May 4th, 2020
With so many Bar and Bat Mitzvah services now being held at home or virtually due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, a very interesting question was recently posed in several of Mitzvah Market’s regional
Bar Bat Mitzvah Planning groups on Facebook.
“What is the new etiquette for gift giving when a Bar/Bat Mitzvah child is having a zoom service taking place now, and the party later in the year or next year? Are people sending a small gift now, and then a traditional monetary gift for the future celebration?”
While there are no hard and fast rules for this new normal, the consensus is that a Bar Bat Mitzvah gift should recognize the child’s accomplishment on the day of their Bar or Bat Mitzvah service. “The whole entire point is the service. This is the event they have prepared for and worked towards,” said one parent in our
DC/Maryland/Virginia Planning Group. “That accomplishment is what we are celebrating. If the service is happening now and you want to give a gift, there is no reason to wait for a party.”
A parent in the
New Jersey Planning Group, who agreed with giving a gift at the time of the service, added, “So much about the next year is unknown. These parties may not happen or they may have to be much reduced in scale… Should the party come to fruition, it might be nice to give a small token but it certainly isn’t expected or necessary.”
That being said, a gift is appreciated whenever it is received — especially at times like these! “I have been advising clients that a gift can be mailed at anytime and certainly brought to the celebration later,” advised one Mitzvah vendor in our
Boston Area Planning Group.
For more advice and ideas on planning a Bar Bat Mitzvah during the Coronavirus Pandemic, visit Mitzvah Market’s 17 regional Facebook groups where thousands of parents are sharing information. Join here.
April 27th, 2020
By Chloe Rehfield
There is no better way to personalize a Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration than with a great logo. It’s the perfect way to brand your party and make it unique. These customized – often clever — logos, which can showcase your child’s name, initials, or even their passions and favorite colors, can be printed on anything and everything, from invitations to napkins, sign-in boards to decals on the dance floor. And when you put them on the giveaways, guests get to take it home as a memento of the celebration.
Even if you don’t have initials that spell out something cute — think OMG or LOL — the experts can create a logo that’s yours alone.
Mitzvah Market consulted party planning and design professionals about ways to make your logo stand out:
Colors Are Everywhere
In the past couple of years, designers have seen some new requests. “We are seeing a trend towards watercolors, monograms, and solid colors for logos, vs themes,” says Stephanie Feldman from Cutie Patootie Creations. A Knicks fan, for instance, might choose to have his name backdropped against blues and oranges, instead of transposed over a basketball. These colors will tie together the entire party aesthetic and be incorporated into the tablecloths, napkins, and centerpieces, thus letting the party more subtly revolve around the colors, rather than the sport itself.
Stephanie Steinberg from Party Logo Design says she’s noticed the color trend becoming popular particularly with girls. Many are switching from themes like Alice in Wonderland or Dubble Bubble to “more sophisticated and simple color schemes.”
“I recently did a logo for a girl named Lyndsey who started out wanting a dance theme but ended up deciding that she wanted pink and silver with just her name and the date,” says Steinberg, who even made an animated logo to be used in the montage.
“Thirteen is a unique age, as they are walking a tightrope between childhood and adolescence,” Steinberg says. “As their 13th birthday approaches, they decide that they want to embrace a more sophisticated persona.”
Glitter and iridescent colors are top trends, and rose gold is a new fav, according to Ali Weitzman of MitzvahLogos.com. She also says that watercolor designs are hot with teens this Bar/Bat Mitzvah season. “They offer a more sophisticated take on color and allow for an amazing way to brand the party. Watercolor or even iridescent patterns look great both inside the text of the logos or reversed and used as background images.”
Initials and Puns
“Many kids are looking to use their initials in their logos instead of their full name to create cooler swag,” says Weitzman. “We love when kids hop on the design trend and want to create a design using their initials similar to Tiger Woods and Lebron’s logos.”
It’s also “super hot,” she says, to have the design be the main focus. “Think lips or lightning bolts with small initials on the bottom vs. the initials being the main focus of attention.
One of the most popular ways to create a personalized logo is to bounce off and incorporate your child’s name to come up with a witty tagline. Event planner Melisa Imberman, from The Event Of A Lifetime, has done several: Ryan used RYdicidulous Night as the theme and logo for her party and Lauren used the catchphrase SpectacuLAUR Day.
