2013 Bar & Bat Planner

ON THE COVER: Bat mitzvah Zoey Fleisher and her father, Rabbi Randy Fleisher at Central Reform Congregation. Photo: Lisa Mandel

Beach blanket bar mitzvah Taking the theme to the extreme

By SUSAN FADEM Special to the JewiSh light

With his mom’s track record, Blake Berg figured he would enjoy himself. What the 13-year-old did not anticipate was having “the best time of my life.”

For older sister Madison’s bat mitzvah two years ago, mom Tracy Berg was inspired by her daughter’s first name and zest for New York City. With her daughter’s blessing, she transformed Meadowbrook Country Club, where a half-dozen rented Yellow Taxi Cabs, horns blaring, welcomed guests into a shrubbery-laden and fountain-filled “Central Park,” as well as to “Madison Avenue,” “Carnegie Deli,” “Little Italy” and “Chinatown.”

For Blake’s recent extravaganza, mom Tracy once again put herself in cahoots with local party consultant Simcha Lourie, of Simcha’s Events. Simcha, by the way, is her given name. By her own description, she was born to a hippie mom undergoing conversion to her hippie husband’s Judaism. Reading during her pregnancy about the holiday of Simchat Torah, she “felt bells in her stomach.” Taking this as a sign, she vowed that regardless of gender, her child would be named Simcha.

For Tracy Berg, choosing a bar mitz-

vah theme likewise came easily. Paying homage to her son’s fondness for beaches, surfing, deep-sea fishing with his dad, Greg, and his preference for casual attire, she selected “Beach Bummin’ with Blake.”

As she had for her daughter, she spent two years planning. Besides interviewing and booking vendors (see list), she ordered and secretly stockpiled countless theme-builders. Among them: fishshaped fish bowls, chocolate-covered gummy candy and ample tiny shells, purchased for $12 total as necklaces on the Etsy website, for Berg to re-string on twine as individual napkin rings. With contracts and descriptions, Berg filled a three-ring binder with two inches of paperwork.

Following another precedent set by sister Madison, who wanted no pre-party commentary from pals, the details in

This page and opposite: Scenes from Blake Berg’s recent bar mitzvah. All photographs by Video Gate Studio

the binder remained secret. This included Madison and younger sister, Brooke, 10, and already a conscientious Hebrew student as well as from Berg’s “very best friend I talk to 10 times a day.”

Except for certain vendors, nobody but Berg, her husband and Blake knew the theme.

Guessing has become part of the Berg party tradition. Would Meadowbrook morph into “Wall Street”? “Opening Day at Busch Stadium”? A Disney-fied “Hawaii”?

Though Hawaii happened to be the home of the surf-simulation equipment Berg rented, allowing guests to mock surf as videos of Blake’s head, superimposed on their bodies, appeared on an LCD projection screen, Berg divulged nothing.

In fact, only a few times during the evening that followed Blake’s flawless bar mitzvah service at United Hebrew Synagogue (UH), did her composure waver.

Her tears nearly flowed, she admits, the first time she and Greg saw the entirety of her vision. For poolside photos, family members had arrived at the Bergs’ Frontenac manse at 5:30 p.m., just hours after a luncheon for 180 people at UH.

At 6:20 p.m., Berg and her husband, an endodontist, left for Meadowbrook Country Club. During the 15 minutes or so before their 118 adult guests began arriving at 7 p.m., they gazed into the See THEME, page 12B

How my brother’s bar mitzvah taught me about the true meaning of joy

By Jordana Horn JTA

NEW YORK — In 3½ all-too-brief years, I’ll be sitting in a synagogue pew watching my oldest son become a bar mitzvah. This milestone event will mean several things.

It will mean that my children will have commenced our collective familial descent into the wondrous minefield of adolescence. It will mean that I will, officially, be old. And most important, it will mean that I will experience some of the greatest joy of my life.

A cousin of my husband’s once said that except for birthdays, a bar mitzvah is the only day that’s all about you until your funeral. Morbid and funny, but in fact it’s only partially true. The day someone becomes a bar or bat mitzvah is implicitly, if not explicitly, about all the people who helped that bar or bat mitzvah get to the day as well.

I know this from personal experience. I am the

oldest of three siblings. My brother, unlike his two sisters, was not a Hebrew school nerd. Chanting from the Torah came easily to us; my brother had a tin ear. And it wasn’t just the tunefulness factor; reading Hebrew aloud was a painful, timeconsuming and excruciating endeavor both for him and his listeners. Throw in the pre-adolescent awkwardness and general lack of enthusiasm about being up on a bimah in front of lots of people and potentially, it was a perfect storm.

“Give him a hand with it,” my mother told me.

I was a senior in high school and definitely had other things I’d rather be doing than helping my brother with his Torah portion. My brother and I rarely spent much time together other than during family meals and vacations – and cer-

tainly barely any time alone together. I had no idea that this time together would prove life-changing for me.

We sat on the floor of the den wedged between the couch and the stereo. We listened to the cantor’s recording of his portion again and again. I tested him on cantillation signs and word pronunciations. I taught him as I had been taught to read Torah: You aren’t finished with a given practice until you can do the whole thing three times without any mistakes.

Don’t misunderstand, this motherenforced togetherness was far from idyllic. More accurately, I’d say it was grueling. At least one door was slammed in my face. Tears were shed, possibly by both of us. At different times, we each expressed the wish that I could do the portion instead of him.

I don’t remember if we practiced every day, but we certainly did it fairly frequently – frequently enough that by the time his bar mitzvah date rolled around, I barely slept the night before out of nervousness.

As I watched my brother ascend the bimah in our suburban New Jersey synagogue the next day, I felt like I was going to faint. My own palms were oddly clammy.

I looked at him in his little suit and tie, his geeky glasses, and thought, “I would give anything in the world to make this go OK for you.” In short, I realized I wanted nothing more than for him to be happy.

As a teenager – someone whose wants and desires are mercurial and blow about like detritus tossed by a superstorm – this was a revelation.

Years later I’m a parent, a writer and a parenting writer: a professional kveller, if you will (and a contributing editor for the parenting website Kveller, coincidentally enough). But I can trace the roots of my kvelling proclivities to that June day in 1991 when my brother became a bar mitzvah.

The day my brother did an amazing job at becoming a bar mitzvah – no mistakes! – was the day I first realized that there is no greater joy in the world than the joy you can take from schepping nachas, or deriving pride, from someone else’s achievement. It was the day I realized that life, if I lived it right, could be full of such moments, where love infuses hours with meaning and joy.

