Your signature frozen treat bar can include up to eight flavors so everyone will have something they love. Choose from decadent Pinkbee’s™ low-fat milk ice cream, refreshing frozen yogurt flavors or offer a dairy-free, vegan, just fruit swirl option too. Customize your interactive topping bar with specialty chocolates, candies, cookies and fresh fruits to celebrate your unique style. Finish it off with sauces, whipped cream and custom sprinkles! Our team will perfectly top each yogurt, or you can choose to let your guests help themselves, creating an interactive and memorable dessert station sure to leave a lasting impression. Celebrate the taste and individuality of your son or daughter by including colored or pattern cups, magic color changing spoons and monogrammed labels. Or why not offer a candy counter or ice cream float bar? Find out what all the fuss and fun is about and come see us at either of our two locally owned and operated locations or call us to set up a personal Pinkberry tasting appointment. Austincaters@pinkberry.com We’d love to help you (831) 419-3255 Barton Creek Square Mall – 1st floor by Macy’s mark your milestone in West Lake Hills an unforgettable way! 3300 Bee Caves Road
Austin, Archer and Awe Let Archer help set the tone for your next simcha. In the heart of the new, stylish Domain NORTHSIDE and just minutes from the Jewish Community Center, this new Texas-chic boutique hotel is ready to roll out the red carpet, obsess over the details (so you don’t have to) and wow your guests with rustic-luxe venues and superb, sincere hospitality. “Archer loves to host, and our mission is to flawlessly deliver your vision,” explained general manager Pedro Perez. “Everything we do is designed to help you create a celebration that is uniquely yours.” With 16,000+ square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space, including our Grand Salon that can accommodate up to 225 guests with a dance floor, Archer Hotel is an exciting backdrop for your event. For a more-intimate simcha with approximately 50 guests, the 725-sq.-ft Terrace Suite is a rustic-luxe extension of the Second Bar + Kitchen, with dramatic sliding glass walls that lead to the open-air Terrace, plus a cozy fire pit and full-service bar. Archer’s Atrium Suite is a window-clad, airy, customizable space with a bird’s-eye view of the Second Bar + Kitchen below, ideal for a celebration with 100 guests. And the Pool Patio offers 5,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space that’s ideal for a reception of 150; it includes a star-bottom pool surrounded by chaise lounges and soft seating, plus a dramatic Texas limestone fireplace with an enormous TV and fabric-laden cabanas. Taking up residence on the ground floor of Archer Hotel is the acclaimed Second Bar + Kitchen restaurant with award-winning executive chef David Bull. Pairing seasonal ingredients with local artisan products for sharable, casual fare, along with a wide selection of finely crafted cocktails, an approachable wine program and eclectic beers, Second Bar + Kitchen creates a true farm-to-table experience. For out-of-town guests, choose from 171 luxe guest rooms and
suites with six design palettes – some with private balconies and fireplaces, all with delightful Texas-chic style. Guests will enjoy five-star beds, Frette® bathrobes, whimsical slippers and a nightly turndown surprise with curated local treats. And they’ll love the complimentary Wi-Fi and in-room Nespresso® coffee experience. Getting to and from Archer Hotel Austin is hassle-free, as well. Parking is included in your guests’ stay and, since Archer is nestled in Austin’s energetic, new hot spot, Domain NORTHSIDE, chances are that they won’t need their car during their visit. This wonderfully walkable evolution of retailers and restaurants brings 600,000 square feet of best-in-class brands and first-in-Austin experiences to Archer’s guests. Mere steps from Archer’s door is the Rock Rose District, an art-infused streetscape that’s ripe with charm, energy and plentiful parking, should the need arise. Five-star service, personalized menus from celebrated chef Bull and all the thoughtful details curated from prized local partners make your moment extra-special and unforgettable. Whether for festive bar/ bat mitzvahs or elegant weddings, Archer – your consummate host – is committed to honoring tradition and delivering the most memorable milestone family celebrations. Mazel tov! Archer Hotel Austin Domain NORTHSIDE 3121 Palm Way, Austin, TX 78758 Local: (512) 836-5700 Toll-free: (855) 437-9100 archerhotel.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 45
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Texas Pro DJ I was five thousand feet in the air doing barrel rolls over the Hill Country in beautiful Texas when I thought to myself, I need to head back to the airport because in three hours I will be the DJ at a Bar Mitzvah. As I readied for the 20-minute flight back to the airport, I thought, flying an airplane is a lot like DJ’ing. My name is Barrington Miles, CEO and Senior DJ of Texas Professional Disc Jockey and Founder/CEO of Dub Academy, a DJ School located in downtown Austin. I’ve always loved aviation and music but never thought the two could ever be related – distant cousins at best. But the more I fly and the more events I DJ, there are more similarities than I could ever imagine. Date – check; venue – check; caterer, photographer, DJ or band – check, check, check. For the fortunate few, we may have two parties in our lifetime that may require all of the above. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah and maybe a wedding.
Each vendor plays a keen roll as to the success of the party and should be selected carefully. As I’m descending into what seems like chaos, airplanes were everywhere, the Air Traffic Controller seamlessly sequences me #3 to land. Gears down, flaps down, cleared to land and boom – success. Another safe landing. Flying an airplane requires you to be alert, flexible and always ready to make on-the-spot decisions. I apply the same attention to detail when I’m DJ’ing. Before DJ’ing any event, my goal is to get a clear understanding of what is expected. I meet with every client and listen. Although I’ve DJ’ed many parties, no two are ever the same. Once the party begins, every song is carefully selected until the last song is played. Yeah, it’s not that complicated, Miles, some might say, but if the goal is to please kids from 9 to 99 and have the party of the century, then it is. As we all know, music has
The County Line
changed a lot over the decades. As each song is selected, it’s important to consider who is dancing and who is not and why. How can I keep the folks on the dance floor and get the ones not dancing, on the dance floor? Some of the many questions, I am asking myself as I am DJ’ing. Great music selection and the seamless transition seems to do the trick every time. I am referring to tempo, the speed of the songs, not playing a slow song behind a fast song and always matching the beats so the new song is disguised as it’s introduced at the precise moment. Every song is carefully selected for the hours that I am DJ’ing as I dance to my own tunes. After all, dancing is contagious…right? Once airborne the party is in full swing all captured with still shots by a photographer so one can revisit that moment in time.
The party is just about over as we come in to land. Did I meet my clients expectations? Did everyone have fun? Party of the century? Is it memorable? Would my clients use me again? Boom, another successful party. From takeoff to landing, from planning to the day of the party, aim high. It’s a big deal. Choose your vendors carefully, get referrals, make planning fun, then take flight and have the party of the century and soar with an amazing DJ. See you at the next party. Texas Professional Disc Jockey Barrington K. Miles, CEO/Senior Disc Jockey C (512) 705-1040 O (512) 212-1626 www.texasprodj.com
County Line on the Lake – Historical During the 1940s through the 1970s the County Line on the Lake was an active weekend getaway called the “Bull Creek Lodge.” Folks from Austin and surrounding areas would come to relax, fish and camp in the cabins along the banks of Bull Creek. County Line on the Hill – Historical 1929 – Emmett Shelton bought 129 acres from Agnes J. McNamara. Local “Cedar Choppers” cut a road to the (now) restaurant site and cleared the top of the ridge. A “red-tinted” concrete floor was poured. Pine tree logs were cut in Bastrop, Texas were brought in to build the log cabin at the location. 1930 – The restaurant was named the “Moose Head Lodge” in honor of the large moose head that hung above the fireplace. The lodge served large steak dinners in the evenings along with bootleg whiskey, made by “hillbillies” that lived in the surrounding hills west of Austin. 1932 – The lodge burned down. 1935 – A local “big time” gambler bought 10 acres around the Lodge site and built the existing stone building. The newly created building was called “The Cedar Crest Lodge” and would become a gambling house. People came to the lodge to try their luck at dice, roulette, cards and other games. Payment was made in silver dollars. One gambler was said to thrill customers by flipping 10-15 coins of his wrist and catching them. Bread was brought in from New Orleans and served along with the free meals. Sometime in the late thirties the Cedar Crest Lodge was closed. Early 1940s – The County Line was known as the Cedar Crest, owned and operated by Fred Kippur. The Lodge was open from 5:00 p.m. until midnight. Wine, beer and mixed drinks were served
46 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
from the bar area. On the bar counter were jars of pickles, boiled eggs, and bowls of popcorn. Corn chips and potato chips in bags were on freestanding racks at the counter. These were years of World War II. Soldiers and their dates patronized the lodge, dancing to the records of Tommy Dorsey, Andrew Sisters, Fats Domino, and Woody Herman’s “Wood Chopper’s Ball. The rest as they say is history… So, as you’re making your special event, or party plans this year Remember at The County Line we are always here to show your guests what real Texas Hospitality is all about. Since 1975 Austin has trusted the County Line to make sure that any event or special evening is a fun and memorable one. The County Line (512) 346-3664 www.countyline.com
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
EVENTfull ATX Planning a mitzvah is a lot of work and even the smallest detail can make your guests experience a memorable one. We have been in the event industry for over 10 years and have learned a few things along the way. These three key things below will help bring your event to the next level! Great invitation! Your invitation is the first point of contact and will get your guests excited to attend your event. Not those boring old paper squares in an envelope! Think about custom shapes or even three dimensional. We work with you to create a one of a kind invitation for your event. Location, location, location! A venue can make or break a party. Make sure to pick a venue that will fit your guest count and fit the vibe of your event. We have relationships with various venues around the area and can help pick the one that works best for you! Decorations! No party is complete without some great decor. Feel free to think outside the box, the sky is the limit! We love to pull in unique elements that highlight the color scheme and theme of the event to help create a memorable experience for your guests.