Using initials as groundwork for a great logo takes some creativity. FabuDesigns.com came up with Alex ’s Party to the AM (her initials are AM), Carly’s the siCKest night, and Shayna’s juSt paRty.
Branding
A great logo is the only pièce de résistance you need. “The logo is going to become the centerpiece of your décor,” says Imberman. “When you brand the whole room, you’re making a cohesive statement between décor and giveaways and having your image on everything.”
Imberman worked with one client who went above and beyond in terms of branding his party. He wanted to incorporate sports, but instead of basketball star cutouts lining the room, he went for concession stand-style food with his logo branded on mini pizza boxes, taco holders, hamburger and hot dog trays, cups, popcorn containers, even the napkin dispensers. Who needs the Knicks when you can be your own incredible team?
Multiple Logos
According to Steinberg, a coordinated set of multiple logos takes branding to a whole new level, adding dimension to the party aesthetic.
“I think having multiple logos really makes the party décor more interesting while still giving it the look of being coordinated,” says Steinberg. “Also, it looks great as a step and repeat backdrop for photos.”
A monogrammed logo with a child’s three initials, for instance, could be the party’s main emblem, and then stamped throughout the room would also be a monogrammed logo with only one or two coordinated initials.
The guest of honor can choose a variation of name puns and work those throughout the party as well. One family Imberman worked with had a daughter named Bailey Goodman. The main logo was B Good Man, and from there, offshoot taglines: B Nice, B Creative, B Friendly. Artistically working logos like these can be a special way to convey a message.
In order to seamlessly tie together these logos, static clings come in handy; they’re large, removable decals that feature your child’s logo and can go on glass doors, bathroom mirrors, or even the entire dance floor. Clings are essential if you’re branding the party with multiple logos and you need a big tie-in. These huge stickers are easy to put on and peel off, and they definitely make a memorable statement.
If you’re still having trouble coming up with a creative logo for your child, work with your designer to help get your creative juices flowing. Imberman, for example, sends pictures of past logos to clients who are stuck and asks them to dissect what they like and dislike about them. The company then designs a few logos based on these preferences, and the client chooses their favorite one, tweaking it until it’s spot on.
Sites like mitzvahlogos.com and cutiepatootiecreations.com have a large selection of premade templates you can choose from and then customize with your own colors, name, and date to help you achieve your perfect vision.
Get your FREE copy here.
April 20th, 2020
Social distancing and stay-at-home orders continue in this pandemic environment. Spring Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations have been postponed, but what if you are still in planning mode? There are a number of ways you can feel productive when it comes to your Bar Bat Mitzvah planning.
1. The Guest List
Now is a good time to pull your list together. Knowing approximately how many guests you are inviting (both adults and kids) is the first step to choosing your Bar or Bat Mitzvah venue. MitzvahOrganizer.com allows you to keep all the details of your service and celebration in one place. It’s easy to create or upload Excel lists you may have already started.
2. Montage Photos & Videos
Pulling together photos and videos for your child’s montage is a tedious process, one that needs lots of time. Time is what you have right now, so go through your photos and start grouping them together. Here’s more information on How To Organize Your Montage Photos.
3. Design
As you know, logos and phrases are a very popular way to brand your event. Families are cleverly using their child’s name, initials, or last name. Take a look at this story, How To Think Of A Clever Logo for some inspiration.
4. Bar and Bat Mitzvah Venues
If your celebration is being rescheduled or if you have not yet decided on a Bar Bat Mitzvah venue, you can still look at locations. Many venues listed in our Vendor Directory offer virtual tours. Take a look from the comfort of your home; then contact the venue to ask questions.
5. Virtual Meetings
Just because you can’t go to in-person meetings doesn’t mean you can’t meet with Bar Bat Mitzvah vendors and move the planning along. With today’s technology, many vendors are able to conduct virtual meetings via Zoom, Facetime or other platforms to show you their products/services.
Other Bar Bat Mitzvah planning parents are another great resource while you’re stuck at home! Join one of Mitzvah Market’s 17 regional Facebook groups to ask questions, share ideas and more. Sign up here.