To accomplish that requires an investment of time and energy – an investment, I learned, that does pay off.

Jordana Horn writes about Jewish life for the Forward and Kveller. com.

Buck the trend and put the congregation on the b’nai mitzvah guest list

By Edmon J. Rodman JTA

LOS ANGELES — More and more families planning bar and bat mitzvahs are taking the advice of Jeffrey Salkin, author of “Putting God on the Guest List,” by making sure to incorporate spiritual elements into their celebrations.

But are we re-examining who else we’re inviting to our b’nai mitzvah?

For many of us, the list is topped by family near and far, then co-workers, neighbors, teachers and those to whose simchas we have been invited.

But what about fellow congregants?

Are you inviting them -- I mean, all of them?

In a huge urban synagogue, this may be wildly impractical. But many of us belong to suburban synagogues with memberships of 200-300 families but regular Shabbat-morning attendance is just 30 to 50, on a good week. Are those congregants who regularly make the minyan welcome not just to your bar mitzvah service but to your table, too?

“Many rabbis speak regretfully of the ‘privatization’ of bar/bat mitzvah,” writes Rabbi Janet Marder, a former president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, in an essay on the website of the Union for Reform Judaism. “Almost all of those attend-

ing a Shabbat morning service when a bar or bat mitzvah takes place are guests invited by the family.”

She goes on: “When congregants not invited by the family do show up at such services, they often express discomfort, feeling that they are not welcome in the synagogue without an invitation.”

I’ve had this experience myself. After attending a bar mitzvah service to which I was not invited at an out-oftown synagogue, my wife and I had an intense post-service discussion about whether or not we should attend the luncheon.

“They didn’t say you had to be invited,” I remember saying as I looked wistfully at the buffet table. But as we stood in the doorway, neither of us felt comfortable enough to venture in.

Rabbi Steven Silver of Temple Menorah in Redondo Beach, Calif., a suburban Reform synagogue near Los Angeles, insists that his congregants invite everyone who attends services to the lunch following the event.

“You want kids to have this rite of passage in front of their community, not as a private family event,” he said. “It’s not a birthday party but a bond-

ing event to the Jewish people.”

To gain acceptance for his policy, which he says he had to approach “gingerly,” Silver says he explained to parents that while their children were attending Saturday morning services to prepare for their b’nai mitzvah, “they had developed relationships with many of the older congregants” and therefore it had become important “for their children to have them there.”

“We tell them to expect an extra 30

to 35 congregants,” said Silver, who asks that when there is assigned seating, some tables be assigned for the “community.”

For my own children’s bar mitzvahs, held at the Movable Minyan, a small lay-led congregation in Los Angeles, we followed the organization’s policy of inviting everyone to both the service and lunch. Even though there

See ConGREGaTIon, page 11B

Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA columnist

Live & Learn

St.

Caleb Micah Pultman

Parents: Andy and Mimi

Pultman

Congregation: B’nai Amoona

Date of bar/bat Mitzvah: May 26, 2012

Location of reception: J. Bucks

Restaurant Downtown

Favorite memory?

First, Caleb has a wonderful work ethic and took very seriously his preparation and Torah study. It was a delight to see him so self-motivated to study, learn and really understand the bigger picture of what becoming a bar mitzvah truly meant. Caleb had a great attitude and his hard work resulted in a poised and confident young man.

The second is of Andy, Caleb and I standing on the bimah — looking out into the congregation, seeing all of the important people in Caleb’s life filling the seats and enjoying this simcha w ith us. I get faklemt every time I think about it!

Tip for other parents planning their child’s bar or bat mitzvah?

My tip for other parents preparing for a bar or bat mitzvah would be to focus on the “mitzvah” and less on the “bar” part! This step in your child’s life is not the finale of their Jewish education, it is just the beginning. Keep your eye on what is really meaningful and important. Everything else is will fall into place.

Rina Gersten

Parents: Mark Gersten and Laura Shapiro

Congregation: B’nai Amoona

Date of bat mitzvah: Sept.

1, 2012

Location of reception:

B’nai Amoona

Favorite memory?

My favorite memory is seeing how Rina evolved in the experience. I loved seeing Rina up there confidently leading the davening and chanting

Adam Schenberg

Parents: David and Randi Schenberg

Congregation: B’nai Amoona

Date of bar mitzvah: June 9, 2012

Location of reception: Moolah Bowl

Favorite memory?

At the service, Adam and Ben signing at the end of the Musaf service with Hazzan Sharon Nathanson. At the party, seeing everyone hanging out on the couches just relaxing and enjoying themselves — it was a casual party in a unique location and everyone talked about how

from the Torah and Haftorah. I love that she took control, was empowered, and owned the experience.

Tip for other parents?

It is amazing to see your child go through the process of learning everything for their bar or bat mitzvah.

At first it is overwhelming to both the child and to the parent to think of all the things they need to learn. However, set high goals for your children. They will never cease to amaze

you as to what they can learn if they put their mind to it.

keeping the details to a minimum and just letting everyone have fun.

much fun they were having.

Tip for other parents?

Thirteen year olds come in all ages and sizes and maturity levels. Be sure to have a party that reflects your child. My boys both wanted casual parties and we were happiest

Our kids are both summer birthdays and were one of the last to be bar m itzvah’d in their grades. It is good to think of something unique, because the kids tire of going to the same parties — especially by June. We had destinations that had not been “overused” so that all the kids (and our friends) were still excited to come.

Louis moms whose children recently celebrated a bar/bat mitzvah reflect — and offer tips — on the experience

Photo: Lisa Mandel Photography

Photo: Josh Monken

Jake Burstein

Parents: Laurie and Mark Burstein

Congregation: Shaare Emeth

Date of bar mitzvah: March 2, 2013

Location of reception: Kiddush lunch following service at Temple, with a party that evening at Adrenaline Zone.

Favorite memory?

There were so many great moments that it is hard to just pick one. From weekly sessions with our cantor and taking on several mitzvah projects, to planning all the party details and listening to my son practice his Torah portion, it is really a journey. When the day finally arrives, it is an incredible experience to have all of your family and friends from near and far in one place to share in such a special time.

Tip for other parents?

The cliché is true to be present and don’t sweat the small stuff. No one but you notices what shade of blue the napkins are. Once my son began chanting from the Torah at the service all the details fell away and I saw what the day was really all about. The bar mitzvah weekend was about bringing family and friends together for prayer and celebration. Enjoy every minute because it really does go by fast.

