October 1st, 2014
SnapShot Entertainment brings you Fingernail Printing with Tat’z Nail’z, the newest way to decorate your nails with temporary finger tattoos.
At your next Bar or Bat Mitvah, birthday party or corporate event, add glitz, glitter and glamour to your guests’ nails.
SnapShot Entertainment is a family-owned and operated business focused on creating a fun atmosphere to fit your glam party needs.
There are hundreds of designs already in the system, but you can also upload any image or logo.
See how it works by watching this video here
Your finished nails!
For more information, contact Milton at miltong@snapshotent.com or at 973-400-9338.
September 21st, 2014
Tariko Kendall of Whimzey Events, LLC. out of Cleveland, Ohio, is a special event design and decoration company who recently transformed the ballroom of Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, Ohio, into a very cheerful Bat Mitzvah celebration.
Welcome to Greta’s Lemonade Stand…
The color palette of yellow, pink and green was incorporated into the vintage logo
Custom pink lemonade stand with hand painted accents including lemons and limes which added to the authentic feel
The place card and sign-in table
Clever (real) lemon place card holders directed guests to their tables
Signage on a blackboard directing Greta’s friends
Guests were asked to write a special note to Greta on lemon and lime shaped cutouts
Yellow, pink and green balloons were just the right touch on the kids’ tables
A very cheerful ballroom
Summer flowers, lemon and limes make for beautiful centerpieces
Keep Calm signage was on each table
The letter “G” was used on this table along with a favor of lemonade mix at each place setting
On display was a poster explaining Greta’s Mitzvah project for LUNGevity Foundation, an organization for lung cancer research
We thank Tariko Kendall and Whimzey Events for sharing this great Bat Mitzvah celebration with our readers.
September 14th, 2014
On Sept. 30, 2014, Ben Gavartin, a seventh-grader from Scottsdale, Arizona, and student at Veritas Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, will be ready to give back to his community in an ambitious and delicious way!
Ben’s Mitzvah Project, “Ben Feeds Back” is turning a large homeless shelter into a 5-star restaurant.
With the help of his family, friends and generous local merchants they will transform the United Methodist Outreach Missions (UMOM) cafeteria into an upscale restaurant. A great menu, beautiful linens, music and waiter service are all on tap enabling these families to have a wonderful dining experience.
We asked Ben a few questions to learn more:
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project?
BG: I love food and I love helping people. I came up with the upscale version of feeding the homeless for my Mitzvah Project. I am a foodie and enjoy dining out with my family. I realized that many people don’t have the same opportunities so I wanted to share a surprise fine dining experience with UMOM families. UMOM is an outstanding organization that helps more homeless families in Arizona than any other organization.
MM: Can you tell us what type of experience you will be giving these families?
BG: This year, UMOM is celebrating its 50th anniversary and I want to surprise 200 homeless men, women and children at UMOM New Day Centers with a three-course, gourmet meal. When families walk in, they will be greeted by a host and seated as if they’re in a restaurant. Tables will be covered in linens and flowers. There will be live music. Families will be waited on by servers. They will have a salad, short ribs in pasta and dessert. I don’t have dessert donated yet, so I am still looking for a bakery to make 200 individual fancy desserts.
MM: You have an amazing Website, how else are you spreading the word?
BG: Companies that have signed on to help. We just got word that Pepsi is going to provide the beverages!! In addition, Local One helped build my website, Benfeedsback.com. I write blog updates and monitor other social media accounts and e-mail daily. Tempe-based Creative Occasions, an event decor company, is donating the linens and other props for the dining room. McCelendon’s Select will donate almost all the produce, Rocking R Farms and Circle Key Farms are donating all the short ribs. Chef Eddie Matney of Eddie’s House, agreed to run the kitchen that night. Several servers have volunteered to be the evening’s wait staff. I reach out to all my supporters regularly and ask them to help spread the word. I have been lucky with lots of local media coverage as well.
MM: What does it mean for your family to be involved in Ben Feeds Back?
BG: It took a lot of steps at first. I had to ask lots of people to help me, research homeless shelters and try to find a location, design a website, and much more. When I asked Chef Matney to help me, I told him I still didn’t have a location yet. I went with my mom to see a few shelters and spoke to lots, but none were the right fit. Chef Matney gave us a contact at UMOM. I want to make people feel happy and that there is hope. These kids and their families never get to go out for food or do nice things. I wanted to make them feel special.
MM: What else do we need to know?
BG: There are many ways people can help!
One: Help spread the word. Post my website, benfeedsback.com to your Facebook page and share it with all of your friends. The more people who know about this, the more donations I can get for UMOM.
