September 16th, 2015
We read about a great Bat Mitzvah Project by Shoshana Winter in the Jewish Link of Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut that we wanted to share.
Tali Kobrin is a 6th grader from the Bronx, New York chose her Mitzvah Project after a recent family trip to Israel. “I wanted to help an organization in Israel. I visited SHALVA this past summer after hearing a lot about their work and I was blown away by what I saw there,” she said.
SHALVA, the Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel, is dedicated to offering high quality care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families and promoting social inclusion. It is non-denominational and free-of-charge, SHALVA’s programs provide care from infancy through adulthood, empowering parents to raise their children with special needs within the family framework.
Pictured Left: Tali is holding the sign surrounded by her friends on the day of “Color Run.”
What Tali wasn’t sure about was just what she was going to do to support this important organization. Lucky enough to be the third of four Kobrin daughters, two of whom had already experienced their own Bat Mitzvah projects, she leaned on her big sisters for inspiration. “I wanted to do something related to exercise and one of my sisters suggested a ‘color run’ and I loved the idea. This was a project for the whole family to plan and run, which is what made it so special,” Tali said.
What is a “color run?” According to the email invitation Tali sent out, “a Color Run is pure fun—there’s no set time or distance required, we’ll just all wear white, do our best, and have fun! Each time around the track you will get sprayed with a color—eight times around the track is two miles, and every color of the rainbow.”
On Sunday morning September 6, 2015 in Van Cortland Park, New York about 100 friends and family joined Tali for her color run to support SHALVA. Every participant received a white T-shirt emblazoned with the message “I ran…..” The run took place on a smaller track so that there was more of an opportunity to get your T-shirt as colorful as possible. At the end of each loop, there were 2 or 3 designated “sprayers,” who were responsible for spraying colors on each of the runners. It was quite a sight to behold—parents running with kids in strollers, grandparents, parents, friends and children of every age running, walking and laughing—getting more and more messy as the run progressed. In addition to the Kobrin family and friends, Tali was joined by many of her friends and classmates who had not seen each other since the beginning of the summer, making it a special day to kick off a year of Bat Mitzvah celebrations.
In addition to the run, Tali also invited participants to assemble and decorate Rosh Hashanah care packages to be distributed to local homebound elderly through the Bronx Jewish Community Council. The Rosh Hashanah packages were filled with apples and honey and a personalized “Shana Tova” card for each recipient.
Being able to actively participate in a Bat Mitzvah’s act of chesed was truly a special and unique experience, which was evident by the smiles, hugs and laughter in the crowd. For Tali, it was both fun and meaningful. “Becoming a Bat Mitzvah is a new stage of life where other people, and Hashem, have higher expectations for you,” she said. “The kids at SHALVA have different challenges than I do—people have different expectations for them. I hope the money I raise can help them reach new levels and exceed expectations.” It sounds like she is off to a great start.
We would like to thank Shoshana Winter, the Jewish Link of Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut and Tali for sharing this creative Mitzvah Project.
September 16th, 2015
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah first impressions are so important, especially when you put so much into planning your child’s special day.
Get creative with your Bar Bat Mitzvah entrance decor elements to create a WOW moment as guests step out of their cars and into your child’s celebration.
Here are some great ideas to get you started:
Garelick and Herbs created this entrance using the Bat Mitzvah girl’s initial at the venue Mora Mora
This Jersey Shore themed Bar Mitzvah planned by Melisa Imberman of The Event of a Lifetime, Inc. featured great entrance signage
Beth Fink Events created an extra large personalized rug for the entrance to a Bat Mitzvah
Even before stepping into the venue, The Paramount welcomes guests with a personalized message in lights
Hart to Hart Entertainment designed an exciting NFL themed entrance at the Village Club of Sands Point
Balloon Artistry created this balloon tunnel entrance with blue LED lighting. Sarah Merians Photography & Videography was the photographer
Lighter Than Air Events‘ entrance for an NFL themed Bar Mitzvah. The draping in blue and green matched the colors of the party as well as the signage and Draft Pick
The entrance to this Bar Mitzvah party at Warehouse 5 looked like an authentic baseball stadium!