Michael Wasserman

Parents: Karen and Andy Wasserman

Mollie Weinberg

Parents: Nancy and Larry Weinberg

Congregation: United Hebrew

Date of bat mitzvah: May 4, 2013

Location of reception: Meadowbrook Country Club

Favorite memory?

Looking back, our favorite memory of the experience was when she read from the Torah and led the prayers. It was like all the preparation of Hebrew lessons and religious school came together in one moment to transform our little girl into a confident adult. There are no words to describe how proud we were of her accomplishments. It was also fun to see how much she enjoyed celebrating with her friends at the reception.

Tip for other parents?

One tip we can share with other parents is to remember that the small details that sometimes eat up your time are often the things other people don’t notice. Make sure you don’t spend your time stressing over things that don’t represent the bless-

Congregation: United Hebrew Date of bar/bat mitzvah: Sept. 1,

2012

Reception location : Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles

Favorite memory?

My favorite bar mitzvah experience was watching Michael methodically practicing for his bar mitzvah at home,

ings of the day. Aesthetics are great, but friends and family are the most important elements to any celebration.

with his wonderful Hebrew tutor, Eudice Rosenblatt, and on the bimah at with Cantor Ronald Eichaker. I enjoyed watching him practice his prayers, Torah portion, Haftorah and speeches.

Tip for other parents?

I would like to share the fact that the bar mitzvah is a work in progress. Pace yourself with the preparations and know that you should make a checklist and check items off your list so that the planning is not as overwhelming as it

appears.

Have your child practice a little each day and as the bar/bat mitzvah date draws near, have your child practice up on the bimah almost daily so the child becomes comfortable on the bimah looking down at the congregation. We observed the kids who appeared uncomfortable either did not take enough time practicing and rehearsing or did not have enough time on the bimah to become comfortable leading the service.

Jake Burstein (in plaid shirt).

Photo: Lance Omar Thurman

Photo: Firefly Universe

Photo: Betsy Peimann Photography

City Museum Sheldon Concert Hall Jewel Box World’s Fair Pavilion Mahler Ballroom Roberts Orpheum Theatre

Auto Museum The Gateway Arch Orlando Gardens

2013 BAR-BAT MITZVAH PARTY PLANNER

how to attend a bar mitzvah as an adult

By Leo MarguL JNS.org

As young people, bar and bat mitzvah parties helped us build character: Awkward social interactions, quiet slow-dances where you desperately try not to make eye contact, and condescending head-pats from adults and kids taller than us.

Now that we’re older, and head-pats have taken on a sexier implication, how do we behave ourselves at our cousin’s/nephew’s celebration? How should one act if they know nothing of bar/bat mitzvahs? Should we wear pants? Why yes, but that’s not where your responsibilities stop.

The service at Temple

The first stop on the bar/bat mitzvah party train is the ceremony at Temple—a solemn, formal affair. Be a respectful adult. There is no snack bar. You will not be on a kiss-cam. You may be excited to support your celebrant, but remember that other kids are coming of age too. So when your relative goes up and aces his reading, DO NOT stand and yell, “YES! He nailed it! That’s my BOY, what’s up now Shlomi?!” Everyone knows your kid did better than Shlomi, but don’t call it out! Shlomi could be embarrassed, and you better let his developing Jewish nervousness take care of that on its own.

The party

You’re finally here! The first thing to keep in mind: This is not like the only other large, formal gathering you attend—a wedding. No one will be throwing things at you to see if you’re going to be the next bar/bat mitzvah, so if a garter ends up in your lap, jackpot.

Above all else, you’re here to have fun, so stick to the basics. Mingle with the adults, comment on how cute the kids are, and if you share the same interests with the person of the hour, feel free to steal some of his or her themed decorations. My large basketball

centerpiece is the classiest part of my apartment, and the reason all my friends know I kill it at sports.

What to avoid

While enjoying the party, know what activities and events are appropriate for your age. Drinks, food, giving approving nods to children—those are within your domain. Airbrushed tattoos or face-paintings are not for you. I know, face-painting is cool, and yes, I have an awesome tiger on my face as I write this. But just for today, let the kids have their fun.

When approaching the bar or bat mitzvah to congratulate them, it’s important to not treat them like a child. Don’t patronize them or pinch their cheeks. On the other hand, don’t treat them like too much of an adult. Don’t sit down, light up a cigarette, and starting venting about your relationship and faith-based questions. Your little cousin doesn’t have an opinion on the fiscal cliff negotiations. He just either loves or hates Justin Bieber. Gauge whichever one is currently cool, agree with him, and go in for your obligatory head-pat.

When considering a present, your go-to bottle of wine won’t cover it. Everyone else is going to gift something fun that a 13-yearold would enjoy, but you have them beat. You’re going to be the only one that gives something practical. I suggest a box consisting of a college savings bond, spot stain remover, and those little ties you use to close open bags of bread. He may just be excited to not get another gift card, and his attitude is going to be as fresh as his bread.

If you take the above advice, you’ll not only show up to a social event wearing pants (which I highly recommend year-round), but you’ll also lead a classy, understated night. If one day your path crosses with Shlomi, give him a hug, and gently whisper “I know.” He’ll look up at you, and you’ll have just made a nervous, Jewish friend. Don’t bring bread ties to his wedding.

Merely opulent or way overboard?

Marking a rite of passage in high style

By giL ShefLer JTA

NEW YORK — Dressed in a black-and-white tuxedo and surrounded by a Secret Service detail, former President Bill Clinton greeted well-wishers at a bar mitzvah held at an upscale hotel in Los Angeles, shaking hands with guests and patiently posing for pictures. Once everyone had arrived, the president turned to the audience to introduce the guest of honor.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said.

“It is my distinct honor to introduce the next president — and the first Jewish president — of the United States of America!”

“Hail to the Chief” began playing from loudspeakers and a 10-foot model of the Washington Monument in the center of the room opened up to reveal an ebullient young Jewish teenager waiting inside.

The bar mitzvah had officially begun.

“The kid had been the class and school president, so he wanted a presidential theme,” said Jay Shwartz, the Los Angeles party planner who organized the affair.

“We put up balloons in red, white and blue all over and had models of the Lincoln Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the White House.”

Themed bar mitzvah parties are nothing new. As long as American Jews have had a taste for the tacky, there have been parties inspired by cheesy Hollywood films and nearly forgotten pop stars. But the combination of growing Jewish affluence and the availability of new technological toys are driving the trend into the 21st century.