Two: Be cool and make a donation through my Website to UMOM. You can get a dollar for dollar tax credit up to $400 if you select the working poor tax credit. That means your money can go to UMOM instead of your taxes to the state of Arizona. I have a goal of $25,000 and I have raised $8,094 so far!!
Three: I am still in need of the following items: 600 stems of random flowers, a bakery for individual desserts for 200 people, a bakery for dinner rolls for 200 people, fancy plastic plates, silverware and glasses.
We thank Ben and his family for sharing this amazing Mitzvah Project with our readers. For more information you can email him at ben@benfeedsback.com or visit his website at BenFeedsBack.com.
September 14th, 2014
Many children choose to enter their Bar Bat Mitzvah celebration on the shoulders of the DJ dancers, but a growing number of families are getting more creative!
A unique entrance can show off your child’s personality as soon as they walk in. Check out our previous story Creative Bar Bat Mitzvah Entrances and take a look at all the great ideas below:
Sweet Dreams Studios took a great shot of this Bat Mitzvah girl’s special entrance on a throne
A large screen and the Bat Mitzvah girl’s silhouette lead to a terrific entrance from EK Productions
From Lighter Than Air Events, the guest of honor was driven into the party room on the back of a golf cart decorated with her logo
This Bat Mitzvah girl took a ride with Unique Musique Entertainment for her entrance
Since Amanda is on a cheer team, it was only appropriate that during her entrance guests cheered holding purple pom-poms.
See more from this story in the Hally Bat Mitzvah Family Spotlight
Creative Photography by Maya sent us this shot of a Bar Mitzvah boy being escorted into the room by the Amazing Bottle Dancers
Leanna Grau’s Bat Mitzvah was at SPACE in Engelwood, New Jersey. Leanna was lifted and zip-lined across the dance floor to her destination as impressed guests looked on and recorded it on their smart phones. To see more ideas from this celebration, click here
Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company shot this Bar Mitzvah boy entering on a surfboard
From an upcoming Mitzvah Family Spotlight story, Lighter Than Air Events made a breakaway wall for this Bar Mitzvah entrance
Another breakaway idea was used with a Twilight Zone theme when Bar Mitzvah the Bar Mitzvah boy came through a television from HRG Creations
When your last name is “Horror”witz and your theme is Halloween, your entrance is spooky!
See more of this celebration from Party Perfect Orlando here
Did your child have a creative entrance to their Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Please send us a photo at info@mitzvahmarket.com.
September 10th, 2014
Mitzvah Market couldn’t wait to showcase these beautiful centerpieces sent to us by Mitzvah Mom Gail of New York City. She found a way to have centerpieces created from school supplies and then donated all of it to a school in need!
Gail and her husband Rob wanted something beautiful and practical for their son Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah which was held at the ballroom of TwentyFourFifth in New York City on January 9, 2010. Their son loves to read, so they decided on the theme of “books” and also worked that into the Mitzvah Decor.
Mitzvah Mom Gail explains: “Instead of floral arrangements, our floral designer, Marc Wilson of Marc Wilson Design created individual arrangements for each table out of books and school supplies. The materials were all donated to the Harlem Children Zone after our party. Marc was incredible, and each table had a different arrangement. They were each so beautiful and unique.”
Gail continued, “Twenty Four Fifth was incredibly cooperative about the situation. The Harlem Children Zone did a pick up that Monday morning, and it all went swimmingly. Also, we had a book cake that was really great, and in theme.” She adds, “This all tied together as Jonathan’s Mitzvah Project was working at the NY Public Library, so books really started and ended the Bar Mitzvah, and it brought it all together.”
One of the centerpieces on the kids’ tables
Some of the supplies displayed!
A “paperclip and Sharpie” tree sat next to the placecards
Close-up…so clever!
Placecards were made from regular index cards to keep with the theme
Another centerpiece on one of the kids’ tables
We love the flowers made from construction paper!
A BIG thanks to Mitzvah Mom Gail for sharing this fabulous idea with our readers. Instead of throwing away beautiful centerpieces, everything was donated and is being used by school children!
If you have an idea to share with Mitzvah Market, please send it to info@MitzvahMarket.com.
September 7th, 2014
We just read about Miracle Challah by Your Chef Naturally on the lifestyle blog Lulu & Lattes.
It’s a great option for your Bar Bat Mitzvah challah and a delicious addition to your holiday table.
Bring the taste and aroma of fresh homemade challah to your home.
They make it, you bake it!
Sold as a braided frozen dough, all you need to do is unwrap, let rise, and bake. The dough comes in regular, whole wheat, chocolate chip, onion and tomato basil.