Read more about this celebration here
To set the tone for this celebration, there was foliage and backdrops of woods, along with a sign that welcomed guests to “Camp Alyssa” by 84 West Studios. See more of this celebration here
Wind banners flanked the entrance to the reception for Jake Brodsky’s celebration
See more of this party here
For a Food Network themed B’nai Mitzvah, guests entered on a red carpet with pictures of Jordyn and Joshua on flat screen TVs.
Read more about this B’nai celebration here
Did your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration have cool entrance decor? Let us know at info@mitzvahmarket.com.
September 14th, 2015
A Magical Bar Mitzvah was the theme for Jack Rosenberg’s celebration. The service was held at Shaare Torah Congregation in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The party was held at Normandie Farm Restaurant, Potomac, Maryland.
Jack is a Harry Potter fan who read and enjoyed all the books and movies, so this was a perfect Bar Mitzvah theme and Jack helped create many of the decor elements.
Pictured above L-R: Dad Michael, older brother Sam, Bar Mitzvah boy Jack and Mom Sheryl.
Andrew Morrell Photography was the photographer and the rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of the spotlight.
The save-the-date cards, created by Rebecca from sweetinvitationco on Etsy, featured an owl, a reference to Hedwig, Harry Potter’s pet owl and the source for delivering mail
Mom Sheryl came up with the concept for the invitation and logo and worked with Jessica Garmise from Out of the Box Creations on the execution. The invite resembled the invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and the envelope was sealed with a red wax seal just like students received in the book. Each save-the-date and thank you note was sent with a Harry Potter Forever postage stamp
A Havdalah service was chosen because it was Jack’s grandmother’s favorite service. Now deceased, the weekend of Jack’s Bar Mitzvah would have been his grandmother’s 75th birthday. The suede kippot had a graphic design of Harry Potter glasses and the scar in a repeating pattern
Out of the Box Creations also designed the Hogwarts-inspired crest logo that was used throughout the party
Bar Mitzvah boy Jack handmade each place card which was a painted wooden wand with a tag indicating the guests’ table assignment. In the center of the “place card” or “Sorting Table” there was a Sorting Hat on a stool just like the one mentioned in the books and movies
Normandie Farm Restaurant was the perfect location to celebrate, as it gave the feeling of being inside Hogwarts Castle. Each table represented a different place in the Harry Potter series with handmade centerpieces courtesy of Jack and his mom, Sheryl
Hogwarts Year 2: the Chamber of Secrets table centerpiece featuring the Gryffindor sword, Tom Riddle’s Diary, the Basilisk tooth and Colin Creevey’s camera
Borgin & Burkes Dark Magic Shop is known for selling unusual and ancient wizard artifacts. The Hand of Glory was created by Jack
The Forbidden Forest centerpiece
When checking into the hotel, out-of-town guests received goodies in a bag that had a plush owl attached. The owl theme carried through from the save-the-date and invitation to the hotel bags
Dobby’s Sock Drawer held the socks for the guests to wear on the dance floor. In the Harry Potter books and movies, Dobby, the house elf, was given a sock to set him free, thus the sign stating: “Take a pair of socks for dancing and free your inner house elf!”