Want to make your next party a hit? Then let EVENTfull ATX handle all the details! Contact us to plan your next simcha. EVENTfull ATX Jessica@eventfullatx.com (512) 434-0429 www.eventfullatx.com
Madeleine Tilin Photography My business, Madeleine Tilin Photography, is a direct reflection of who I am. When I show up to document your child’s mitzvah, I bring my perspective of life to you through my camera. I love documenting and savoring authentic connections. I capture these moments in your lives with years of experience in the craft of photography, and a lifetime of experience seeing and reflecting the art that is our lives. You are my canvas. I have been a visual communicator for 30 years as a magazine art director, graphic designer and photo editor. As a photographer for the past 10 years, I am honored to capture so many aspects of life: mitzvahs, small weddings, entrepreneurs on the rise, high school seniors, and commercial shoots where I get to step into worlds unknown to me for a day or two. I love documenting rituals and special gatherings. Our modern lives can feel hurried or distracted. The beauty of the study that’s required to become a bar or bat mitzvah, the support of one’s family and this bringing together to honor the hard work – and to honor the sacredness of family – makes this such a very special time. I connect to my craft and to your family through my intuition, heart, training and desire to deliver meaningful
images to my you. I capture authenticity, joy and candidness – in short, I capture your essence. If I were asked for one piece of advice as you prepare for your son’s or daughter’s mitzvah, it would be to find vendors you trust as professionals, but also genuinely like as people. Trust your gut, book them early and then enjoy this part of your child’s life…. every minute….even when they’d rather be snapchatting instead of studying their Torah portion. On the big day, take lots of deep breaths, remember to look around and slowly take in all the love that surrounds your family and know you have chosen professionals who have your back so you can savor this sweet, fleeting time, even when your crazy uncle has one too many IPA’s at the reception and wins the balloon busting contest! I’ve worked with some remarkable people through the Austin Jewish community – those who I end up wanting to befriend but there just aren’t enough hours in the day – and look forward to cultivating more business through this great community in 2019!
Madeleine Tilin Photography www.madeleinetilin.com (512) 708-0102
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 47
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Gail’s Catering Born and raised in old Jerusalem during the late 1970s, Galit quickly developed a passion for cooking that began with the authentic, rich, traditional Moroccan cuisine she was raised with in her mother’s kitchen. Growing up, Galit would go with her father to the Machane Yehuda market every Friday… Today, you can find Galit at Texas Hillel as their exclusive caterer which her catering business continues to grow. More About Gail Galit soon discovered that she had an eye for exploring the secrets of the marketplace and spent hours lost in the intoxicating aromas of ancient Middle Eastern spices, tasting gourmet cheeses, and familiarizing herself with ancestral delicacies. These special times with her parents solidified Galit’s passion for creating exquisite dishes that transforms meals into memories. In 1996, Galit managed a bistro in the Nahalat Shiva neighborhood of central Jerusalem. The menu was inspired by authentic Jerusalem cuisine with an influence of Israeli flavors. After six years of managing this successful bistro, Galit spread her wings and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This was where Galit opened her first catering company, which focused on infusing Israeli cuisine with Moroccan flavor. Now, an aspiring Austinite, Galit has decided to share her foodie passion and gift of creating delectable delights in the kitchen through kosher Israeli catering. The idea came as a push from friends who had attended one of her many dinner parties. Galit is thrilled to share her fragrant feasts and superior presentation at your next event. Contact Gail’s Catering today to delight your guests on your special day! Gail’s Catering (512) 994-6622 info@galitcateringservices.com www.gailscateringservices.com
Three Questions with a Seasoned Photographer: AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID FINKEL What are some common mistakes you seen clients make when planning photography? Probably the biggest mistake is waiting too long to book a photographer. Good photographers and other professionals book out a long way. We get bookings as far as eighteen months out. We hate to disappoint people, but with the growth of the Jewish community in central Texas comes more celebrations and more conflicts. The bottom line is book early. Another mistake is not hiring the right people. Sometimes clients will decide to do some or all of the photography themselves, or have a family friend who is an amateur photographer do it for them. Major simchas are unique events, which cannot be restaged if the results aren’t what you wanted. I’ve had clients who’ve hired me to photograph their second child’s bat mitzvah tell me their biggest regret was not getting what they really wanted for their older child. Once the event is passed, you have only your own good recollections and whatever photography was done to help preserve the memories. Budgeting accordingly helps avoid disappointment. A different aspect of getting the right
people is making sure you have a good relationship with your photographer. Simchas are intimate affairs and at times stressful. Being able to have a trusting relationship with your photographer is key. We always meet, and if possible do some photography such as a portrait session before the big day. What do I HAVE to do for my bar or bat mitzvah? The clergy at your congregation will take care of any ritual requirements. Each synagogue has its own rules about whether you have to put on a communal celebration such as a Kiddush luncheon as well as when photography is allowed. But for the most part, what and how you celebrate this important milestone is up to you. Some congregations permit videography, but not photography during the ceremony. When we use our professional gear for recording, not only can we generate a movie of the ceremony, but because we are capturing in high definition, we can extract good quality still images from the recording to use for albums and prints as well. Probably the most fun b’nai mitzvah have been when the families got creative and made
48 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
the event “their own” rather than following a set formula. Decide on what is most important for you and your child, and focus on that. Work with your photographer to identify the most important aspects of your celebration so they can preserve the best memories for you. What’s the craziest thing you seen or heard at a b’nai mitzvah? At a recent party, the bar mitzvah boy’s uncle talked about being in Israel fourteen years ago and having the room next to the young man’s parents. He then went into quite a bit of detail on what he saw and heard when the young man was conceived! And I thought the speeches at my own Bar Mitzvah were embarrassing! David Finkel is a Certified Professional Photographer who has been offering B’nai Mitzvah and wedding photography services for over ten years including traditional photography, photo book design, montage production, and photo entertainment services. Please contact us to schedule an appointment. David Finkel Photography (512) 576-7278 | david@davidfinkel.com www.davidfinkel.com
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Custom Invitations Set the Tone of the Event Make your invitation “speak” to your guests by its design. It is your guests’ first impression of your special life event. It also sets the tone and conveys the formality surrounding the celebration. Your first decision, after deciding on a theme, is the choice to order invitations online, or use a local printer. With a local printer, you can have a conversation about what you’d REALLY like the invitation to be. Get started by describing your idea of your “dream invitation” and let the experienced local printer make it happen. A local printer with a brick-and-mortar presence offers you the opportunity to proof your invitation in person so you can see the colors and feel the card stock. With a local printer, you also have the opportunity to work with experienced professionals to guide you in placing your order and keeping it within your budget. For instance, for your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, you may prefer to send family and close friends a more formal invitation for the service, and send a more casual one for your child’s friends to attend an evening party. Family may treasure the invitation marking the milestone of maturity and appreciate the use of better quality card stock, foil and color imprint. On the other hand, your child’s friends are probably more interested in being included in the celebration after the service, which could be printed on the same quality card stock but a lighter weight and using a simpler, more economical imprint method. With online ordering, you choose selections A, B or C. And so many disappointments can follow – wrong size, wrong card stock weight,