You can then customize it with whatever toppings your family enjoys like sesame seeds, salt, brown sugar and cinnamon, or or sunflower seeds
Miracle Challah’s have been tested and can last up to several months in the freezer so you can always have a stock available.
To order or find out more information about Miracle Challah you can email them at yourchefnaturally@gmail.com.
September 7th, 2014
Samantha Spector, founder of Milk & Honey Special Events located in San Francisco, California, planned this wonderful Bat Mitzvah.
The family is known for their great parties, especially for their kids. Samantha and the Milk & Honey team knew that this celebration needed to be amazing and centered around Bat Mitzvah girl Sophie’s favorite things.
Since Sophie is a swimmer, choosing the theme was easy. By using a purple and lime green color scheme, this party really made a splash!
Sophie during her formal pictures on the bimah
Signage directing guests
Adults enjoyed the beautiful gardens of the Piedmont Community Hall
The purple and green centerpieces included a scattering of swim goggles
Swim Meet terms were used for table names
Swim lane dividers attached to stanchions, (in lieu of the typical velvet ropes), were used to mark off where guests should form a line. It reinforced the theme and managed the traffic flow
Michael Phelps even made an appearance via a giant cardboard cut out at their “selfie station,” where guests could take a photo by his side
A Cup Noodles bar was set up; a most popular item of swim meet fare!
The highlight was the signs sticking from the top of the bar featuring Sophie popping out of a giant Cup Noodles with her swim goggles on
A blue/green signature drink (for the adults) was dubbed “The 50 Fly” for the butterfly stroke and was a Long Island Iced Tea with Curacao for it’s amazing color
The bar/concession stand featured a giant bucket of Gatorade bottles and sodas for the kids to grab if they didn’t want to wait to get their drinks. Also available: delicious teriyaki bowls, burgers, hot dogs, baked potatoes, chips and candy
Fun trivia cards were placed at each table with questions about swimming, Bat Mitzvahs and all-about-Sophie
Inside the main event space is a great party room for the teens, with a high, beamed ceiling, shining herringbone hardwood floors, chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows
The DJ gave away sunglasses, glow necklaces, bracelets and inflatable microphones
One of the most popular activities of the evening was when the DJ rolled out a huge sheet of plastic bubble wrap for everyone to jump on. It’s the simple things…
In addition to dessert served at the snack bar, a purple and green candy bar kept the younger guests revved up with enough energy to keep the dance floor packed
Large purple balloons were used as a backdrop for the candy buffet as the windows were too beautiful to cover
Another fun party element included Sophie’s t-shirt favor. At swim meets, participants are each given a shirt with the names of all the competitors on the back. Guests loved grabbing their shirts and finding their names which were hung on the back trees. Each person used a fabric highlighter to highlight their name when they claimed their shirt
Delicious cookies with Sophie in swim mode
More custom “Sophie” cookies
We thank Samantha Spector of Milk & Honey Special Events for sharing this creative Bat Mitzvah with our readers.
Event Design & Planning: Milk & Honey Special Events; Photography: Karen Schneider Photography; Catering: Carrie Dove Catering; Venue: Piedmont Community Hall; Balloons: The Balloon Lady, Candy: Candy Warehouse; Candy Bar Labels: Tickled Teal.
September 3rd, 2014
It’s difficult to find customized products and U.S. stamps with Hebrew lettering, but Mitzvah Market found someone who can do that for you.
Art by Linda Lou creates unique designs on invitations, thank you cards, save the date cards and place cards using Hebrew fonts. Linda can create a free designs for you ranging from whimsical sports themes to religious art or florals.
She works as part of the Zazzle site and since Zazzle doesn’t provide Hebrew fonts, Linda can create that for you. Additionally, she will custom design a stamp for you at no extra charge with no obligation to buy – what a deal!
Email her at artbylindalou@gmail.com
September 3rd, 2014
The Weinhaus family celebrated son Jason’s Bar Mitzvah service at Temple Beth David in Commack, New York. A sports party was held the following day at The Sports Arena in St. James, New York. Some of you Long Island moms might recognize mom Shari Einhorn, a news reporter for News 12 Long Island. She and her husband Neal created many of the sports themed décor elements and centerpieces for their son Jason’s celebration. Jason is the ultimate sports enthusiast!
Pictured L-R: Brother Alex, Dad Neal, Bar Mitzvah boy Jason and Mom Shari.
The photography was by Howie Schnapp and the rest of the vendor information is listed below.
Jason smiled on the Bimah during his formal Temple pictures
Mom’s purple beaded dress from Nordstrom was shipped from (of all places) a store in Anchorage, Alaska, because all of the other stores were sold out!