In keeping with the theme, signage at the bar read: “Underage wizards and witches will not be served alcohol”
Jack’s mom Sheryl designed the New Student Attendance Book using Shutterfly. The cover photo was a picture of Jack when he was younger wearing Harry Potter glasses at the Harry Potter book 7 release event in NYC
The sign-in table had a sign asking all guests to sign the “New Student Attendance Book,” but beware of the Monster Book of Monsters, which was also on the same table. The pens used to sign the book were white quill pens made by Jack’s aunt
MC Chris Schultz of Unique Dreams Entertainment did a great job. Jack entered the room through a doorway that had fabric hanging to look like a brick wall coming through “Platform 9-3/4.” There was a fog machine running that looked like the steam from the train’s engine as people walked through the “brick wall.” Jack was accompanied by one of the DJ’s dancers wearing a Gryffindor scarf and tie to keep in the Harry Potter spirit
A great shot of Jack up in the chair for the Horah, while his dad, Michael helps lift the chair wearing his Professor Dumbledore hat
The photo booth stopped working before the first picture was even taken, but the DJ quickly jumped in and played tons of party games with the children while the adults enjoyed the cocktail hour
The candle lighting was designed by Jack’s mom, Sheryl. There were lights in each of the colored bottles to make the bottles glow and look magical. The candle used to light the others was in a Miller Lite beer bottle, which was a special way to remember Jack’s uncle who passed away before the Bar Mitzvah. Each song used during the candle lighting ceremony was a musical theater song chosen by Jack, to tie in with the “theater cake” to represent Jack’s other love — musical theater
Jack surrounded by his friends
This amazing cake was created by Fancy Cakes by Leslie. It was designed by a family friend and Jack’s brother and included musical theater elements. Each layer of the cake represented a different show that Jack had performed in. The top tier from Honk!; the second tier from Winnie the Pooh; the third tier from Annie; and the bottom layer from Beauty and the Beast
The mason jars each had a homemade chocolate frog in them, just like the ones sold in Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe in Harry Potter. The jars were also used to take home candy from the candy table
The candy table was labeled with a “Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe” sign. Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe is the name of the candy store in the Harry Potter movies and books
The candy buffet was visually beautiful and had magical selections for guests to enjoy
The Rosenberg family wore custom Quidditch jerseys the morning after the celebration for brunch at their house
Jack, Dad Michael and Brother Sam all wore the jerseys that coordinated with the Hogwarts House ties they wore during the Bar Mitzvah service
Some advice from Mom Sheryl:
“Choose a theme that the whole family loves. And have fun and be creative in planning it. The more you like the theme, and the more you know about it, the more creative ideas that you will come up with.”
The following vendors helped to make Jack’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you give any of them a call, let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Normandie Farm Restaurant, 301-983-8838
Photographer: Andrew Morrell Photography, 301-529-3410
Party Planner: Mom Sheryl Rosenberg
Invitation/logo concept: Mom Sheryl Rosenberg, sherylrosenberg@gmail.com
Invitation/Logo execution: Jessica Garmise, Out of the Box Creations, 917-518-9389
Printer for invitations/Thank you notes: Rockville Printing, 301-251-0001
Centerpiece Decor: Mom Sheryl Rosenberg
Save-the-date cards: Rebecca from Sweet invitation co on Etsy.com
Party set up: Karen Nelson, Enchanting Affairs, 301-452-4143
Music Entertainment/MC: Chris Schultz, Unique Dreams Entertainment, 301-253-9021
Mug Favors: DiscountMugs.com
Cake: Fancy Cakes by Leslie, 301-652-9300
Sign-in board/book: Shutterfly.com
Kippot: Best Kippah, 800-435-1621
Dresses and suits for family members: Nordstrom
Transportation for kids from service to party: Martin’s Sedan & Limousine Service, 301-260-9393
September 9th, 2015
The Ryder and Ohel families celebrated their daughters’ B’nai Mitzvah together. Chloe Ryder and Becca Ohel’s celebration took place at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, Illinois.
The two families celebrated both the service and party together with a “Chill Out” theme. Mom Jill Ryder works for M&M, The Special Events Company, specializing in designing Mitzvah décor for clients.
Mom Jill and Mom Shoshana collaborated from start to finish with many unique touches. Every detail was thought out!
Pictured above L-R: Good friends Chloe Ryder and Becca Ohel
The photographer was Lee Ross Photography and the rest of the vendors are listed at the end of the spotlight.
The theme was clear once guests received their hand delivered invitation, hot chocolate and mug! The mug read, “Warm Up Before the Big Chill.” Inside of the mug was hot chocolate and a spoon with
Chloe and Becca’s picture
Mugs and invitations ready to be delivered
The service and party were both held at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort. The girls were privately tutored together and the service was very warm and special. Here’s Chloe Ryder…
and Becca Ohel
The girls’ service program
Both families were very chic and stylish with Chloe and Becca deciding to wear white cocktail dresses from Peaches Boutique. The Ryder family wore blue and the Ohel family wore purple to keep with the color theme. The Ryder family (L-R): Sister Melanie, Dad Adam, Bat Mitzvah girl Chloe, Mom Jill and Sister Jordan
The Ohel family (Clockwise from top): Dad Ziv, Brother Jordan, Mom Shoshana, Sister Gabby,
Bat Mitzvah girl Becca and Sister Hannah
These families got very creative for their place cards. They used Ice Breaker mints with custom labels. The place card table was at the entrance to the ballroom. Once guests picked up their place card they entered a draped tunnel complete with light-up icicles and hanging crystal chandeliers
Each Ice Breaker had a custom label with the guests’ name and table assignment. Creative table names included: “Frozen,” “Glacier,” and “Chillin”
Both girls had a sign-in book
The party took place in a white tent at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort that lent itself to the theme.