“Everybody’s trying to be creative and do something different than the other person,” said Joel Nelson, whose San Francisco Bay Area company has been producing bar mitzvahs for 31 years.

Some years ago, Nelson helped a family stage an “Alice in Wonderland” bat mitzvah in a rented warehouse on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. The party featured the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter and other characters walking around, as well as a section designed to look like the Mad Hatter tea party.

“There are very few who spend that kind of money, it’s not the norm,” Nelson said. “Sometimes I wonder if it might be a business write-off. But if you have one kid and you own a company in the Silicon Valley, then I can understand why you might want to put up a party.”

Increasingly, some of the money dropped on a lavish bar mitzvah isn’t even spent on the event itself but on its promotion. Last week, a YouTube video urging viewers to “save the date” for Daniel Blumen’s bar mitzvah went viral. The video, shot at locations around Atlanta and featuring a cameo by Mayor Kasim Reed, has the bar mitzvah dressed in an Atlanta Falcons jersey and draped in bling, rapping that the party “won’t stop till Sunday morn.”

Blumen’s spot was featured on the “Today” show, ABC News, CNN and even London’s Daily Mail. More than 130,00 people have viewed it online.

“It’s getting more and more outrageous,” said Sara Lowell, a high-

See high ST yLe, page 10B

Rabbi offers three questions to ponder for a bar or bat mitzvah in 2013

Rabbi bR adley SolmSen JNS.org

Mazel Tov on your upcoming simcha! It’s never too early to start thinking about your bar or bat mitzvah, and I advise you to approach this important rite of passage not as a sort of graduation ceremony, but as a meaningful transition towards Jewish adulthood. Becoming a bar or bat mitzvah is an exciting opportunity. I use the word “becoming” here intentionally. In our tradition, bar and bat mitzvah is not something that just happens TO us, but an event that requires the bar or bat mitzvah to take an active role. The more you make the process your own, the more momentous it will be.

I have three questions that I hope will help you think about ways to make your bar or bat mitzvah as meaningful to you and your family as possible.

What is important to you?

Rabbi Bradley Solmsen. Rabbi Bradley Solmsen is the Director of Youth Engagement at the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Solmsen recently launched, in partnership with Dr. Isa Aron at HUC, the B’nai Mitzvah Revolution—a project to help synagogues radically reframe their approaches to bat and bar mitzvah.

What do you love to do? What’s important to you? Are you a musician or artist? Do you have a favorite hobby? I urge you to think about ways to incorporate your passions into your bar or bat mitzvah experience. Talk to your rabbi, cantor or an educator at your synagogue about how to do this. You might be surprised at the many ways you could make your bar or bat mitzvah a more personalized experience. I have worked with teens who have integrated live music into their ceremonies and others who have brought a love of cooking into their learning process. One teen, in addition to studying about different ways of celebrating Passover, studied recipes from all over the world and cooked some of them for her family’s Passover seder.

What can you contribute to your community?

One of the most important aspects of becoming bat or bar mitzvah is taking on greater responsibility in your community. Ask yourself how you can make a difference. The answer to this question might be based on one of the interests you thought about in the

previous question, or it could be based on something you might think is missing or should be improved in your community. I know teens who have started nonprofit organizations or lobbied their elected representatives to make real change. It is important to be connected to your synagogue, but that isn’t the only place where you can make a difference. And don’t let your age stop you. It can be challenging to find the

right opportunities when you are young, but there is so much you have to offer and so much your community needs.

What might you want to teach?

Teaching is another way of adding your voice to the See adViCe, page 11B

Celebrate in style any

2013 BAR/BAT MITZVAH PARTY PLANNER

HIGH STYLE

end party planner in South Florida. “In one [video], the bar mitzvah boy has been kidnapped. In another, he’s flying a jet. If the dad knows the Miami Heat, he’ll get the players to make an appearance in the video to wish him a happy birthday.”

One highlight of the over-the-top bar mitzvahs is the guest of honor’s entrance, which can take on the form of a Vegas spectacle. Boys and girls celebrating the onset of adulthood make entrances accompanied by NFL cheerleaders, descending from the ceiling by a rope like Peter Pan or cruising into a room driving a miniature Ferrari.

“It’s a big deal,” said Alex Einhorn of Siegel Productions, a company in Boston specializing in planning bar mitzvahs. “Once they make the entrance, the stress is off. It’s a statement saying I’m here and I’m excited to celebrate with you.”

In 2008, the excesses of contemporary bar mitzvahs became a national issue when the New York Post reported on a New York affair that reportedly had cost $1 million. The bat mitzvah made her entrance by donning a Catwoman suit and descending by a rope to the floor of Cipriani, a swanky Manhattan restaurant. Upon landing, she was serenaded by rock star Jon Bon Jovi for 45 minutes.

“My husband did well that year and he was proud of himself, and he wanted to throw a huge party,” Liza Sandler, the girl’s mother, was quoted as saying.

The tendency to go a little overboard is

by no means a uniquely American phenomenon. In Israel, a bar/bat mitzvah trend has celebrants surprising their guests by jumping out of objects – soccer balls, Torah scrolls and oversized hearts, to name a few.

A video of a bar mitzvah performing an elaborate song-and-dance number after emerging from a giant clam went viral last year on YouTube, gaining more than 100,000 views. Kiril Shahaf, the director of Ilanit Noy Productions, located near Haifa, credited his boss with creating the popular routine, which he called “The Pearl.”

“She was the first to do it six years ago and then everybody else stole our idea,” he said. “ ‘The Pearl’ is more popular

today than it ever has been. It’s a huge attraction, and girls love it because they can put on a show in front of their friends and families.”

The lavishness and cost of some of the bigger bashes has been mercilessly mocked online and criticized from the pulpit, to little apparent effect. Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles said he has sought repeatedly to rein in over-the-top Jewish soirees. A few affairs he attended were so outlandish, he felt compelled to say something to the parents.

“I tell them they are giving the wrong message to the child, never mind to the community,” Wolpe told JTA.

“Sometimes they are under the impres-

sion that the religious value is commensurate with the value of the event. That is not true.”

Lowell, the Florida party planner, admitted some of the showier bar mitzvahs were narcissistic and had more to do with parental ambitions than a child’s desires. Nonetheless, she said there was nothing inherently wrong about putting on a show, as long as it combined substance with style.