A nod to Jason’s favorite sport, baseball kippot
A custom stadium ticket from Custom Sports Cards contained all the party information
The men/boys of the Weinhaus family consider collared golf shirts “fancy clothes.” So the decision was made to go with a fun and casual celebration and guests were asked to wear “Jerseys and Jeans.” Their special “family” jerseys were designed by Dad Neal. Each family member chose their own color scheme and all wore #57, Jason’s baseball number
The back of each jersey read, “The Dad, The Brother, Jason, and The Mom”
“Jason’s Bubbie” got one too!
The Sports Arena, an indoor soccer, football, lacrosse and hockey facility was the perfect venue for a kid who loves sports. Jason was ready to party!
The seating lineup was on clip boards hung from the drapes
Mom Shari created four huge collage posters featuring sports photos throughout Jason’s life
Jason and his Dad Neal posed in front of pipe and drape decorated with Jason’s photos and jerseys
Dad Neal printed 15 inspirational sports quotes that were placed in picture frames on all of the tables
Shari’s sisters, sister-in-law and mother helped make all of the sports centerpieces
For this New York Giants centerpiece, a glass vase was filled with mini footballs and helmets
Linens and balloons created a party feel on the hockey floor
There were many special moments during Jason’s celebration. In place of a candle lighting, Jason gave out glow necklaces and offered a small sentiment about each family group and friend that came up to receive them. Jason gave a little speech after his Zadie cut the Challah
Mother and son shared a nice hug
After seeing a locker sign-in idea on Mitzvah Market, they chose to do the same thing. They bought a lime green, (Jason’s favorite color), metal sports locker and Jason’s brother Alex put it together. The locker fit in with the rest of the decor and guests had lots of room to write special messages
The locker is now in Jason’s bedroom
The family wanted upscale “stadium” food to fit the theme. The caterer, Carlyle off the Green, hit a grand slam! There was a burger bar, fajita bar, Chinese food in takeout containers and a New York City Times Square station with Reuben sandwiches, hot dogs, pretzels and knishes.Guests couldn’t wait to eat the upscale game day food
No sports party is complete without delicious hot dogs
The burger bar was very crowded
SuperSound Entertainment provided the music for this party and got everyone dancing in between sports activities. Jason made a grand entrance into the party
Jason was up in the chair surrounded by friends and family
Horah time!
Jason and his friends had a great time on the dance floor
All of the kids participated!
A friendly tug of war There were lots of great activities planned like tug of war and tag football.
Glow necklaces provided lots of fun, here younger brother Alex put a few together to make a hula hoop
The glow necklaces really gave a cool look with the lights off
Wire Sculptures by Steve Seifer were given to guests as favors. Tennis and basketball were some of the choices
What a unique customized party favor!
Everyone took home a bag with this custom label
Jason’s Bar Mitzvah Project
For his Mitzvah Project, Jason worked with an organization called Stack the Caps to collect new baseball hats for children with cancer. He included a paragraph in the invitation asking friends and family for donations. He also wrote letters to local sports teams and stores asking if they wanted to help out. Teams like the New York Giants and the New York Yankees sent hats. The Long Island Cosmos sent hats and a voucher for 4 free tickets to a game. The New York Jets sent a football signed by the 2013 team. The most amazingly donation came from a local sporting goods store, Port Jeff Sports. He said he was so moved by Jason’s letter, that he donated 401 hats!
The hats went to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York and and Miami Children’s Hospital, Miami Florida. Jason also participated in his Temple’s Mitzvot Program, doing 13 Mitzvot. Jason collected coats which were donated to the Lighthouse Mission. He collected 6 boxes of children’s books that were donated to the Interfaith Nutrition Network’s soup kitchens. He worked at a school blood drive, researched a family tree, learned how to bake challah, and fasted during the whole Yom Kippur holiday.