M&M Special Event Rentals provided the décor including the gorgeous linens, Chiavari chairs, lounge furniture, light-up bar, stunning centerpieces and more. Kids chilled in the “Crystal Ice Lounge”
There were several sections of white lounge furniture with custom pillows and white furry ottomans for guests to enjoy
The girls in bathrobes “Chillin’ Out” before the party
Moms Shoshana and Jill in front of the stunning ice sculpture which set the tone of the party. The enormous ice sculpture was a luge for signature drinks and a display for appetizers and desserts
The Crystal Ice Lounge bar
The signature drink included cotton candy which looked like melting snowballs
The dance floor had a Gobo, “Chill Out with Becca & Chloe.” Tall spandex icicles flanked the dance floor and changed color throughout the night
The adult tables were a mix of round and over-sized king tables to create interesting seating. The round tables had purple ribbon linen with white Chiavari chairs and royal blue cushions. There were crystal candelabra centerpieces for a sophisticated elegance
The over-sized king tables had elegant textured white ribbon linens with white leather chairs. The chargers created a look of blue water in the center
There were alternating centerpieces, pictured here: a sophisticated floral design in a mirrored vase and votive candles
The elevated Lucite centerpiece, with gorgeous floral decor, had hanging crystals, glass snowballs and
snowflakes
Each napkin had custom snowflake napkin rings embellished with crystals. There were also glow-in-the-dark ice cubes in blue and purple in all of the water glasses
The kids’ centerpieces had lifted puffs of baby’s breath with twinkling white fairy ball lights and vases lit with crystal collars
Hotel guests received a collection of creams and gels from Bath and Body Works
The custom cocktail napkins were printed in blue and white
The glass “ice” block logo was used as another accent element on the tables
For the girls grand entrance, Xpress Video produced a great music video parody to, “Ice Ice Baby.” Also, the girls recorded a song with their own words to the tune of “Count on Me” that played during the montage section of the girls together
Watch here
After the video, the girls made their entrance out of smoke
Becca’s Dad Ziv surprised everyone (including his own family) with a choreographed dance. Drew from Sole 2 Soul, the teacher that choreographed the dance, on the left and Dad Ziv Ohel on the right
Daughter Becca is the one with the shocked look!
MC Johnny and Revelation Productions provided the music entertainment and rocked the house! They also provided special lighting that changed with the music. Here Becca is up in the chair for the Horah
Chloe up in the chair for the Horah
There was lots of great music for dancing and giveaways that guests enjoyed
The dance floor prizes were a big hit especially the color-changing straws and furry light-up snowballs
Guests enjoyed the photo booth especially the wonderful people Mom Jill works with at M&M The Special Events Company!
The theme continued right up until the end of this celebration. Some of the great dessert options included: Frrrozen Hot Chocolate from Serendipity 3 (flown in from NY)
There was also Baked by Melissa Cupcakes (also flown in from NY!)
Liquid nitrogen, that turned into delicious ice cream, really wowed guests
Cleverly worded labels on the water bottles: “Thanks snow much. It’s been Nice. Please enjoy this melted ice.”
Promotional Product Partners created the drawstring bags and sweatshirts. All of the giveaways matched the theme and color scheme
The back of the sweatshirt favor
What a great memory for two special friends and their families
Chloe and Becca collected holiday games and toys for Toys for Tots
Some advice from Moms Jill and Shoshana:
“We are great friends and after some wine came up with the idea to have our girls’ Bat Mitzvah together. Two great minds that didn’t stop brainstorming (and yes lots of wine!). While the girls were bonding with the Rabbi, the moms had so much fun planning this amazing event. Mom Jill works for M&M The Special Events Company and specializes in designing Mitzvah décor for clients. So when it came to our party, we knew we had to pull out all the stops. Along with my expertise and Shoshana’s very clever ideas; together we were a great team, and it made the process lots of fun!”