March 28th, 2020
Two year’s ago the Przybisiki family celebrated their daughter Samantha’s Bat Mitzvah with a “Live, Laugh, Love” theme. They had hoped to share their son Jason’s Bar Mitzvah with Mitzvah Market this spring, however the coronavirus outbreak required them to change their plans.
Originally scheduled for March 21, 2020, Jason and his family postponed his celebration. With the help of Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar from Temple Shalom in Norwalk, Connecticut, they were still able to hold his Bar Mitzvah service that day in their backyard! Now they’re sharing their experience with our readers to offer ideas and inspiration to other families in the same situation.
Photo above (L-R) dad Eric, Bar Mitzvah boy Jason, sister Samantha, mom Jodi.
Below is mom Jodi’s first-hand account:
House Call From Our Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar
Although we had to postpone Jason’s originally planned Bar Mitzvah service and the celebration that would have followed, Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar agreed to come to our home so Jason could become a Bar Mitzvah on his original date. She brought a Torah, we set up a table in our backyard and we maintained social distancing requirements. To say we are proud of Jason is an understatement; he rocked his Torah portion and Haftarah! To say we are blessed is even more of an understatement. Although more than six feet apart, the warmth of our Rabbi was felt as if she was up close.
The Przybisiki family and Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar
Dad Eric presenting Jason with his tallit on behalf of his Grammy and Pop Pop who could not attend due to the risk of the coronavirus
Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar begins Jason's service from six feet away
Jason reads from the Torah
Jason uses the Yad (Torah pointer) that he made in Hebrew School
Sister Samantha reading the first Aliyah
The Pennington’s (Meghan, Rob and kids Lauren and Nick) made the backyard service extra special from an over 6 foot distance
Guest List
Our 180 originally expected guests became just 4, but 4 of the most special friends we could ask for, again, keeping our distance, but so close to our hearts. Although we missed close friends and family being with us, it was a beautiful service, and we can’t thank Rabbi Cantor Shirah Sklar and our dear friends, the Penningtons, enough for their love and support in making the day so special for our family.
Additional Thoughts
Times are tough and uncertain right now, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and Saturday that light shone brightly on our family. We still look forward to celebrating with all of our friends and family when this is behind us, but in a dark time we found peace and meaning where it wasn’t expected. We hope others in our situation can find that as well.
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Mazel Tov to the Przybisiki family and we thank them for sharing their backyard Bar Mitzvah service with our readers!
Read about Zack’s virtual Bar Mitzvah service during the coronavirus here.
Thousands of Bar and Bat Mitzvah families are sharing information and ideas about virtual Mitzvahs, re-booking their celebrations and more in Mitzvah Market’s 17 regional Facebook groups. Join here.
March 9th, 2020
By Nesya Bayewitz
Instead of having the typical fancy Bat Mitzvah party, I thought about what becoming a Bat Mitzvah actually means. Bat Mitzvahs aren’t only about having a pretty dress and a fancy party, but they’re about becoming an adult in Jewish law. This means you now are obligated to do mitzvot and follow the Torah.
I thought, what a perfect way to celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah by actually doing a mitzvah. My mitzvah was a 10-mile bike ride to raise money for the Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Northern New Jersey Kosher Meals on Wheels program. JFCS provides food to homebound seniors and other people who aren’t able to go to the grocery store.
My family and I have been going on this bike ride since I was eight years old. I love it, because while doing what I love – biking – I also get to do a chesed. At the ride last year, I saw ten boys riding their bikes for someone’s Bar Mitzvah chesed and thought, “I want to do that too, but I want to bring all of my friends.”
My parents contacted JFCS about idea, and they were thrilled. I became part of the JFCS Bike Committee and went to meetings with my mom to help plan the bike ride. We got to learn a ton about JFCS.
A few weeks before my Bat Mitzvah, one of the Kosher Meals on Wheels volunteers, Rich Feldman, took me on his route to deliver meals to seniors. This was a really special experience. Throughout our trip delivering meals, I discovered that not all the seniors are necessarily poor; they just can’t leave their apartments to buy food. I also realized that there are people right in our neighborhood who need this food, and it’s our job to help them. The seniors we visited were so appreciative of the meals and the visits, and I felt so proud to be part of this chesed.