“At the end of the day, the message children need to learn is that this is a coming-of-age celebration,” she said. “You look for depth and spiritual meaning, and if that is lacking, no matter how much money you spent, it’s ice cold.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed striking a pose with Daniel Blumen for Blumen’s viral “Save the Date” bar mitzvah video. YouTube/JTA

CONGREGATION

continued from page 5B

were only 20 or so regulars, the community total came to 60 after adding the spouses, children and extended family of the regular attendees.

Those who have sprung for a kosher bar mitzvah luncheon, beginning at $20 a head can understand easily why Silver had to broach the subject gingerly: It’s expensive!

To help keep down the costs, Silver said his temple hired a cook.

“Ninety-five percent of the parents now support the program. Their kids understand that they have been eating

ADVICE

continued from page 9B

Jewish people in an essential way. When you teach something, it forces you to become a specialist in that area. The Jewish people need to hear from you and learn with you and from you. You are essential to writing the next chapter in the history of the Jewish people.

I worked with one bat mitzvah student whose Torah portion included the passage that discusses the obligation to remember and keep Shabbat. She studied the Torah text and its commentaries

someone else’s bagel, and now it’s their turn to reciprocate,” Silver said.

Larger congregations with higher Shabbat attendance, like Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles, a Conservative temple to which I also belong, take a different approach. According to the temple’s executive director, Sheryl Goldman, b’nai mitzvah families are required to host a kiddush after services for those not invited to the more formal luncheon.

“It can be simple like challah, fruit and cholent, or very elaborate,” said Goldman, adding that the temple only in very special circumstances allows a bar or bat mitzvah in the late afternoon, when regulars are absent.

“We don’t want a private service,” she said. That would be “like a rental of space.”

But how to keep the service that takes place before lunch inclusive and communal?

At Temple Menorah, the fifth aliyah is reserved for the community. That way, Silver says, there is room to call up to the Torah a congregant who is getting married, has an anniversary or has some other compelling reason for an aliyah in addition to the family tree of b’nai mitzvah attendees who

will be called up for the simcha that day.

Movable Minyan also reserves an aliyah for a minyan regular. I remember discussing with my wife who in our community we thought had welcomed and included our kids and should get the aliyah. On the morning when that person was called up, we felt the communal circle of “l’dor v’dor,” generation to generation, had been completed.

As Silver said, “The community validates the bar mitzvah.”

and found related contemporary texts and works of poetry, art and music that exemplified what keeping Shabbat meant to her. After her bat mitzvah, she turned this into a four-session adult study seminar!

What might you be able to teach your peers or even adults in your community?

All of these suggestions will be easier to do in partnership with an adult in your congregation. But, don’t wait to be asked—make an appointment with your rabbi, cantor, teachers or other community leaders to discuss ways to make your bat or bar mitzvah one of the most meaningful milestones in your life.

B’nai Tzedek makes your bar/bat mitzvah money grow. You start your own philanthropic fund with your contribution of $200. Combined with a $300 gift from The Kranzberg Family Foundation you are on your way to making a big difference. 5% goes to the charity of your choice every year!

For more information, contact bt@cajestl.org or 314.442.3776.

• Complimentary “Suite Start” Hot Breakfast

• Courtesy van available

• Complimentary “Welcome Home Reception” Mon - Thur evenings

• 24-Hour Suite Shoppe

• Spacious Common area Homewood

B’nai Tzedek helps me make an even bigger difference.

2013 BAR/BAT MITZVAH PARTY PLANNER

country club’s interior, most of which had been draped for two days so builders and decorators could work.

Executing the theme

“It’s all in the details,” Tracy Berg says of party planning. Among her vendors:

• Event consultant: Simcha’s Events, St. Louis

• D.J., entertainers: Energy Productions, Chicago

• Video, including of Blake receiving his “Academy Award”: Xpress Video Productions, Chicago

• Event design, building and production: Exclusive Events, Inc., St. Louis

• Custom T-shirts, party favors: Get Some Greek, St. Louis

Photography: Video Gate Studio, St. Louis

• Invitations, all things printed: M. Haley Design, St. Louis

• Green Screen, Images by Betsy (Peimann), St. Louis

• Surf Simulator: Surfwave, Hawaii

• White leather chairs: Aries Rental, St. Louis

• Wood stools, specialty plates: Premier Rentals, St. Louis

• Table linens: Connie Duglin Linens, St. Louis

• Snow cones: Tropical Moose Shaved Ice, St. Louis

• Candy fish: Slice of Heaven, St. Louis

• Flowers: Alix-Ann O-Brien, St. Louis

• Stilt walker: Belle of the Ball, Talent Plus, St. Louis

• Balloon bouquets: Hi Ho Helium, St. Louis

• Food, in addition to Meadowbrook Country Club’s: Pretzel Boy’s, Lion’s Choice, Z Pizza, all of St. Louis

• Party buses: My Party Bus, St. Louis

Inside the main room stood a sturdy handbuilt wooden bridge, flanked by sand, surfboards, wild grasses and ropey nets. Above the bridge, an etched sign said: “Beach Bummin’ with Blake.” Newly built cabana tables, wrapped in bamboo, were placed on elevated platforms. Other square and round tables, as Berg had specified, were topped by “huuuu-mongous,” thatched umbrellas. To the right was “Blake’s Shirt Shack,” stocked with custom-printed and variously styled orange, yellow, light and dark-blue and white shirts, ready for distribution later as party favors.

To the left, the country club’s adult bar had been revamped as a kids bar with a long, narrow sandbox on top sprouting sticks with etched signs enumerating such beverage choices as “Ocean Water.” consisting of Sprite and blue Kool-Aid. Adults had their own scene-stealing, oversized, bamboo-wrapped bar, built for the occasion, also topped with a sandbox and resembling something out of a Tommy Bahama setting.

Giant blow-up pictures of Blake at pools and beaches, dating to his days as a toothless builder of sand castles, hung everywhere for a “green screen” phototaking attraction, Tracy Berg provided goofy hats, sunglasses and other props, displayed on a piece of wood positioned across two wooden wheelbarrows.

Outside, where guests mingled before the indoor draping was finally pulled back, a steel drum player planted himself on a mini, elevated stage, erected in the middle of the pool. Meadowbrook staffers offered crab legs, trays of appetizers and libations. Adults were offered shots of “Mazel on the Beach,” a takeoff on “Sex on the Beach” drinks.