The following vendors helped to make Leah’s celebration extremely special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com. – See more at: https://mitzvahmarket.com/mitzvah-spotlight/family/the-glaser-family-bat-mitzvah-spotlight/#sthash.QJfWqxTx.dpuf
The following vendors helped to make Chloe and Becca’s celebration extremely special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, 847-634-0100
Party Planner: Jamie Joffe, 708-799-9383
Music Entertainment: MC Johnny B, Revelation Productions, 847-564-9944
Photographer/Videographer: Lee, Lee Ross Photography, 847-786-4400
Décor/Florist: Mom Jill, M&M Special Events Company, 630-514-1530
Invitation/Mug/Hot Chocolate: Zazzle.com
Ice sculpture: Jeannie, Art Below Zero, 414-779-7000
Entrance Video: Xpress Video Production, 224-723-5111
Sweatshirt/Drawstring Bags: Michael, Promotional Products Partners, 847-970-9797
Sign-In: Books made by Moms
Party entertainment: Hal or Wayne, PhotoBooth Time, 847-220-4878
Below Zero Frozen Dessert: Wonka Desserts, 224-802-2222
Cupcakes: Baked by Melissa, 212-842-0220
Mitzvah Exit treat: Aunt Annie’s Pretzels
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate: Serendipity 3, 212-838-3531
Bat Mitzvah girl dresses: Peaches Boutique, 773-582-0102
Hair/makeup: Melissa, ZaZa, 847-793-1111
September 7th, 2015
Hayley celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in April, 2014.
For her Mitzvah Project, she designed bracelets that she sold to help Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education (SCOPE).
Hayley understands the importance of camp and wanted to share the camp experience with kids who might not be able to go due to financial hardships. An 8th grade Honor Roll student, Hayley raised over $3,000 for SCOPE combining her passion for community service, summer camp, and design to create an original SCOPE bracelet for sale. She was also honored last month with the SCOPE Leadership Award and Jefferson Award at SCOPE’s annual New York Benefit Dinner.
This non-profit organization provides children in need the edge to succeed in life through the summer camp experience. They provide camp scholarships for children in need to attend overnight summer camps. They are also very involved in helping with Mitzvah Projects allowing Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to be directly responsible for giving to kids who otherwise couldn’t afford the chance to experience the magic of camp.
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
HC: For my Mitzvah Project, I designed and sold “SCOPE” bracelets to raise money and help send children to summer camp.
Hayley’s design
MM: Does your project have a start and end date, if so what are they?
HC: I completed my Mitzvah Project, but I continue to find new ways to raise funds for SCOPE like selling SCOPE T-shirts.
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project?
HC: My father has been very involved with SCOPE over the years and I have learned a lot about SCOPE’s mission. Summer camp has always been a very important part of my life. Because of my own personal experiences at camp, it became important for me to share this opportunity with children who are less fortunate and for kids to have fun during the summer.
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bat Mitzvah?
HC: For me, doing a Mitzvah Project means giving back to the community.
Hayley was presented with the SCOPE Leadership Award and Jefferson Award on April 16, 2015 at SCOPE’s annual New York Benefit Dinner
MM: If your project involved a donation, what are you doing to spreading the word?
HC: To spread the word, I have used email and social media (Instagram and Facebook).
MM: How long can people donate to this charity?
HC: You can donate to SCOPE at any time!
MM: Anything else we need to know about your Mitzvah Project?
HC: Helping to send children to camp through the sale of my bracelets made me feel very good about my choice for a Mitzvah Project. Because of this, I decided to continue fundraising for SCOPE after my B’nai Mitzvah. This year, I designed and sold t-shirts for SCOPE. I hope to continue doing these types of projects to support SCOPE in the future.
We thank Hayley for sharing her great Mitzvah Project with our readers.
For additional information about Scope you can visit their Website or Facebook page.
September 2nd, 2015
A tennis themed Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a great way to share your child’s love of the sport with family and friends.
With the U.S. Open tennis tournament starting this week in Flushing, Queens, New York, it was the perfect time to look back at some great tennis Bar Bat Mitzvah ideas.
Let Mitzvah Market serve as your inspiration to ace your special day. Here are a few of our favorites.