wrong fonts, wrong color. Suddenly the online “deal” is no deal at all! These headaches can be avoided by using a local experienced printer. Another “plus” for using a local printer – when the order is ready, you pick it up or arrange for delivery. There is no additional time or expense waiting for the shipment to arrive. It doesn’t get lost in the mail, misdirected or damaged in shipment, or delivered to the wrong address causing you to hunt down which of your neighbors may have your order. The experienced printing professionals at Medical Parkway Printing, with over a century of combined industry experience, are well-suited to assist and guide you through the process of creating the ideal invitation for any of life’s special events. We are a full service printing facility and will work with you from concept to completion to meet your deadline and keep it within your budget. Medical Parkway Printing (512) 459-1339 info@mpprint.net
Texas Hillel’s Facilities Meet Your Needs
Hosting a large Bar/Bat Mitzvah? Planning a wedding and reception? Holding an intimate milestone birthday party? We know it can be difficult to find one place that meets all of your event space needs. Fortunately, Texas Hillel can help simplify your planning and meet all of your venue requirements as a one-stop shop
facility. Texas Hillel’s sun-filled contemporary building in the heart of Austin offers soaring ceilings, open spaces and flexible room arrangements. With multiple room size options, Texas Hillel can accommodate up to 500 people in the dining hall or hold an
intimate gathering in one of the book-lined libraries. If you want an outdoor event, Texas Hillel has a private and spacious, shaded outdoor patio that can accommodate large and small groups. Texas Hillel can also fill all of your dietary needs. We are one of only several venues in Austin with a certified kosher kitchen. Texas Hillel’s kitchen is under the supervision of Dallas Vaad and Rabbi Moshe Trepp and we strictly follow all Jewish dietary guidelines. Gail’s Catering is the exclusive catering company for the Texas Hillel. Head Chef Galit holds the highest level kosher certificate at all times and cooks only the most delicious foods with certified kosher products and koshered kitchen items. If you do not need kosher catering, hosts may bring in prepared foods, which are allowed in all areas of the building except inside the kitchens, for their events. The options are endless! Texas Hillel provides all of your event requirements in one place. We look forward to seeing you at your next event at Texas Hillel! Texas Hillel Jordenne: jparker@texashillel.org (512) 476-0125 ext. 1009
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 49
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Finding a One-Stop Shop for Your Special Event Beautiful space, exceptional food, and a convenient location? Can it all exist in one place? Finding a venue that provides the basics of tables, chairs, tablecloths, and a dance floor in addition to customized menus, lighting décor, and special treats seems like a tall task, but this kind of venue will help make planning your special event a little less stressful so you can spend more time planning the fun stuff. Celebrate your B’nai mitzvah with us at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center. From the beginning of planning to when the party ends, you’ll be wowed by our personalized service. Our dedicated team is excited to help make your day extra special! We offer flexible, open, and exclusive event space with high ceilings in our ballrooms or Tejas Dining Room to fit all your creative needs and theme. All three are spacious for table settings, a dance floor, and special displays. For our UT Austin fans, our Tejas Dining Room features a stunning view of the UT Tower. Our customized menus will please every guest. We have options for plated or buffet-style meals, and the ability to
prepare a kosher meal. We are happy to accommodate any dietary needs. To make an event unique for the guest of honor, we’re delighted to set up special items to match the theme, such as candy bars, color-coordinated drinks, or a s’mores bar, to name a few options. Let’s talk about your fun ideas and see how we can bring them to life! Have guests coming from out of town? Our hotel is a convenient place to stay and guests will find full relaxation in our renovated hotel rooms. Brunch with your out-of-town guests in a reserved area the morning after the event. Ready to start planning? We’d be honored to host your event! Ask about our exclusive complimentary offers for Jewish Outlook readers: projector screen package, next-day brunch buffet, or a guest suite.
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center Cheryl Shirley, Director of Catering (512) 404-3631 Cheryl.shirley@attconf.utexas.edu MeetatTexas.com
Altared Weddings
Many years ago I attended Disney World as a chaperone for a high school orchestra competition. Upon completion of the concert, the Disney guide took us through a secret doorway which dumped us right in the thick of the park. He instructed us not to take photos or notes of behind-the-scenes intricacies of the park, it is absolutely imperative that all guests experience the MAGIC of the park from the “front-side”. Think about the awe-inspiring atmosphere of Disney, it truly DOES feel magical to see Tinkerbell aloft above the crowd or witness Disney characters appear out of nowhere & give you a hug. Nowhere in the park did I witness dangling electric wires, or visibly rusty pipes, or worry about tripping over potholes. It’s immaculate and wonderful! Altared Weddings & Events has adopted this Disney mentality when it comes to making your event truly AWE inspiring and MAGIC. Our production team, field technicians and entertainment staff go above and beyond to make sure you and your guests leave with the memory that your party was one of their favorites! If a guest has kept the photo booth image from your event on their fridge, or as their screensaver, you know they took away a great memory. If the last dance of the evening felt like a grand finale at a popular concert, then the DJ did their job. And if the venue is aglow with lights that make your heart skip a beat, then Altared did its job. Altared Weddings (512) 255-6788 www.altaredweddings.com
50 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
How to Make Your Special Event Memorable with the Menu You can ensure your event will be memorable by providing your guests unforgettable food paired with creative and unique presentation. Discuss with your caterer customizing a menu by incorporating your interests, oneof-a-kind personality, or even favorite places you have traveled to in order to create a theme that represents YOU. Your event should be a true reflection of your style and personality! Here are a few themed station ideas: • Upscale Comfort Foods with a Twist • Custom Donut Bar with Inspired Fillings and Toppings • Handmade Float & Milkshake Bar • Mini Mason Jar Salads & Desserts • Authentic New York Hot Dog Cart • Fun Specialty Mocktails • Chef-attended Action Stations to really WOW your guests Austin Catering is known for its imaginative and exceptional cuisine, impeccable service, attention to
detail, and creative presentation that always makes for a memorable and seamless event. We would be delighted to have the opportunity to show you firsthand what Austin Catering can do for you and the success of your next event. Contact us today! We would love the opportunity to bring your vision to life! Austin Catering (512) 291-6180 www.austin-catering.com
Capturing Your Child’s Simcha Moments What moment do you remember best from your child’s Simcha? The early morning portraits as she struggled to hold the Torah at the synagogue? The candlelight and family filling your home at Shabbat dinner? Hearing the hilarious song her older sister made up to sing to her with her friends. Arriving at the hotel, hoping everything is just right. So much was happening; it’s challenging to take time and just enjoy it! As your Simcha photographer, I am there for you, capturing those moments. We get to know each other and hopefully build some trust with those portraits, joking about homework, Justin Beiber and the track team. All the hard work that went into decorating the venue; her delight at seeing everything come together and being so nervous as the center of attention. Checking all the groups of family photos on your list so you can mingle with your guests as soon as possible. This is her day! Time to kick back and have fun. Tonight, she’s on the dance floor with her friends, whirling, laughing, having a blast. It’s boys versus girls for dance offs, lip-sync battles and games. You’re in the back, taking a break with your friends until YOUR favorite song comes on. I’m clicking away, photographing her on stage with the DJ singing together,