Around 8 p.m., three chaperoned party buses of Blake’s 100-plus friends arrived. Already, the kids had been gifted with sunglasses that said “Blake” and glow-in-the-dark necklaces. Since coming to the

Bergs’ at 7 p.m., they had snacked beneath a canopy on Lion’s Choice roast beef sandwiches and handtwisted Pretzel Boy’s offerings.

And so, the evening unfolded. Blake, who dislikes getting dressed up, changed from his collared shirt and trousers into a white party-favor tee, navy shorts and flip-flops. Before dinner and with many adults still sipping key-lime mini-martinis with graham cracker crust, he joined his family, entertainers from Chicago (all wearing Blake’s party-favor tees) and the “casually-informally-dressed” partygoers for 20 minutes of vigorous dancing.

Appetites stimulated, the adults were served (by Blake T-shirt-wearing Meadowbrook staffers) tomato-and mozzarella-stacked salad, and quartered pineapples with orzo, asparagus, and chicken and beef kabobs. The youngsters, many almost too excited to eat, had their own nacho bar and buffet of sliders, hotdogs and Hawaiian chips

For dessert, and in addition to passed-around chocolate-covered pineapples and bananas and mini-ice cream sandwiches, guests received locally provided Tro-Mo (Tropical Moose Shaved Ice) in flavors from black cherry to “Tiger Blood.”

Dancing, during which the hired entertainers mixed with the guests, continued throughout the evening. So did giveaways of inflatable beach toys, glowing rings, beach towels, flip flops, boogie boards and foam wands.

At one point, guests sat glued during a 20-minute video montage of Blake’s life. During the first six minutes, shot during a one-day whirlwind trip with his mom to Chicago, costumed Blake with memorized lines played an Academy Award-nominated actor, competing against himself in several of his favorite films, in which he “appeared,” courtesy of technical wizardry.

Later during the party, an entertainer dressed as a white-nosed beach bum bounced in on springy stilts. And when he wasn’t jumping, he painted white — as a “sun” protector — the noses of all willing kids. At 11 p.m., pizzas were delivered on a bicycle-trailing cart.

As the lead-up to his party, Blake, a straight-A student at Ladue Middle School, had spent four years studying Hebrew. “It was worth it,” he says now. “My family means everything to me.”

His mom agrees. “At the end of the day, it’s the memory that we had, you can’t put … ,” she said, her voice breaking. “We made a memory not just for our family but for everybody there:”

Days later, she began planning younger daughter Brooke’s bat mitzvah, scheduled for 2015.

Video Gate Studio

America’s Incredible Pizza Company St. Louis

314-580-7116

www.incrediblepizza.com/stlouis

America’s Incredible Pizza Company, conveniently located on Lindbergh Blvd in South County, is the perfect venue for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration! Explore our Game Room featuring 5 Attractions: Go-Karts, Laser Tag, Mini Bowling, Bumper Cars and Glow-In-The-Dark Miniature Golf. Your guests of all ages will love our endless Food/Drink Buffet.

Group Pricing/Packages Available. Call the Event Sales Dept at 314-580-7116 today to start planning your Bar/Bat Mitzvah event that everyone will be raving about!

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More

10552 Old Olive Street Rd St. Louis, Missouri 63141 314-991-7933 • STL@BigFrog.com

Big Frog is your one-stop shop for all types of event apparel! We specialize in high quality FULL COLOR garment printing – including photos. At Big Frog, there are NO MINIMUMS, NO SET-UP FEES, NO DESIGN FEES and 24 HOUR TURNAROUND. Let us see what we can do for you!

Bizar Entertainment, Inc.

151 S. Pfingsten Road Deerfield, Illinois 60015

847-564-1269 • www.bizaronline.com

Looking for the perfect entertainment for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah? Bizar Entertainment provides Emcees, DJ’s and Dancers that make your mitzvah a classy, warm and fun event. Every event is personalized to your wants and needs – from brilliant lighting to video simulcasting to giveaways, we can help you do it all! Please visit our website at www. bizaronline.com.

Central Agency of Jewish Education

314-442-3757 • cajestl.org

The B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program empowers teens to improve the world by launching them on a personal relationship of life-long Jewish giving. Each year participants allocate 5% of the balance of their foundation to the Jewish non-profit of their choice, reinforcing the lessons of Jewish giving and philanthropy.

Ces & Judy’s Catering

10405 Clayton Road

St. Louis, MO 63131

314-991-6700

www.cesandjudys.com

Ces & Judy’s Catering has been creating dazzling & delicious events and cuisine for over 31 years. At the cornerstone of innovative culinary ideas and delicious cuisine, our aim is always to tailor your special event to your unique needs and desires, no matter the occasion. Our newly renovated venue, Le Chateau, features vaulted ceilings, large windows and a neutral palette, perfect for bringing in your own personal style and event. Visit us online for even more information to get your dream event started with Ces & Judy’s today.

Cruisin’ USA

314-426-4886

6262 Olive Blvd, U-City

www.cusatees.com

Cruisin’ USA has been screen printing T-Shirts, Caps, and all types of garments, bags, and wearables since 1976. Owned and operated by the Spetner family, all the work is 100% guaranteed and on time. Currently, their business occupies 18,000 sq. ft. and employs 24 people at 6262 Olive Blvd in University City. From Boxer shorts, Bowling Shirts, Tees, and 50’s retro wear, let Cruisin’ USA help make your celebration special. Whether you need 10 or 10,000, we can fulfill your party souvenirs.

Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel

7750 Carondelet Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri 63105

314-727-7434

www.cpclayton.com

Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel offers banquet and meeting space to serve every need from a small get-together, to a large fundraiser, to a magical wedding, ceremony and reception. We offer the absolute fines in service, ambiance, and delicious cuisine. We also offer a full-service kosher kitchen with Vaad supervision. Your catering coordinator and Chef Boaz Steiner are eager to assist you in customizing the menu of your dreams.

David Kodner Personal Jewelers

314-725-3233

7710 Carondelet, Ste. 102

www.davidkodner.com

David Kodner Personal Jewelers is proud to present an extensive line of fine jewelry. From watches and cufflinks for men to diamond and fashion designs that capture every girls heart. Alex Woo initials and charms or The Art of Oneness Sh’ma necklace make the perfect bar/bat mitzvah present. From the unique silver collections to the sophisticated gold and gemstone pieces, give your B’nai Mitzvah the gift of an heirloom that will be cherished for generations.