The light-up bar featured silhouettes of a boy playing tennis and skiing, two of Jack’s favorites! To see more about this dual sport celebration, click here
For the traditional candle lighting ceremony, Fos Decor created a custom built acrylic table displaying hundreds of
tennis balls. To see more of this celebration, click here
A R.S.V.P. that includes tennis lingo from Proper Notice. To see more tennis themed invitations from this company, click here
The Backalar family celebrated their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah with a tennis themed celebration including the kippot! To see more of this party, click here
An “H” for Haylie, dotted with mini tennis balls added to the bar decor. To read more about the Laff celebration, click here
For the Zapken Bar Mitzvah, the cake, created by Morrell Caterers, was in the shape of a tennis court. To see more of this Bar Mitzvah, click here
This colorful tennis themed Bat Mitzvah invitation from TheCoolestgiveaways.com featured clever sayings such as, “You’ve Been Served”
Did your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration have a tennis theme? Let us know at info@mitzvahmarket.com.
August 30th, 2015
More and more, Mitzvah Moms turn to Etsy.com “shops” for unique special touches for their child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah celebrations.
Whether you are looking for unique clothing or accessories, decor, invitations, custom food and more, Etsy has become a go-to destination for out-of-the-ordinary products.
Here are some past Mitzvah Family Spotlight stories and creative ways our Mitzvah Moms have used Etsy for their Bar Bat Mitzvah celebrations:
Mad Libs was used as this Bat Mitzvah sign-in. It was designed by Cami’s Paperie on Etsy.com. To read more about this Bat Mitzvah, click here
Emma is wearing an additional three-tiered removable over-skirt that Mom Hollee had custom-made by a designer she found on Etsy. To read more about the Becker Bat Mitzvah, click here
The Glaser family lived in Japan when daughter Leah celebrated her Bat Mitzvah. As a special gift, Leah received custom-made silver tallit clips with a sakura flower (cherry blossom) that was the symbol of the ward they lived in while in Japan. They were created by the Etsy shop, KanoaPureSilver. To read more about this Bat Mitzvah, click here
For this camp themed Bar Mitzvah, guests were shown their seats by little tree stumps found on Etsy.com. To read more about Camp Mitchell, click here
The Kaufman Bar Mitzvah had a boardwalk theme. Place cards were made by The Fancy Lady Gourmet on Etsy.com. To read more about this Bar Mitzvah, click here
The Frankel family had customized marshmallows created by FeteSetter on Etsy.com. To read more about this Bat Mitzvah, click here
Did you have a clever find from Etsy.com? Let us know at info@mitzvahmarket.com.
August 30th, 2015
The Dictrow family from Marlboro, New Jersey, celebrated their daughter Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah with a Havdalah service at Congregation Ohev Shalom in Marlboro, New Jersey.
Not even a snow storm could prevent this family from having a sophisticated and “Sydsational” reception at Temple B’nai Tikvah in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
We featured sister Jordan’s “An ExJORDANary Evening” and we couldn’t believe it was already sister Sydney’s turn!
Pictured L-R: Dad Adam, Mom Debbie, younger sister Ryan, Bat Mitzvah girl Sydney and older sister Jordan.
Joe Siracusa of JS Photography, Inc. was the photographer and the rest of the vendors are listed at the end of the spotlight.
Mitzvah Invitation, Service & Style
When it came time to choose the invitation, the family returned to Cindi of Simply Invitations and Party Planning. They chose a custom white card with a turquoise border on the front. The back featured words describing Sydney. Sydney’s special night started with a beautiful Havdalah service at Congregation Ohev Shalom.
Guests were asked to dress "Formal & Fabulous"
The RSVP stamp
Reading from the prayer book
Sydney with her mom and dad holding the Torah
Handmade yarmulkes and head coverings made with love by her Bubby and Grammy
Even with a snow storm outside, this family knows how to be stylish! Mom Debbie, Bat Mitzvah girl Sydney and older sister Jordan were beautifully dressed in gowns from Diane & Co. Little sister Ryan looked amazing in her gown from Macis Designs. Dad Adam wore his own tuxedo
In her gown, Sydney wrote her name in the snow...we love that!