with you and your family saying the blessing over the bread and wine. I see Dad and his brothers, lifting your little girl high in the air and everyone swirling around her. I see Grandpa teaching the young boys blackjack at casino night. Whether it’s sequins and orchids or balloons and grilled cheese sandwiches, these are the moments that paint a vivid picture--a picture of celebration. Feeling a little emotional? Me, too! This is your child. This is her day! So breathe, celebrate, and treasure this part of your
family’s history. I’ll make sure you never forget it. Rachael Hall is an award-winning Austinbased wedding and Simcha photographer. She has been featured on Modern Jewish Wedding, Style Me Pretty, Artfully Wed, Smitten Magazine, and San Antonio Wedding Magazine. Rachael Hall Photography www.rachaelhallphoto.com (830) 708-8877 info@rachaelhallphoto.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 51
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
The OASIS
Welcome to The OASIS. Allow our special events team to take care of any type of event that you can imagine. From themed events to elegant parties, The OASIS can do it all. If we don’t have everything you’re looking for, don’t worry! We work closely with many local vendors to take care of every last detail. We have a list of preferred vendors that we highly recommend and that are familiar with our facility, but you are welcome to use any vendor you choose. We want The OASIS to be your favorite place for special events. Let us handle all of your arrangements while you take credit for a fabulous event. In the early 1980s, Beau Theriot had a dream of opening a small burger joint on Lake Travis. In 1982, his dream became a reality when he opened The OASIS. Located 450 feet above Lake Travis, the amazing view and atmosphere has earned The OASIS its reputation for the “Sunset Capital of Texas.” For over 30 years, The OASIS has played an integral part in creating a special, timeless moment for thousands of guests. It’s known as an Austin Landmark – one of the largest restaurants in the country. As a special events venue, The OASIS is truly one of a kind. Its lovely suites and unique private event areas will make any occasion unforgettable. Most of our rooms can be rented simultaneously, making the restaurant versatile enough to accommodate anywhere from ten to several hundred guests. We welcome visitors to tour our indoor suites, as well as the decks that have made The OASIS famous. The stunning lake and sunset views create an event like no other. Some of our rooms include: Top of the OASIS: our most executive venue, used only for private events. It adjoins Palm Court, which overlooks the lake and makes an impressive setting for your guests. Sunset Villa: With one of the best views from inside the building, Sunset Villa provides a fabulous space for serving, dancing, or dining. The wrap around glass doors open up onto a private deck for a closer look at Lake Travis. Starlight Terrace: The largest single room in the restaurant and comfortably seats up to 400 guests. Our catering staff will help any guest make excellent use of the stage and dance floor, while skillfully transforming the rest of Starlight Terrace into the perfect setting. Lone Star: Friends and Family will feel right at home in this warm and inviting Texas Style den. With its western flare and rustic charm, guests can gather by the Texas sized natural stone fireplace or enjoy
the beautiful granite bar and hand carved wood buffet. Lakeside Terrace: one of our most popular rooms, located on the second floor, Lakeside Terrace offers a cozy, Tuscany feel while giving all guests a breathtaking panoramic view of Lake Travis. We are more than just a space. Our trusted professionals can point you in the right direction with everything you need. From transportation and lodging to entertainment, florists, and photographers, we can help turn your event into the memory of a lifetime! The Oasis Events Director, Adam Tompkins (512) 266-9242 adam@oasis-cantina.com | www.oasis-austin.com
TH SL O M O BO O
SEQUIN BACKDROPS
IF S A N IM AT ED G
NG LI G H T PA IN TI N G R EE N SC R EE
SHUTTERBOOTH Call us Today!
512.387.0899 EVENTS@SHUTTERBOOTH.COM
52 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
your MITZVAH! www.ShutterBoothAustin.com
rooms. We also have an atrium, along with other rooms so we can accommodate up to 300 people in a single space. We’ll make sure that everything will run smoothly. We’re ready to help: setting up your space, supplying the room with what you need, or meeting special dietary needs, we’ll make sure the details are dialed in. Take a relaxing swim in the outdoor pool or work out in our stateof-the-art fitness center. The hotel also offers complimentary shuttle service within a 4-mile radius.
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL Contact the Sales department at 512.343.0888 and/or come tour our property at 8901 Business Park Drive
Minutes from JCC
Would You Like A Cookie?
Through glass doors, I am immediately greeted with warm smiling faces. “Welcome to the DoubleTree! Are you checking-in?” No, I am merely standing here for fun; I chuckled to myself. With a polite laugh, the front desk agent hands over a square paper bag. “Would you care for a DoubleTree chocolate chip-walnut cookie?” Does a hipster wear a bowler hat? The warmth seeping through the bag prompts me to open it with curiosity. The smell of home. Navigating my way through the hallways is such a relief from the Austin traffic. You know, rush hour every hour. Clumsily setting the luggage aside, I plop myself on the bed, cookie in hand. The bed engulfs my exhaustion, tempting me into a deep sleep. Rummaging through the drawers, an in-room dining menu reminds me that I’ve got options, which is always nice. A crumpled cookie bag later, I venture out into the hotel. Stepping off the elevator, the sound of clanking glasses and subtle laughter invite me over. At the end of the lobby stood a sleek bar of onyx with high intricate ceilings. Exactly where I expected to find them, were the familiar faces of my family and friends. Cookies in hand. Formal greetings aside, we decide that it’s time for a drink. “Welcome to the Centre Lounge. It’s Happy Hour, you know.” And oh, what a happy hour it is. Too early in the morning, I go over last minute party details with the family over breakfast. We then beeline to the ballroom for set up. The doors swung open to reveal tall pillars full of potential. As we finalized the décor, the banquet committee filed in for set up. A stunning display put my anxiety at ease. Quickly we rush back to my room to doll up. A little while later, I look down from the overlook to see the lobby full of party-goers wearing their
best to impress. With music leading them into the ballroom, cheek kisses and welcome chatter fill the room. After an exquisite buffet, (I served myself last of course) the Bat Mitzvah girl begins a beautiful prayer into adulthood. The gratitude she shared in her speech prompted her parents (my sister and brother in law) to present her first gift. Tearing apart the wrapping paper, a delicate candlestick is revealed. An applaud from the crowd opens up the dance floor. Circling the room, I can’t help but pat myself on the back seeing my family enjoy a meal together and watching and a group of semi descent dancers clapping to the music. What a success! Breaking down afterwards was such a breeze with the banquet team assuring me to head back to my room and get some rest. My feet came upon realization of my exhaustion as I dragged myself through the lobby, heels in hand. With a quick stop at the front desk for foam pillows, I congratulate myself in the elevator. As soon as I finished changing for bed, a knock on the door provides my requested pillows. Sinking down into the bed, I make a mental note to ask the desk where to purchase this mattress. It’s that in between soft and firm that I like. Packing the next morning is almost robotic. Next moment, I am in the lobby with an espresso in hand. “Checking out?” A peppy gentleman asks. It took me by surprise when he greeted me by name and made small talk about my stay and travels. How refreshing to be treated like a human again. ”Would you like a cookie for the trip back home?” Does a hippie own a dream catcher?