On the Shabbat before the bike ride, I spoke at my shul about my experience with JFCS and Kosher Meals on Wheels. I told the congregation about how small acts of chesed are what keep the Jewish people alive and strong. This is the lesson of the menorah in the Mishkan – just like Aharon and the kohanim lit the menorah day in and day out, the mitzvot that we do behind the scenes are what matter the most.
When the day of my Bat Mitzvah finally arrived, 60 friends and 40 family members joined me at the JFCS Ride to Fight Hunger (www.RidetoFightHunger). Some of my friends’ parents signed up too because they wanted to be part of this mitzvah. Before the ride, we all davened with siddurim we made for the occasion.
Although a lot of friends were planning on only doing part of the route, EVERYONE ended up riding all ten miles.
The Bayewitz family at the JFCS bike ride
Nesya and her family and friends ride for a cause and celebrate her Bat Mitzvah
Surrounded by friends and family, Nesya was all smiles when it came time to celebrate with her Bat Mitzvah cake
Nesya and her family at her Bat Mitzvah service
Some people asked me why I didn’t want a typical party. My answer: “This ride is a party.” After the ride was over, there was a DJ, games, and a barbeque. I got all the special parts of a Bat Mitzvah (friends, family, a song written by my friends, etc.) all wrapped in chesed.
My team ended up raising $18,000, including my parents’ sponsorship for all the riders who came as our guests and the generous donations made by family and friends. After riding for JFCS, my grandfather, who is retired, is now signing up to deliver Kosher Meals on Wheels. Because the food delivery time is during the school day, I hope to stay connected with JFCS and deliver meals when I’m older. A lot of my friends had such a great time that they’re planning to bring their families to the ride next year. I hope I can continue to raise awareness about food insecurity and people who need our help, and show people that you can have fun while doing a chesed.
Nesya is a 7th grader from Teaneck, NJ. For more information about Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Northern New Jersey, visit jfcsnnj.org.
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February 27th, 2020
Your first big decision’s about your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration, will involve the venue, DJ and photographer. As you get closer to your date, you will start thinking about the Bar or Bat Mitzvah decorations.
The options are endless and we are providing inspiration with a look at some of our readers most creative centerpieces! These cool Bar and Bat Mitzvah decorations were inspired by diverse themes and they create a visual atmosphere that sets the mood for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah party.
Animal Theme Centerpieces
An adorable dog themed celebration with a table for gifts and a sign, "Drop It." See more from this celebration
here
These animal cut-out centerpieces were a big hit! See more from this celebration
here
The light-up animal print centerpieces created a night club feel. See more from this celebration
here
These 3D arrangements included colorful tropical fish. See more from this celebration
here
Art Theme Centerpieces
The Bat Mitzvah girl's artwork was used as a centerpiece for the adult tables filled with beautiful flowers. See more from this celebration
here
LED colored pencil centerpieces. See more from this celebration
here
Baking/Candy/Food Theme Centerpieces
The Bat Mitzvah mom created all the centerpieces herself using mannequins. This is the "selfie mannequin" featuring photos of the guest of honor. See more from this celebration
here
Lighter Than Air Events created these 3D centerpieces for a girl with a sweet tooth!
See more from this celebration
here
For a candy themed Bat Mitzvah, the mom created amazing centerpieces.
See more from this celebration
here
The Bat Mitzvah girl loves Oreo cookies and wanted to design the decor around them.
See more from this celebration
here
These delicious looking centerpieces were for the adult tables! Each table was a different cupcake flavor.
See more from this celebration
here
Camp Theme Centerpieces
This ballroom was tranformed into a glamourous "glamping" afternoon incorporating beautiful bunk centerpieces, lighting and floral arrangements. See more from this celebration
here
Wooden barrel pedestals and plant centerpieces decorated the tables.
See more from this celebration
here
On the adult side, each table was designated as an area of the summer camp. Bright over-sized centerpieces made everything distinctive. Here’s the "Rest Hour" table See more from this celebration
here
Fashion/Sneaker Theme Centerpieces
White Light Photography and Video perfectly captured the centerpiece style of this table.