Mitzvah Details
There was no set theme for this celebration, but they did incorporate three words which are important to Sydney: “Smile, Hope and Dream,” which also happen to be her initials. The family wanted a continuation from sister Jordan’s “An ExJORDANary Evening” and came up with “SYDsational.” For their decor, Mom Debbie once again called in Phyllis Skolnick of Extraordinary Productions who worked on sister Jordan’s Bat Mitzvah.
The gobo projected on the Temple wall and was seen by guests as they entered
This clear plexi-glass structure served as the escort table which included custom decals and colorful votive candles
Continuing with the circle theme, each place card was in a circle of blue water
Sydney posed in her lounge area
Votive candles and tall clear vases added a warm glow to the room
The room was filled with love and warmth despite the snow outside
Cocktail napkins with written text: "Sydney," "Smile, Hope, Dream," and "Sydsational"
Finishing touches included custom chargers at each adult place setting
Guests enjoyed the heartfelt "Thank You" note at their place setting
Dad Adam works for PR Newswire, an industry leader in communication services. "Congratulations on becoming a Bat Mitzvah. You are Sydsational!" lit up the corner on Times Square a few weeks prior to her special day
Her sign-in board featured the photo that was used in Times Square
Music & Entertainment
MC Brian and his team from Pure Energy Entertainment kept guests dancing all night.
Dad Adam entertained the crowd on the dance floor
Sydney and her friends posed on the risers
Sydney was the center of attention surrounded by her friends
Sydney, her sisters and guests all enjoyed some hair bling!
Here a young guest gets her hair braided. The glass tables used in this area featured color collages of Sydney throughout her 13 years, created by Mom Debbie. She got this idea from the
Weilheimer Family Spotlight featured on MitzvahMarket.com
Mitzvah Exit Treat & Favor
Top Elements created Sydney’s favors for her friends.
A tote bag given to each of Sydney's guests
This beautiful logo was used on back of the zippered sweatshirt favor for the girls. The inside of the hoodie was also imprinted with "Smile, Hope, Dream." The boys received pullover hoodies with a vintage logo
Everyone got to enjoy some goodies for the car ride home from Godfather Catering Party Truck
The last of the Dictrow girls, Ryan's Bat Mitzvah in 2017
Mitzvah Project
For her Mitzvah Project, Syd chose Cleats 4 Kids due to her passion for soccer and Kicking 4 Celiac Foundation because her grandfather has Celiac Disease. With the help of her friends, through texts, emails and Facebook, Syd collected over 118 pair of cleats. She was so excited to help get more kids on the soccer field!
Syd with cleats she collected
Mom to Mom
Some Mom to Mom advice from Deb:
“Planning another Bat Mitzvah the second time around was definitely easier! It’s important to feel confident with the vendors you choose and rely on them to make it all work. Be detail-oriented, every little detail counts. Enjoy the moment, appreciate friends and family that all came to celebrate this important milestone. The night goes so fast but the memory is forever! Sydney wanted snow and she got it! It not only snowed for pictures the week before, but it snowed again for her party… that was stressful. Ice scrapers were a last minute idea and Thank God everyone made it safely to her celebration and back home! It was formal, fabulous and Sydsational, just the way we hoped!”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Sydney’s celebration special. If you give any a call, please make sure they know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Congregation B’nai Tikvah, 732-297-0696
Catering: Classical Caterers, 732-297-6444
Party Planner: Phyliss Skolnick, Extraordinary Productions, 732-308-3080
Photographer: Joe Siracusa, JS Photography Inc, 718-967-6912
Videographer: Michael Scoblete, 347-539-9568
Music Entertainment: MC Brian, Pure Energy Entertainment, 732-536-8991
Cocktail Hour Music: Pure Energy Entertainment
Favors: Top Elements, 732-972-8290
Décor/florist/lounge furniture: Extraordinary Productions, 732-308-3080
Invitation/menu/thank you notes: Cindi, Simply Invitations & Party Planning, 732-617-7211
Party entertainment: Photo favors, Pure Energy Entertainment, 732-536-8991
Tattoos: Tattoos by Bernadine Ferrari, 973-299-9146
Custom Cake: Classical Caterers
Times Square Signage: PR Newswire, 800-776-8090
Candy truck: Dennis, Godfather Catering, 516-790-5288
Dresses for Mom, Sydney and sister Jordan: Diane and Company, 732-635-8001
Ryan’s dress: Macis Designs, 732-246-2988
Hair/Hair bling and crystals for party: Studio 455 Salon, 732-972-9890
Makeup: Melanie Kotes, 732-456-1897
Transportation: First Class Limousine, 732-972-3200
Party Bus: V.E.I Limousine, 732-441-9400
Kids Transportation: Shamrock Bus Company, 732-787-1113
August 23rd, 2015
This custom Bat Mitzvah invitation set the tone for Samantha’s Deco-themed Bat Mitzvah celebration which took place at New York City’s Four Season’s Restaurant.