Doubletree by Hilton Austin Northwest Arboretum (512) 343-0888 www.austinnorthwestarboretum.doubletree.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 53
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
The #1 Mistake Party Planners Make When Booking a Restaurant Planning a great private party at a restaurant takes a lot of research. You’ve got to find a spot that can accommodate your group, make sure that the menu suits your guests’ dietary needs, and look for an accessible location. Many times, in all of the hustle, even the best party planners make this common mistake… It seems like the determining factor should be the quality of the food, right? Of course, fresh, gourmet food prepared from highquality ingredients is essential…but just as important for creating a memorable event is a beautiful and rich ambience. The truth is, many guests will eventually forget what they ordered. But everyone will remember how the event made them feel. That’s why warmth, beauty, and elegance should be just as high on your list as an amazing meal – but many planners overlook this. Here are a few atmospheric qualities you should look for when selecting the restaurant for your private party: Art. Never underestimate the power of artwork for engaging the senses and leaving a lasting impression. Does the eatery you’re considering have a dynamic range of art on the walls? Do the colors, styles, and mediums draw your attention and light you up? We can’t count the number of times our guests have asked for information about a piece from our private collection that really moved them (many of which were purchased from the late Austin gallery owner Dana Ravel) – but we can tell you that it far outnumbers the times we’ve been asked for a recipe. Comfortable Seating. You would be surprised how often the quality of something as fundamental as seating goes unchecked before the big day. Sit down and feel the space. Will your guests feel relaxed and have plenty of room? Plant Life. Living space feels significantly better to be in – just think about the last time you were in nature. Check the waiting area where your guests will be gathering for indoor plant life. The presence of greenery soothes the soul. Waitstaff. Ask about your venue’s waitstaff standards and philosophy. Meet a few of them beforehand if possible. Are they warm, engaging, knowledgeable, and attentive? Will your guests feel invited to stay as long as they like, or rushed to finish within a certain timeframe? Furnishings & Decor. Take a moment to assess the location’s lighting, flooring, paint colors, and decor details. How do they make
you feel? Do you enjoy looking around? Do the materials and colors convey the vibe you’re after? Taking the extra time to vet out the ambience of your location will make a huge difference for your guests’ experience. It’s a fact of dining that we don’t take for granted at Fonda San Miguel restaurant. If you choose to book our back dining room for your party of up to 80, or reserve the whole
54 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
restaurant for 150+, we can guarantee the atmosphere will be just as stunning as the food. Call us to discuss your next private event today. Fonda San Miguel (512) 459-3401 www.FondaSanMiguel.com
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Ginny B. Photography
CAPTURING THE JOY OF CHILDHOOD From years as an educator to her longtime love of the camera, Ginny Belofsky’s accomplishments have led her to a successful career as a photographer. Offering on-location and studio sessions for people and pets of all ages, Ginny B Photography specializes in maternity, newborns, infants, children, families and special events. Capturing the many milestones in the life of a child, from the very beginning in mom’s belly to birthdays, time as an infant, toddler and beyond, parents can relive and share these special times through professional photography. Ginny’s focus on children stems from more than 12 years of teaching at the Shalom Austin’s Early Childhood Program and Austin Jewish Academy. Ginny has been taking photos for pleasure as long as she can remember. Even as a little girl, she enjoyed photographing everything, from bugs and birds to pets and people. As a teacher, known as “Walking Sunshine,” she often had a camera at her side and enjoyed taking pictures of children throughout the year for her classroom’s bulletin board
fundraiser. Parents noticed Ginny’s talent for capturing the candid expressions and natural smiles that melted their hearts and each year asked her to take photos for family holiday cards. Ginny took time off from teaching after the birth of her second child, Maia, in 2006. But she soon found that she missed her students and the creative energy of working with them. In order to capture Maia’s early days and to fulfill her artistic drive, Ginny’s energy was focused on her camera. Since then, demand for her services has exploded. Many of her first clients were the same families she worked with as a teacher, who still cherish her photos from the ECP and AJA. Miriam Zodikoff, who hired Ginny to photograph her son’s bar mitzvah, said, “She had such an outgoing personality and natural warmth. She felt like someone we would enjoy having even as a guest at my son’s big event. We really appreciated her laid back approach.”
and projects like Mother’s Day gifts. Ginny took a photograph of every student in the school and they were sent to family members in a handmade card for AJA’s Grandparents’ Day
Ginny B Photography (512) 586-7884 ginny@ginnbyphotography.com www.ginnybphotography.com
GinnyBPhotography Big Time Creatives 512.586.7884 • ginnybphoto.com You’ve just attended your thirteenth Bar/ Bat Mitzvah. Mom has five Pinterest boards started and you’ve seen so many cool ideas and you don’t know where to begin. Jack did Superheroes, Emily chose glow-in-the-dark, and Noah wanted hockey as their theme. What are you supposed to choose? When thinking about your big day, remember the party should reflect your personality and tastes. Maybe you are a Lego fanatic, perhaps you enjoy movies, or maybe you are a video game master. Let Big Time Creatives Event Design + Management help tell your unique story. They specialize in taking your vision and bringing it to life. Their team works with the top vendor professionals in town and can provide you with ideas, resources and guide you through every aspect of the party so you can relax and enjoy the day. Call Big Time Creatives and let them help you get started. Big Time Creatives (512) 971-2321 info@bigtimecreatives www.bigtimecreatives.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 55
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
It’s Always a Family Affair
EVERY DINING EXPERIENCE IS A SPECIAL OCCASION AT OLIVE & JUNE By: Chantal Rice
Special events are most special when shared with family and loved ones. Gathering together at the dining-room table over familystyle helpings of everyone’s favorite homemade recipes and sharing a lovingly crafted meal, fond family anecdotes and a little bit of laughter: These are the characteristics of the most memorable and treasured special occasions, and precisely what Olive & June is serving up for Shabbat dinners, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other festive events. Indeed, the concept of family has special meaning at Olive & June. Named for acclaimed restaurateur Chef Shawn Cirkiel’s family matriarchs, this Southern Italian eatery draws from well-loved tradition and heritage to create only the most sophisticated and endearing of dining experiences. Here, reinvented classic dishes meet a warm, welcoming and modern elegance that appeals to all generations, from young family members who may be more adventurous in their dining choices, to grande dames and patriarchs who appreciate a polished special experience that impresses extended family. Long committed to the diverse cultures that make Austin such a special community, Olive & June has hosted many an event, including weekly Sunday family dinners and Rosh Hashanah feasts. In fact, Chef
56 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
Cirkiel’s Jewish roots on his father’s side often inspire the creative, savory and personalized menus he devises for special events, festival celebrations and one-of-a-kind family gatherings. Located in the Central Austin Brykerwoods neighborhood near the Jewish Community Center and Congregation Beth Israel, Olive & June features a variety of restaurant spaces ideal for family dinners and special occasions. The enchanting third-floor event area offers a private indoor/outdoor dining area with expansive windowed walls that allow beautiful ambient light to cascade into the space. The covered patio overlooks the courtyard, along with the overhanging heritage oak tree that further distinguishes the restaurant’s splendor. Guests in search of an even more exclusive experience for their Shabbat dinners or bar and bat mitzvah celebrations will delight in the Chef’s Table. Accommodating between two and 16 diners, the Chef’s Table is a private room located through the doors of Olive & June’s bustling kitchen. Here, the menu is served family-style, a dining adventure that is perfect for sharing with loved ones. Though guests have complete privacy during their dining experience at the Chef’s Table, they are also afforded views into the lively kitchen atmosphere as their server enters and exits the room. The Chef’s Table is truly an unmatched experience that exemplifies the celebratory and interactive ambiance of Olive & June and will provide for the most enchanting memories. While each and every dining space at Olive & June features captivating and engaging characteristics, it is the hand-crafted, madefrom-scratch menu and Southern Italian cuisine that sets Olive & June apart. Highlighting local, seasonal ingredients, the extensive menu includes a variety of antipasti and piccolo piatti (small plate) dishes, as well as salads, handmade pastas, contorni (side dishes), entrées grilled over Texas oak and an ever-changing array of divine dolci (desserts) created by Pastry Chef Erica Waksmunski. Menu specialties include homemade pastas such as Bucatini Amatriciana and Saffron Ricotta Ravioli; entrées of Pan Roasted Striped Bass; and Grilled Texas Lamb Leg; antipasti such as Seafood Fritto Misto; and Pork Meatballs, as well as a variety of piccoli piatti, small and scrumptious plates packing lots of Italian flavor. The family-style dinners include six courses, featured wines, and meat and cheese platters upon request. Special-event menus are personalized and designed by Chef Cirkiel and Executive Chef Justin Rupp specifically for each occasion. From the multitude of lively and inviting dining spaces, to the attentive service and hospitality of the staff, to the exquisite, world-class cuisine, Olive & June has proven to be the perfect spot for any special occasion or family affair. Olive & June events@oliveandjune-austin.com (512) 467-9898
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Celebrating The Westin Way MAKING IT ABOUT YOU!
When choosing the perfect venue for your simcha, it is truly all about you. That is what makes the Westin Austin at the Domain the ideal location to celebrate your B’nai Mitzvah. It is your vision and we are dedicated to making it all that you dream of. Our hotel features inspired menus to delight every taste, and customization that allows every last wish to be fulfilled. Our instinctive planners and attentive staff are on hand to assist in every last aspect of planning your celebration. The Westin Austin at The Domain offers a variety of social gathering rooms to fit each distinct event perfectly. Our hotel features over 17,000 square feet of special event space. Celebrate in our Primrose Ballroom under soaring 18-foot ceilings amidst classic décor, and plentiful customizable lighting elements that can be controlled to set the right tone and mood for your event. Our generously-sized pre-function foyer is an ideal setting for welcoming your guests. Your guests will be inspired by their surroundings. Welcoming, but never overwhelming, our hotel is architecturally inspired, thoughtfully designed and located in the heart of The Domain, one of Austin’s premier destinations with 1.3 million square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment venues. Your guests will enjoy a seamless reservation process. We create a customized reservation link for each group, where your guests can conveniently secure accommodations with just a few clicks. Your celebration awaits, Mazel Tov!