See more from this celebration
here
A Chanel inspired theme for Chloe. See more from this celebration
here
For this "Fashionable Travel" theme Bat Mitzvah, beautiful floral centerpieces were created atop shoe boxes. See more from this celebration
here
The kids' tables included favor bags with Lauren's "vineyard levines" logo.
See more from this celebration
here
Flower/Garden Theme Centerpieces
LED custom flower boxes looked beautiful on the tables incorporating the logo. See more from this celebration
here
For this rodeo themed party some of the centerpieces were tall faux cactus with wildflowers in assorted containers. See more from this celebration
here
In honor of the Bat Mitzvah girl’s name, Lily, the party decor, food and details included flowers. See more from this celebration
here
This Garden of Eden themed Bat Mitzvah brought in the scents of nature brought indoors with candlelight, moss and orchids that covered the base of the trees. See more from this celebration
here
Hollywood/TV Shows/Book Centerpieces
For a chic and modern take on a James Bond theme, Extraordinary Productions created a center briefcase that was trimmed with Jake's 0013 logo. See more from this celebration
here
3-D Alice in Wonderland character centerpieces on the kids' tables.
See more from this celebration
here
A Harry Potter fan created long tables just like the ones that the Hogwarts students sit at in the Great Hall.
See more from this celebration
here
The red and black color palette created the perfect Hollywood drama.
See more from this celebration
here
Sports Theme Centerpieces
The kids' tables for this vintage baseball themed party had alternating centerpieces: vintage soda boxes and wheat grass, styled to resemble turf and baseball bats. See more from this celebration
here
Blue orchids and real basketballs were used on sculptural centerpieces for a Bat Mitzvah with a basketball theme from Flower Power Designs.
See more from this celebration
here
3D ski themed photo cube centerpieces incorporated great pictures of the Bar Mitzvah boys on the slopes. See more from this celebration
here
For a major sports fan, Hi-Tech Events took pictures of the guest of honor in his various uniforms and created awesome sports centric centerpieces. See more from this celebration
here
EK Productions created cocktail table centerpieces for a tennis fan using tall cylinders with lampshades.
See more from this celebration
here
Each table was named for a ski trail with custom plaid napkins at each place setting for this ski themed B'nai Mitzvah.
See more from this celebration
here
You can also ask questions and get advice about centerpieces and more in our regional Facebook groups. Join here.
February 16th, 2020
Thank you to all our readers who are on Pinterest and follow Mitzvah Market’s boards. Pinterest.com is another great resource to find all type of ideas for your event for your child’s Bar Bat Mitzvah.
We have over 58 boards where we regularly “pin” great Bar Bat Mitzvah ideas to share with our readers. If you aren’t on Pinterest.com, you can still see some of our favorite pins!
See below for our Top Pins:
OUR TOP 10 PINS
Follow our Pinterest boards, we will follow you back!
February 16th, 2020
By Amy Fish
A Different Look For Every Party Without Breaking The Bank
When Jen Forman’s daughter Charlotte was nearing Bat Mitzvah age, she wanted a new dress for every party. “Sometimes there would be two, three Bar/Bat Mitzvahs the same weekend!” says the founder and CEO of Charlotte’s Closet, an online store that rents designer dresses to teens and tweens.
Pictured above are a few looks from Charlotte’s Closet (L-R): Un Deux Trois, worn by Zelda in a black A-line dress, Ella is wearing an ombre bandage dress by Jolene and Goldie has on a Jolene deep blue dress with strappy detail.
Like many parents of young girls, Forman had to find a way to combine her daughter’s love of fashion and her budding independence, with Forman’s own needs for a manageable price and reduced shopping time. And so, five years ago, she launched the Charlotte’s Closet website. Last year, she opened a corresponding store in Port Washington. With Charlotte’s Closet, girls have access to a communal clothing rack with hundreds of designer dresses that they can borrow. They can pick several dream outfits online and get them delivered right to their door, all for one flat fee. When the parties are over, they simply pack them up and send them back.
Their slogan: Rent It! Rock It! Return It! There are several different options to choose from, ranging from a one time rental for the girl who needs a special gown, to the “Endless Closet,” where those with a packed social calendar can borrow several designer dresses for a month.