Some Advice from Mom Shari
“Definitely involve your Mitzvah teen and the rest of the family in the planning process. It’s more fun that way! If you can, decide together on a “vision” early on and stick to it. That way you can do a little at a time and make changes along the way without feeling too much stress and pressure. I spent 18 months planning and I can honestly say the party turned out EXACTLY the way we were hoping it would. I wanted it to be a celebration of our son and his life … and it was.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors helped to make Jason’s Bar Mitzvah special. If you call any of them, please let them know you read about them on MitzvahMarket.com
Temple: Temple Beth David, 631-499-0915
Venue: The Sports Arena, 631-361-9288
Caterer: Carlyle off the Green, 516-222-1900
Decor: Mom Shari and Dad Neal
Photographer: Howie Schnapp, 516-286-6972
Videographer: Peter Cinnante, 631-767-4892
Party Planner: Jessica Ciardullo, Event Kings, 631-392-1234
Music Entertainment/MC: Alex Dollin, SuperSound Entertainment, 516-606-4402
Favors: Wire Sculptures by Steve Seifer, 718-846-4024
Invitation: Sherry Schweitzer, A Touch of Class Parties, 516-364-1110
Kippot: A1 Scullcap, 800-454-7727
Sign-In Locker: School Lockers.com, 877-936-2483
Family Jerseys: Dad Neal designs, produced by Logo Sportswear, 877-535-5646
Mom Shari’s service dress: Nordstrom
Suits for Bar Mitzvah boy Jason, brother Alex and Dad Neal: Karakos Suits, 516-577-0055
Purple shirts and ties: Kohls
Hair/Makeup: Bocu Salon, 631-499-1300
August 27th, 2014
Benjamin Levine of Saint James, New York, will be celebrating his Bar Mitzvah on October 11, 2014.
For his Mitzvah Project, he decided to support ConKerr Cancer, a non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of chronically-ill children as they undergo treatment.
Benjamin (pictured left) calls his project, Stitches By Ben and he is sewing beautiful pillowcases to bring joy to children in hospitals on Long Island and in New York City.
We spoke with Ben to get more details on how he came up with this idea:
MM: Can you give us details of your Mitzvah Project?
BL: I am making pillowcases that will be donated to ConKerr Cancer, a charity that provides them to children experiencing long term stays in the hospital. The pillowcases are made by volunteers, like me and they are then brought to drop off sites where they are washed, ironed and packaged and then sent on to hospitals in the area. The Long Island chapter delivers to several hospitals including Winthrop University Hospital’s Pediatrics, Winthrop’s Cancer Center for Kids, Memorial Sloane Kettering’s Pediatrics, Cohen Children’s Hospital, and Stony Brook’s Pediatric Cancer Center are the locations that will receive my completed work.
MM: Does your project have a start and end date, if so what are they?:
BL: There is no end date to this project. I plan to continue to make pillowcases past my Bar Mitzvah.
MM: Why did you decide to take on this particular project/charity?
BL: I was inspired by my home and careers teacher and class in 6th grade and the sewing club I joined that year. While waiting for projects to be shipped, the entire club worked on learning how to measure, sew and complete pillowcases that were all donated to the local chapter of ConKerr Cancer. In 7th grade, October 2013, I began thinking about how I could participate in a Mitzvah Project that would be meaningful to me. When I was 1-year old I had to spend 8 days as a patient in Stony Brook Hospital. My mom and dad were really scared and though I don’t remember it, I have pictures and can see how little I was when it happened. After going home, I had to have 6 weeks of IV antibiotics and a visiting nurse before another procedure. When I was 8-years old, the doctors realized a piece of my IV port had been left in and I had to have a small surgery to remove it and that I do remember that, it was scary. Also, my Bubbe is a cancer survivor and is currently undergoing treatment. So, I combined my interest of crafts and sewing and rolled that together with the desire to do something to help ease the experience of a kids hospital stay.
Ben hard at work on his sewing machine
MM: In your own words, what does it mean to you to do a Mitzvah Project for your Bar Mitzvah?
BL: It feels good to know that someone who is sick may get the feeling of help and support from a complete stranger. I don’t need them to know it was me who made them a pillowcase. Hopefully the designs, patterns and soft fabrics will bring them smiles and happiness.
MM: What are you doing to spreading the word?
BL: Since the fall, I have been asking family and friends for help. I sent out flyers at my synagogue and left a laundry basket for collections. My mom displayed a flyer in the school where she works. Throughout the months, my mom posted status updates to her Facebook account along with photos and this seems to have generated the most buzz and support! Whenever we have company I make sure to pull out my bucket of completed projects, and spread the word. Close friends immediately reacted and brought over fabric, others sent notes and cash. We set up a small production line in our dining room. A sweatshop in Saint James was born! Over 25 families have already contributed to the more than 100 completed pillowcases so far.
MM: For how long can people donate to this charity?
BL: You can make donations directly to www.conkerrcancer.org or contact the local coordinator if you want to drop off fabrics that are 100% cotton. There are chapters in many states.
MM: Anything else we need to know about your Mitzvah Project?
BL: At first I planned to make 50 pillowcases but since my mom helps to cut the fabrics sometimes, I have exceeded my first goal and now I hope to have finished at least 125 by October 2014.
We thank Ben for sharing this terrific Mitzvah Project with our readers. If your child has a past, present or future Mitzvah Project that you would like to share, reach us at info@MitzvahMarket.com.