Westin Austin at the Domain 11301 Domain Drive, Austin, Texas 78758 www.westin.com/austindomain Catering and Sales Department: sales@westinaustinatthedomain.com (512) 687-6638
• Accommodating up to 550 guests • Vegetarian and kosher menus available • Outside kosher catering available
The Traveling Photo Booth
How to make a Simcha special? Capture the moments of fun by creating an experience for every generation to enjoy! Take fun to the next level and create memories in our fully automated, award-winning photo booths or photo stands. Welcome to the world of photo booths and how to properly find the one that suits your standards. First note: Not all photo booths are created equal.
When it comes to big lifecycle celebrations, Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and Anniversaries, top photo quality is what will last a lifetime and THAT is where we come into play, superseding our competition. Some fun facts about us: • The Traveling Photo Booth® is an award winning photo booth and has been renting one-of-a-kind photo booths and stands for special events since 2005. • Our booths have taken over 1 million photos and have completed over 5,000 events. • Our booths bridge the appeal of yesteryear with the technology of today. • Quickly printed photo strips and accommodate both small and large groups attractively. We have the novelty locked in with photo quality. • It’s not every day that you can take a single photo strip picture and blow it up to a
16x20 poster size, and not miss one pixel! • Professional quality photos here. Most definitely worthy of any frame! • We think they’re the best in the Galaxy. All our rentals come with: ✓ Animated GIF Creation ✓ Unlimited Photos + Print Options ✓ Free* On-Site Reprints ✓ Quality Waaay Beyond Megapixels (Images of the highest quality) ✓ Video Preview ✓ Lightning Speed Photo Printing Free Web Hosting + Image Downloads (Password protected photo & GIF video gallery) ✓ Super Tones® Photo Filters ( Black & White, Color, Sepia and Retro Colour)
couples smooching, older guests looking adorable, and kids bouncing around anticipating the flash. Even grouchy guests can’t help but look GREAT in our photos! Request FREE samples to see the difference with your own eyes! Kick in some efficiency in your event decision making & contact us for a personalized quote. Serving the Austin & San Antonio Areas. Raise the “BAR” in your Mitzvah! The Traveling Photo Booth Austin, recently were awarded TWO “Best of 2018” awards! Compliments of: The Austin Wedding Day magazine & Austin Event Company. The Traveling Photo Booth (512) 524-6046 Austin@travelingpb.com www.thetravelingphotobooth.com
Imagine your closest friends and family squeezing together,
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 57
PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING SPECIAL
Picking the Perfect Menu – For You!
You have decided on the date, reserved the venue, and contacted caterers. Now you are studying reams of menus. How to make sense of it all! The perfect menu should reflect your style and tastes and be memorable for your guests. Delicious food served with style will enhance any occasion. Eye-appealing presentation and attentive service is what we specialize in at Pascal’s Catering. From the first meeting to the big event, catering involves a lot of planning, preparation, teamwork and creativity. Your caterer needs clear guidelines to help develop the menu. The planning meeting is like a “getting to know you” session. They want to get a feel for you and what your vision is for your event. How much do you plan to spend? The price per guest is comparable to what you could spend at a restaurant for a meal. Hors d’oeuvres, entrees, desserts and beverages are all considered in the menu price. The caterer can make suggestions for elegant and cost effective selections. What type of event is it? How formal or informal is the occasion? What time of day is the event? This will help determine the choice of dishes and the quantity. A lunch meal may include lighter selections than an evening dinner. What are your likes and dislikes? What about your guests? Are there any family favorites you wish featured? Many family
58 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
recipes can be adjusted to a large number of guests. Are there any special dietary considerations, such as vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies? What is the theme of the event? The menu can be tailored to reflect the theme or a regional cuisine. Some foods are available seasonally. For example, figs are probably not available in February. Your caterer can suggest reasonable substitutions if produce is not easily obtainable at the time of your event. The season may influence some menu choices. Hot soups are very appealing when the weather is cold, but not so much during the summer. Not all foods cater well, particularly deep fried foods. Some types of fish do not “travel” well. The caterer can advise you of these and other considerations. Now you have the event proposal in hand with the foods you like and that your guests will appreciate. Do you have questions or second thoughts about the menu? Share them with the caterer. They will make any changes to craft a menu to your specifications. Pascal’s Catering www.pascalscatering.com (512) 447-4113
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SIMCHA
CATERING/ BEVERAGES/DESSERTS Your menu is a GREAT way to incorporate your UNIQUE personality into your event. Is traveling your passion? Considering offering a crêpe bar or a variety of Italian sodas! At Austin Catering, we create one-of-a-kind menus that you and your guests will be talking about long after the last dance! Visit us at Austin-Catering.com. AUSTIN CATERING Austin-Catering.com
AustNuts is an Austin-based company who has been in business for 24 years and specializes in fresh, dry roasted gourmet nuts. We carry a large variety of Kosher items from nuts to chocolates and candies. AustiNuts offers a large selection of gift baskets and items to take care of all your Simcha needs. Come by our store to taste our delicious nuts to determine your favorites or visit us online! We look forward to serving you! AUSTINUTS www.austiNuts.com
When planning your mitzvah, remember to include tasty, fun and interactive elements for your guests. The Cupcake Bar specializes in creating a fun experience, while delivering a delicious product! Contact us for a quote on our cupcake bars, donut bars, caramel apple bars or roaming treat bars. Or, let us customize something special just for you! THE CUPCAKE BAR thecupcakebar.com (512) 903-0187 info@thecupcakebar.com
Are you looking to satisfy your hunger with the mouthwatering dishes of Moroccan cuisine? Imagine a Kosher catering company in Austin who will not only exceeds your guests expectations but will bring them back begging for more. Introducing Gail’s Catering. Austin’s exclusive Kosher catering company. Visit their website now. GAIL’S CATERING www.gailscateringservices.com
When planning the menu for your Mitzvah, remember to offer a variety of delicacies to accommodate dietary preferences and food allergies. At Pinkberry, we have you covered! Our frozen swirls are Kosher, naturally gluten-free and we offer delicious vegan, dairy-free or no-sugar-added flavors to round out your indulgent menu. Customize your interactive toppings bar with specialty chocolates, candies, cookies, and fresh fruits to celebrate your unique style. Contact us for more information about our sundaie bar, ice cream float bar or candy counter. PINKBERRY austincaters@pinkberry.com (512) 330-9994
When choosing a cocktail menu for your next party, keep in mind what types of food you will serve and the time of day. Themed cocktails add a unique and memorable touch to any party. Talk to a Your Personal Shopper™ for advice on party planning. For recipes and more information visit our website. TWIN LIQUORS TwinLiquors.com
DISC JOCKEYS I wanna hold your hand: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, so many vendors to chose from , Dj’s, Photographers, caters, flowers, green screens, event planners. Make sure when hiring the right vendor, you feel comfortable with that person. The good ones will help and guide you thru your event and hold your hand from the beginning to the end. Call Rikko to schedule a Entertainment consultation. RIKKOS JOINT (210) 445-0930 www.rikkosjoint.com
EVENT PLANNING Do you want your guests to remember your party as one of their favorites? Then you need to depend upon a trusted source to capitalize on the latest trends, the most recent music craze, and most importantly what will make them walk away with a smile. Contact Altared Weddings & Events to discuss entertainment and lighting that’ll create AWE in your event. ALTARED WEDDINGS (512) 255-6788 www.altaredweddings.com
When planning a successful and memorable event, there are many decisions that need to be made. Hiring a planner you can trust is key. Big Time Creatives Event Design + Management specializes in production and creativity. Give us a ring to help bring your ideas to life. BIG TIME CREATIVES (512) 971-2321 www.bigtimecreatives.com
Planning a Simcha can be stressful and difficult to juggle various vendors. EVENTfull ATX is here to help, let us to take the stress of planning so you can be a guest at your own party! EVENTfull Jessica@eventfullatx.com (512)434-0429 www.eventfullatx.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 59
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SIMCHA Creating memorable events means putting the attendee at the forefront and engaging all five of their senses. Let Hot Dot Events emmersify your next event! Call or email Lindsay Rosenberg today to book your free consultation. HOT DOT EVENTS (512) 653-3602 info@hotdotevents.com www.hotdotevents.com
ENTERTAINMENT Be sure to have multiple entertainment options at any big party you throw. DJ’s and photographers may be essential, but some guests are just more comfortable gathering with friends to play a great game. At Game Plan Entertainment, we specialize in providing arcades, video games, and other entertainment to suit guests of all ages. GAME PLAN ENTERTAINMENT (512) 588-9428 www.GamePlanEnt.com
When planning a party, be sure to remember guest entertainment! Why not include a memorable experience that allows you to check off several items on your Party To Do List... 1) entertainment for your guests, 2) guest party favors, 3) photographymemories captured and 4)signing scrapbook. ShutterBooth offers several unique experiences to make your event legendary! SHUTTERBOOTH (512) 387-0899 ShutterBooth Austin
Not all Photo Booth’s are created equal. When shopping for your special event, you want fully automated, top quality photos, that can accommodate small & large groups attractively. Serving the Austin & San Antonio Areas. Raise the “BAR” in your Mitzvah! Contact us for a quote.