Don Siegel Photography and Video

314-432-6981

donsiegelphotovideo.com

We capture all of the emotion and excitement, and fun of your special day. With over 25 years of experience, we offer complete photographic and high definition video coverage of your Simcha event. Our personal service begins with the pre-event consultation and continues with helping you select the pictures for your album. We

GameTime Mobile Entertainment

636-734-9621

Info@gametimetruck.com

www.gametimetruck.com

Looking for The Ultimate Mobile Video Game Party Experience?

From Birthday Parties to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, GameTime Mobile has exactly what you need! St. Louis’s first complete mobile game theatre has 7 giant screens with Xbox 360’s, Wii/Wii U’s and Playstation 3’s. Gaming fun for up to 28 players! Outdoor Lasertag is also a blast for up to 16 players! Let us make your next even the Ultimate Mobile Party Experience!

Heart Filled Creations, LLC

2580 Morningside Drive

Florissant, MO 63031

314-831-0979

heartfilledcreations@msn.com

We are a full service florist for over 12 years. You can order flowers, custom baskets, fine art from our online store at www. heartfilledcreations.com We are here to take the worry out of your big event day. We put a smile on your face and warm your heat with our desigs and expertise

For over 30 years our community has tions begin at Hi•Ho•Helio. Starting with a dazzling array of beautiful invitations and ending with custom designed spectacular centerpieces, we do it all! Hundreds of boards, candlelightings, hospitality baskets, vice. All this and more, with care, attention to detail and a smile. Hi•Ho•Helio is your

2013 BAR/BAT MITZVAH PARTY PLANNER

Hilton St. Louis Frontenac

1335 S. Lindbergh Boulevard

St. Louis, 63131

314-993-1100

www.stlouisfrontenac.hilton.com

The St. Louis experience begins when you enter the grand and gracious reception area of Hilton St. Louis Frontenac, an upscale and sophisticated hotel with unparalleled service. The hotel offers a blend of luxury and convenience, in a central location proving easy access to shopping, dining and local cultural attractions. From social galas to corporate meetings, Hilton Frontenac promises an extraordinary experience. Where our best return on investment is you.

Homewood Suites by Hilton St. Louis – Galleria

8040 Clayton Rd.

636-530-0305

www.homewoodsuites.com

The Homewood Suites by Hilton is the perfect place to house your out of town guests. Wake up to a complimentary Suite

Start hot breakfast with eggs, hash browns, Belgian waffles, fresh fruit, bagels, & danish served daily in our Lodge. Our beautiful courtyard is perfect to sit and enjoy breakfast or simply relax by the pool. At the Homewood Suites, you’ll enjoy our spacious two room suites, along with all the comforts and amenities of home.

Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch

315 Chestnut Street St. Louis, Missouri 63102

314-655-1234

www.hyattregencystlouis.com

Celebrate in style any simcha and see how Hyatt makes weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, fundraisers and more like no other. We are located downtown next to the Gateway Arch, with 83,000 square feet of indoor/ outdoor space, 910 modern guestrooms, four restaurants and more. Kosher catering provided by Kohn’s (314-342-4655).

The J Jewish Community Center

2 Millstone Campus Dr

St. Louis, Missouri 63146 314-432-5700

www.jccstl.org

rposcover@jccstl.org

The J offers a variety of wonderful spaces that provide the ideal backdrop for parties. Our Banquet Centers hold anything from red-hot nights to black-tie affairs, and our Gymnasiums offer space for games and dancing. We will help create a meaningful day and impactful experience. We don’t stop at tables and chairs; we have everything you need to make your event a success.

Kohn’s Kosher Deli

10405 Old Olive Blvd. 314-569-0727

www.KohnsKosher.com

Kohn’s Catering offers a wide selection of unique menus to accommodate all types of celebrations. We design and customize events & catering menus. We can meet your budget and exceed your expectations. The Bakery at Kohn’s offers an assortment of baked goods, party pastries, wedding cakes, & personalized confections beyond your imagination.

The Mediterranean Grill

703 Long Road Crossing Dr. Chesterfield, MO 63005

www.TheMedGrillSTL.com

The Mediterranean Grill was awarded “Best Ethnic Restaurant in West County” by West News Magazine, and 1st place for “Best Ethnic Restaurant” and 2nd place for “Best New Restaurant” by Chesterfield’s Out & About. It is the only authentic Mediterranean restaurant in Chesterfield. Popular items include falafel, hummus, gyro, stuffed grape leaves, souvlaki, and grilled meat kabobs. All food is made with fresh, 100% all-natural ingredients. Chef Elie Harir also caters bar/bat mitzvah parties, weddings, Friday night dinners, and other special events.

The CelebrationPerfectSnack!

xperience POPtions! unique Popcorn Bars and Popcorn Favors personalized for your Bat or Bar Mitzvah!

MyStarsPhoto

314-814-6456

www.mystarsphoto.com

info@mystarsphoto.com

MyStarsPhoto is excited to be your event photo-booth company. We offer custom designed borders, a selection of traditional backdrops, and green-screen photography that allows YOU to choose any background you like! Choose from an easy automated booth or a full mobile photo studio. Visit our website www.mystarsphoto.com or call 314-814-6456.

Moulin Meetings and Events

314-241-4949

www.moulinevents.com

Moulin & the Malt House Cellar are full service event and banquet venues offering seven private spaces in the restored Centennial Malt House built in 1876. Painstakingly restored, the interiors evoke the tradition of the buildings of that period with high ceilings, wooden beams, arched windows and exposed brick.

Perfect for any occasion we host bar & bat mitzvahs, weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events as intimate as 20 to as grand as 750 guests. Visit moulinevents. com or call 314-241-4949 for more information.

Orlando’s Catering and Banquets

8352 Watson Road St. Louis, MO 63119

314-842-3316

www.orlandogardens.com

morlando@orlandogardens.com

The Orlando Family has been hosting events for over 45 years. Orlando’s Catering offers unique menus and specialized event planning to some of the most unique venues in St. Louis. Orlando’s Event Centers also offer affordable parties at only $20 per person. Please see our website at www. orlandogardens.com for more information.

Party Land

1317 Lindbergh Plaza Center

314-991-6880

www.PartyLandSTL.com

Unique decorations and beautiful table centerpieces will make your celebration memorable for years to come. Simply bring us your THEME and we will design amazing decor and stunning balloon sculptures, custom banners, personalized napkins and a large selection of novelties including sunglasses, hats, light-ups and inflates plus outstanding customer service will delight you and your guests.