Ceci Johnson, a leading authority on style and invitation design, teamed up with some of New York City’s top industry experts and event designers to carry this theme throughout this Bat Mitzvah celebration.
The photographer was Rebecca Walker with Ira Lippke Studios.
The design and inspiration board
Starting with the invitation, in shades of blue, the Deco design was incorporated on the table décor, dance floor, logo and Bat Mitzvah cake
An E-Save-the-Date
The Bat Mitzvah girl is passionate about Broadway shows and performing, so the back of her invitation design was an illustration of her sitting on a moon, like a vintage Broadway poster
The place cards on folding screens with fans as accents
The room at The Four Seasons Restaurant
The bright and cheerful custom monogram Gobo
The matching table numbers
Fans and feathers were used as decor elements on the tables
Place cards at each setting
The menu card
Ron Ben-Israel dreamed up a cake which was inspired by the decor designs
A customized beach towel and unique tote bag served as favors
Invitation/Save-the-date/Menu card/Branding: Ceci Johnson, Ceci New York; Photographer: Rebecca Walker for Ira Lippke Studios; Videographer and Montage: Jesse Hartman of Hart Pictures; Venue/Catering: The Four Seasons Restaurant; Event Planner: Eyal Tessler, Tessler Events; Florist: Lewis Miller Design; Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes; Music/Entertainment: Generation Events; Lighting: Levy Lighting
August 23rd, 2015
You may think you have all the bases covered — the outfits, the venue, the DJ, the photographer, the favors.
What about the day of your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah? That’s when many families forget about the little, but important items, that come in handy.
We have compiled a Party Essential Pack List of emergency items to make sure your Bar Bat Mitzvah day goes off without a hitch.
Emergency Kit
This MiniMergency Kit from Pinch Previsions is a Mitzvah must have! Perfect for any personal care predicaments. Fix flyaway hair, mend a hem, or stop a run with this 17-piece kit of beauty, fashion, and personal care products. This kit does it all for $14.00 and it comes in a stylish pouch. 
Plush slippers
You will thank us when you have comfy slippers waiting in the car for the ride home at the end of your celebration! After several hours on your feet, you’ll want to slip into something more comfortable as soon as you can. The men in your life will appreciate it too!
Treat your feet to these massaging slippers from Overstock.com
Extra Clean White Shirt
Have on hand an extra shirt like this one from J. Crew for the Bar Mitzvah boy and/or husband who eats french fries with ketchup…oops!
Cash For Tipping Vendors
Get those envelopes ready as tips are not always included in your vendor contracts. Figure out who you will be tipping before hand and have your labeled envelopes ready to hand out to your vendors. You can also have the catering manager, event planner or general manager do it for you.
Bathroom Toiletries
If the venue does not provide a bathroom toiletry basket, you will need to pick up some of these essential items.
A Binder Of Important Information
The week before your celebration, you should plan to bring your venue manager some of your important lists – ideally in a binder. If someone is late or doesn’t show, you need to be able to get in touch with them without having to scramble for their contact information at the last minute. You should have copies of the following:
1. All vendors names and contact info
2. An alphabetical list of favors for the young guests
3. Your child’s candle lighting poems and which guests will be honored
4. Any other important speeches by Mom/Dad
5. If transportation is being provided, a list of who will be on the bus
6. Photographer list – Important family members to get in pictures
Big Bags
Not only will you need something to hold your child’s gifts, but at the end of your celebration, you might be bringing home decor, flowers, food, signage items, the sign-in book and more.
Do you have any other “Day of Mitzvah Essentials” that you couldn’t live without? Share those ideas with our readers by sending them to info@mitzvahmarket.com.