INVITATIONS A local vendor with a brick-and-mortar presence offers you the opportunity to proof your invitation in person so you can see the colors and feel the card stock. These experienced local professionals will guide you in placing your order and keeping it within your budget. The printing professionals at Medical Parkway Printing will work with you from concept to completion to meet your deadline within your budget. MEDICAL PARKWAY PRINTING (512) 459.1339 info@mpprint.net
JUDAICA GIFTS Congregation Agudas Achim Sisterhood Gift Shop provides for all your Simcha needs. An invitation sets the tone for your event; we offer a 25 percent discount on all custom invitations order. Shop for everything you need from jewelry made in Israel, books on Judaism, Tallit, kippot, yads, and mezuzot for your Jewish home and life. All profits benefit the CAARS and community. CONGREGATION AGUDAS ACHIM (512) 785-8450 www.caa-austin.org/judaica-shop
Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood’s Judaica Shop helps celebrates your next simcha. Shop for tallit, kippot, candlesticks, kiddish cups, mezuzot and more. Jewelry, T-shirts, toys, books, etc. make perfect gifts. Visit us inside the synagogue at 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd. All profits go to camp and Israel scholarships for kids.
THE TRAVELING PHOTO BOOTH (512) 524.6046 www.thetravelingphotobooth.com
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL SISTERHOOD (512) 454-6806 www.bethisrael.org
PHOTOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY/ VIDEO MONTAGE “Be sure to tell your photographer in advance about special people, items, and events you will want to remember after the simcha. The more your photographer knows what to expect, the better prepared they can be to make sure you end up with great images of key friends, tallitot, yads, candle lighting ceremonies, and so forth.” DAVID FINKEL PHOTOGRAPHY (512) 576-7278 www.davidfinkel.com
Think about how you want to display, access, and share your images. Dropbox? USB drive? Album or fine art prints? DO print your images while you are still excited about the event. Have your photographer do it for you or give you online resources—there are many great ones—if you want to go DYI. MADELEINE TILIN PHOTOGRAPHY Madeleinetilin.com (512) 708.0102
When booking your child’s mitzvah photographer, consider how you will display your images: will they be on a wall in your home or in a keepsake memory book? Planning ahead ensures you make the most of this historical event. Contact Rachael Hall Photography for your free consultation. RACHAEL HALL PHOTOGRAPHY (830) 708-8877 rachaelhallphoto.com
“Special events in our lives are fleeting. When choosing a photographer to capture those moments make sure to pick someone whose reliable, creative and, most importantly - someone whose personality puts you at ease. Sasha Haagensen takes pride in capturing beautiful images while bringing a sense of comfort to your day. SASHA HAAGENSEN sashahaagensen.com
60 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SIMCHA
WHERE’S THE PARTY? To create a celebration that is uniquely yours, choose three tone words that describe the event you envision. Those words simplify decisions (invitations, décor, menus) and help vendors deliver your vision. Archer Hotel Austin and celebrated chef David Bull believe that your event should tell your story. ARCHER HOTEL www.archerhotel.com (512) 836.5700
A venue’s atmosphere and character set the stage for any event. Look for unique architectural features, natural light, and flexible space. Communicate your ideas – no matter how big or small – to see how a space can be transformed to bring your dream event to life! AT&T CONFERENCE CENTER (512) 404-3631 Cheryl.shirley@attconf.utexas.edu MeetatTexas.com
Successful fundraising events allow guests to see your mission in action. Show, don’t tell! Inspire audiences with a powerful video presentation that reflects all you do for the community. Plan a unique event at a creative space with great video production and presentation capabilities. Tour our event spaces.
As you’re making your special event, or party plans this year Remember at The County Line. We are always here to show your guests what real Texas Hospitality is all about. Since 1975 Austin has trusted the County Line to make sure that any event or special evening is a fun and memorable one.
Special events are most special when shared with loved ones. Gather over heartwarming plates of handcrafted Southern-Italian inspired dishes and the best wines offered by Italy. See our website for more details and to inquire about holding your next event with us!
COUNTY LINE countyline.com
OLIVE AND JUNE Oliveandjune-austin.com
Ambience is just as important as gourmet food when planning an unforgettable event. Look for a restaurant that offers a rich environment to stimulate all the senses. Stunning fine art, lush tropical plants, sparkling light from traditional tin chandeliers… at Fonda San Miguel, your celebration comes alive.
Check off all of your event requirements at Texas Hillel! Centrally located in the heart of West campus and adjacent to the University of Texas, Texas Hillel offers indoor and outdoor event space, kosher catering and multiple room size options.
FONDA SAN MIGUEL (512) 459-4121 www.fondasanmiguel.com
Remember: Being flexible pays off! Although, Hyatt Regency Austin recommends beginning the planning process as early as possible, at least 6-12 months in advance depending on size, there are still many options when booking last-minute when you have flexible dates.
TEXAS HILLEL jparker@texashillel.org (512) 476-0125 ext. 1009
When choosing the perfect venue for your simcha, it is truly all about you. That is what makes the Westin Austin at the Domain the ideal location to celebrate your B’nai Mitzvah. WESTIN AUSTIN AT THE DOMAIN www.westin.com/austindomain
HYATT REGENCY AUSTIN (512) 480-2040 ausra-catering@hyatt.com
Celebrate the gladness and joy of a Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah in a venue that is bright and happy. Start planning your special event well ahead A great way to make an event unique of time and work with a coordinator is to choose a complimenting theme. who really cares about the success Start with the invitation and carry it and enjoyment of the occasion. through to the linens, décor, menu, THE OASIS ON LAKE TRAVIS specialty cocktail & lighting. The Gal(512) 266-9242 oasis-austin.com lery at Chez Zee offers the perfect canvas for any celebration. AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY rentals@austinfilm.org
CHEZ ZEE AMERICAN BISTRO (512) 454-2666 events@chezzee.com www.chez-zee.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 61
advertiser directory BEVERAGES
ENTERTAINMENT / PHOTOBOOTH
www.twinliquors.com
(512) 387-0899 events@shutterbooth.com www.shutterbooth.com
Twin Liquors
CATERERS / DESSERTS / SNACKS Austin Catering
(512) 291-6180 www.austin-catering.com
Austinuts
(512) 323-6887 info@austinuts.com www.austinuts.com
Central Market North Lamar (512) 206-1000 www.centralmarket.com
Gail’s Catering
Shutterbooth
The Traveling Photo Booth (512) 524-6046 TheTravelingPhotoBooth.com
EVENT PLANNERS / STAFFING Altared Wedding & Events (512) 255-6788 www.altaredweddings.com
Austin Event Studio
(512) 653-3478 AustinEventStudio.com
(512) 994-6622 galitzudok@yahool.com www.gailscatering.com
Big Time Creatives
(512) 447-4113 Sebastien@pascalscatering.com www.pascalscatering.com
(512) 434-0429 www.eventfullatx.com
Pascal’s Catering
Pinkberry
(512) 330-9994 www.pinkberry.com/westlake
The Cupcake Bar
(512) 903-0187 info@thecupcakebar.com www.thecupcakebar.com
(512) 971-2321 www.bigtimecreatives.com
Eventfull ATX
Hot Dot Events
(512) 653-3602 info@hotdotevents.com www.hotdotevents.com
EVENT VENUE
Austin Film Society
www.austinfilm.org/rentals
DÉCOR
Balcones Country Club
(512) 832-9192 www.strongevents.com
Texas Hillel Foundation
Strong Events
DJS
Rikkos Joint
(210) 445-0930 music@rikkosjoint.com www.rikkosjoint.com
Spark the Night
(512) 705-7315 www.SparkTheNightEntertainment.com
Texas Pro DJ
(512) 670-7970 miles@texasprodj.com www.texasprodj.com
ENTERTAINMENT / GAMES Game Plan Entertainment (512) 588-9428 info@GamePlanEnt.com www.GamePlanEnt.com
62 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
(512) 258-9890 www.BalconesCountryClub.com (512) 476-0125 www.texashillel.org.