Peabody

Opera House

1400 Market Street

St. Louis, MO 63103

PeabodyOperaHouse.com

The historic Peabody Opera House, with its grand architecture and classic elegance, is the perfect location for your next event. A designated event manager will assist with everything from designing your space to developing a spectacular menu for your guests. We understand the significance of this day and will make sure you have an unforgettable experience. For more information on hosting an event at Peabody Opera House, please contact Angie Carr at acarr@peabodyoperahouse.com

Picture This Photography

314-821-3770

www.picturethisonline.net

Picture This Photography brings 29 years of experience, creativity and sensitivity to every bar/bat mitzvah assignment. We feel our attention to details and to your individual needs will make us an easy choice for your photography services.

We will photograph all the traditional moments along with the fun and excitement of your child’s bar/bat mitzvah party. See for yourself. Complete coverage and great pricing. Visit our web site at www.picturethisonline.net. Then call us at (314) 821-3770.

AT YMCA TROUT LODGE

POPtions!

The Village at Schneithorst’s 1580 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131 636-812-2385

If you have an occasion, POPtions! has a flavor! We’re in the kitchen everyday popping delicious gourmet popcorn handcrafted with the finest ingredients, including Bissinger’s Chocolate. Experience POPtions! unique Popcorn Bars and Popcorn Favors personalized to make your Bar or Bat Mitzvah memorable. Indulge yourself, your friends, and your guests – our popcorn will add POP to your very special event!

The Photo Booth Doctor

314-329-5240

www.photoboothdoctor.com

events@thephotoboothdoctor.com

The Photo Booth Doctor specializes in providing high quality photo booth, green screen, digital graffiti, and DJ services for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, office parties, birthdays, family reunions, and any special event. We are the first in St. Louis to offer Graffiti Spray!

Pumpernickles Deli

314-567-3257

www.pumpernickles.com

Pumpernickles catering is a tradition for bar and mitzvah celebrations. Our beautifully decorated deli, dairy and dessert trays are perfect for kiddushes, brunches and luncheons. We can even host your party in our newly redecorated restaurant. Stop by and talk to us!

Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel

314-863-0400

www.sheratonclayton.com

Offering a complete kosher kitchen and menus, the Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel has all the resources to make your next event a memorable experience. Located in the heart of Clayton with over 18,000 sq. ft. of function space including our unique sun deck, we offer the ideal location for your upcoming bar/bat mitzvah, wedding or Simchas. Create your special mock-tails and mitzvah menus!

Simcha’s Events

314-458-5463 • www.simchasevents.com

Planning Bar/Bat Mitzvahs can be more challenging than weddings. There are themes, multiple menus, in addition to coordinating with the venue, entertainment and photographer prior to and during the event to schedule videos, speeches and ensure both adults and kids have their time (and music) on the dance floor. But that shouldn’t be your job. You’ll be busy hosting your guests and enjoying the celebration. To plan your Mitzvah, contact Simcha Lourie; 314-458-5463 or simcha@simchasevents.com.

Sunshine Entertainment Group

177 Timber Pines, Defiance, MO 63341 636-207-9999

www.sunshineentertainmentgroup.com

Scotty@sunshineentertainmentgroup.com

The Sunshine Entertainment Group interactively entertains Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations and Sweet 16s. DJ/VJ/

MC Scotty O’Brien and his team will ensure that everyone feels welcome and has an incredible and memorable experience at your upcoming celebration! Meet with Scotty at an in-person home consultation. Please check out our website for everything entertainment under the sun!

TalentPlus Entertainment & Belle of the Ball

275 Union Blvd, 1700 PH St. Louis, 63108

314-421-9400

www.talentpl.us

Belle of the Ball is a custom entertainment production company offering whimsical interactive entertainment. We transform events into spectacular soirees with our environmental entertainment performers and custom creations. Belle of the Ball is exclusively represented by TalentPlus Entertainment. TPE has the largest exclusive roster of artists in the Midwest. Through skilled research and creative consultation our clients are matched with the perfect entertainer(s) for their events. The TPE team has handled thousands of bookings for corporate functions, private parties, weddings, and much more.

Trotter Photo

14319 Manchester Rd.

Manchester, MO 63011

(636) 394-7689

www.trotterphoto.com

Trotter Photo has captured the moments of our lives for 44 years in the St.Louis area, with 2 conveniently located state of the art studios. Providing photojournalistic and elegant traditional photos as well as photo booths for Mitzvah’s and weddings and everyday in between.

Twist Events & Entertainment

314-477-1473

www.twistyourevent.com

todd@twistyourevent.com

Twist Events & Entertainment is your premiere, full-service event management group. We provide just the right ‘’twist’’ - to make your event a complete success. Live Bands, DJ’s, Décor, Effects, Audio-Visual, Full-Service Event Planning and much more. Everything customized to fit and exceed your individual needs, desires and even budget. See www.twistyourevent.com for more information.

Unique Treasures of United Hebrew

13788 Conway Road

(314) 469-0700, ext 119

Our gift shop has everything you need for your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah - a large selection of Talitot and Kippot, personalized Kippot for your guests and hostess gifts to say thank you to friends and family who are helping you with this special event. Our gift selection for this special occasion includes jewelry, mezzuzot, picture frames, books, yads, tzedakah boxes and more. Conveniently located in United Hebrew Congregation. Open Mon. - Fri. and during Religious School Sundays.

Video Views, Inc.

(636) 394-2600

www.videoviews.com

There are a few key days in our life we want to hold on to forever. Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, anniversaries, reunions, graduations, school plays, the Big Game. . . these moments we would like to revisit again and again. To make sure the right memories are captured - the moments worth remembering - you need the right production company. That’s where we come in. Call the professionals, we will preserve your memories forever.

Westview Media

149 N. Meramec, St. Louis, 63105 314-726-6222

www.westviewmedia.com

missyhill@westviewmedia.com

Westview Media creates high-end videos for all types of events. Our creative team understands that the most effective video will tell a great story, convey a message, and offer a turnkey solution for all your video needs.

YMCA Trout Lodge

13528 State Highway AA, Potosi, MO 63664 (888) 386-9622 • www.troutlodge.org

YMCA Trout Lodge is a not-for-profit, family getaway, and conference center located 90 minutes south of St. Louis. Trout Lodge is situated on a 360-acre lake surrounded by 5,200 acres of forest-covered hills. Choose from hotel-style lodging or family cabins. With more than 40 activities and all-inclusive rates, Trout Lodge provides an outstanding experience for families, reunions, parties, and corporate retreats.

Large Selection of Artwork

Hand-painted silk Tallit

By Silk Bijoux