The Dominion Golf Group (Twin Creeks Country Club) (512) 250-3956 www.twincreeksclub.com (512) 346-1114 www.riverplaceclub.com (512) 383-2004 www.onioncreekclub.com
GIFTS
Agudas Achim Sisterhood Gift Shop (512) 735-8450 saajudaicaaustin@gmail.com
Beth Israel Sisterhood (512) 454-6806 www.bethisrael.org
advertiser directory HOTELS / VENUES
RESTAURANTS / EVENT VENUES
(512) 836-5700 www.archerhotel.com/Austin
(512) 454-2666 events@chezzee.com www.chez-zee.com
Archer Hotel
AT&T Conference Center
(512) 404-3631 cheryl.shirley@attconf.utexas.edu www.1900universityavenue.com
Doubletree by Hilton Austin NW Arboretum (512) 343-0888 www.austinnorthwestarboretum.doubletree.com
Hyatt Place
(512) 231-8491 www.hyattplace.com
Hyatt Regency
(512) 480-2040 ausra-rfp@hyatt.com austin.regency.hyatt.com
Westin Austin at the Domain
(512) 687-6638 www.westaustinatthedomain.com
Chez Zee
Congregation Beth Israel (512) 454-6806 www.bethisrael.org
Fonda San Miguel
(512) 459-4121 www.FondaSanMiguel.com
Parkside Projects
www.parksideprojects.com
The County Line
(512) 327-1742 www.countyline.com
The Oasis
(512) 266-9242 www.oasis-austin.com
INVITATIONS / PRINTING
Medical Parkway Printing Inc. (512) 459-1339 info@mpprint.net www.mpprint.net
PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEO David Finkel Photography (512) 576-7278 david@davidfinkel.com www.davidfinkel.com
Ginny B Photography
(512) 586-7884 ginny@ginnbyphotography.com www.ginnybphotography.com
Madeleine Tilin Photography (512) 708-0102 www.madeleinetilin.com
Rachael Hall Photography
(830) 708-8877 rachaellhall@gmail.com www.rachaelhallphotography.com
Sasha Haagensen
(512) 913-0282 www.sashahaagensen.com
Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019 63
advertiser index Agudas Achim Sisterhood Gift Shop........................... 9
Hyatt Place.........................................................................31
Altared Wedding & Events.............................................17
Hyatt Regency...................................................................21
Archer Hotel.......................................................................41
Madeleine Tilin Photography........................................33
AT&T Conference Center................................................35
Medical Parkway Printing Inc.......................................25
Austin Catering..................................................................19
Parkside Projects................................................................ 1
Austin Event Studio.........................................................18
Pascal’s Catering............................................. Back Cover
Austin Film Society.........................................................43
Pinkberry.............................................................................. 3
Austinuts.............................................................................17
Rachael Hall Photography..............................................19
Balcones Country Club.....................................................11
Rikkos Joint......................................................................... 4
Big Time Creatives............................................................ 3
Sasha Haagensen.............................................................34
Central Market..................................................................23
Shutterbooth.....................................................................52
Chez Zee.............................................................................43
Spark the Night................................................................39
Congregation Beth Israel................................................21
Strong Events....................................................................15
Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop...........................................12
Texas Hillel..........................................................................15
David Finkel Photography.............................................29 Doubletree by Hilton Austin NY Arboretum.............. 5 Eventfull ATX.................................................................... 30 Fonda San Miguel.............................................................. 7 Gail’s Catering...................................................................27 Game Plan Entertainment..............................................18 Ginny B Photography.....................................................23 Hot Dot Events..................................................................41
64 Simcha Austin: The Guide to Jewish Life Cycle Celebrations in Central Texas | 2019
Texas Pro DJ......................................................................22 The County Line...............................................................24 The Cupcake Bar...............................................................16 The Dominion Golf Group................Inside Back Cover The Oasis.............................................................................. 6 The Traveling Photo Booth............................................. 9 Twin Liquors.......................................................................12 Westin Austin at the Domain.........Inside Front Cover
Us Host Mitzvah Mitzvah, Let Let Us Host YourYour Bar Bar Mitzvah and and Bat Bat Mitzvah, Wedding or Private Party Wedding or Private Party Private Country offer a relaxed, family-oriented club environment the perfect setting for your Wedding, and Bat Our Private Our Country Clubs offer aClubs relaxed, family-oriented club environment providing theproviding perfect setting for your Wedding, Bar MitzvahBar andMitzvah Bat Mitzvah, Special Mitzvah, Special Occasion or Occasion Meeting. or Meeting. Whether planning a small intimate or a grand affair, attention to top detail is the From top priority. From hors d’oeuvres to lavish dessert Whether planning a small intimate gathering or gathering a grand affair, attention to detail is the priority. delicious horsdelicious d’oeuvres to lavish dessert buffets, andineverything in between, our professional adds touches. all the right Our private clubhouses, private rooms, balconies, andvistas golf course vistas buffets, and everything between, our professional staff adds allstaff the right Ourtouches. clubhouses, rooms, balconies, and golf course create anbackdrop impressive for all your festivities. create an impressive forbackdrop all your festivities.
Stop ByStop and see By and us atsee theusSIMCHA at the SIMCHA AUSTIN AUSTIN EXPO March EXPO25! March 25!
Mazel Mazel Tov!Tov! We’ll take We’ll care of take thecare details of the so details that yousocan thathave youthe canperfect have the perfect Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Bar/BatWe Mitzvah. offer personalized We offer personalized catering and catering our and our dedicateddedicated staff will ensure staff will every ensure detail every is attended detail is to. attended to. Event space Event accommodating space accommodating up to 550 up guests to 550 guests Kosher menus Kosher menus Outside Kosher Outside catering Kosheravailable catering available For more information For more information contact: Catering contact:&Catering Sales at & 512.687.6638 Sales at 512.687.6638
westinaustinatthedomain.com westinaustinatthedomain.com
Twin Creeks TwinCountry Creeks Country Club Club River Place River Country Place Country Club Club 3201 Twin Creeks 3201 Twin ClubCreeks Dr Club Dr Cedar Park, TX Cedar 78613 Park, TX 78613 Phone: 512.250.3956 Phone: 512.250.3956 catering@twincreeksclub.com catering@twincreeksclub.com www.twincreeksclub.com www.twincreeksclub.com
4207 River Place 4207 Blvd River Place Blvd Austin, TX 78730 Austin, TX 78730 Phone: 512.346.1114 Phone: 512.346.1114 ext. 3904 ext. 3904 catering@riverplaceclub.com catering@riverplaceclub.com www.riverplaceclub.com www.riverplaceclub.com
Onion Creek OnionClub Creek Club
2510 Onion 2510 CreekOnion Parkway Creek Parkway Austin, TexasAustin, 78747Texas 78747 Phone: 512.383.2004 Phone: 512.383.2004 catering@onioncreekclub.com catering@onioncreekclub.com www.onioncreekclub.com www.onioncreekclub.com
A Service of
simchaAUSTIN THE GUIDE TO JEWISH LIFE CYCLE CELEBRATIONS IN CENTRAL TEXAS
SIMCHAS
B A R / B AT M I T Z VA H S
BANQUETS
C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S
P R I VAT E D I N N E R S
BOXED LUNCHES
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
5 1 2 . 4 4 7. 4 11 3
2019 / 5779-80 SIMCHA AUSTIN
WEDDINGS
PA S C A L S C AT E R I N G .C O M
2019 | 5779-80
Published by The Jewish Outlook A Service of Shalom Austin