It’s a lot greener than having an overstuffed closet and there’s no need to wear the same dress twice, says Forman.
Alas, that’s the dilemma many girls face today: what to wear when you’re invited to dozens of parties with the same people during one Bar/Bat Mitzvah season. You want different looks, but you don’t have a bottomless budget. Hence the popularity of Charlotte’s Closet.
(L-R) Blush pink bandage dress by Jolene, Blue ombre version of same Jolene dress, royal blue and black bebe mini dress
There are other ways to have a runway of styles, colors, and trends without repeating a look or breaking the bank. Here are some ideas:
• Have a dress and accessories swap with friends who don’t share all the same social circles. Trade what no longer fits or isn’t your fav, for something someone else wants to give up. It won’t cost you a dime to get many new outfits.
• Upcycle. Repurpose what you have: shorten a long dress, take the sleeves off a top, or add a lace trim to a mini, and voilà, you have a whole new look. If you’re crafty you can do this yourself; if not, a tailor can help for a fraction of the price of buying something new.
• Check out resale, consignment, and thrift shops for a cache of dresses, accessories, scarves, belts, and other items to change up your look at bargain prices. Some stores like Buffalo Exchange even sell new, current-trend, tags-on garments.
Want a different look for every party? Switch things up. The little black dress (LBD), for example is a blank slate. Add a sparkly belt and some fun costume jewelry one night, and then a sequined or furry bolero jacket over it to another party. No one will be wiser that the LBD is the same. Or step out in animal print ballet flats and matching shawl and then trade them out for trendy boots and a coordinated clutch with a pop of color.
Animal prints, metallics, and navy are all the rage in girl’s attire, says Andrea Forbes, area manager for Lester’s stores. Plus, hair accessories are hot. “Headbands, scrunchies, and clips can help you. change your look. Wear your hair up or down with a headband that coordinates or contrasts with your outfit. Add color or texture with one in velvet or plaid, rhinestones, or grommets.”
Make sure your wardrobe has a few great pieces that can be rotated, advises Forbes. Have separates — a skirt and two tops – a dressy jumpsuit, and a couple of dresses in different shapes including straight, fit and flare, and bandage.
Be creative with accessories, suggests Esther Fortunoff, president of Fortunoff Fine Jewelery. “Girls change their look these days by adding big gold hoops in an ‘80s revival, or they add lots of stacking bracelets. You can do them in silver, gold, or mix with blackened metals. Wear a big blingy pendant of cubic zirconium. There’s a whole rainbow of costume jewelry,” she says.
“Girls are also layering lots of fine gold necklaces of different lengths, some with tiny diamonds, little bars, or gemstones. You can even raid your mom’s jewelry box.”
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January 20th, 2020
By Jared Schwartz
Tradition, family, and giving back has been a big part of my life since day one. Yet, it’s only recently that I truly understood its importance.
From a young age I have been attending my family’s Adam Scott Weiss (ASW) Cares for Kids fundraisers year after year. When I was as young as five, I never really understood the meaning behind them. To me, it was just a fun party, as I would see family and friends, eat good food, and ask the DJ to play my favorite songs. However, I will never forget sitting at family dinners and hearing everyone discussing ways to improve the fund, and planning for the upcoming year. During these years of repeating these traditions I began to understand what this was all about.
My mom’s oldest brother, Adam, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when he was 10 and she was 7. As you’d expect, Adam spent many days in the hospital, and time passed quite slowly. Adam had nothing but a hospital bed and a tiny TV in his room at NYU Langone Medical Center. Few toys, games, and books could be found in the hospital playroom. Not only was this terrible for the children in the hospital, but boring for my mom and my uncles, who would always visit Adam for extended periods of time on the weekends.
Unfortunately, Adam passed away at age 12, which left my mom, grandparents, and uncles devastated. But sitting there, just being sad wouldn’t help anyone; it couldn’t be an option. So, after mourning, they created ASW Cares for Kids, a family foundation. The mission was to make sick kids’ lives more enjoyable and help them and their families pass time faster while they’re undergoing treatment as a patient in the hospital. Drawing on their experience while Adam was in the hospital for so many weeks, they began to transition the 9th floor of NYU Medical Center into a more child-friendly environment; adding a functional playroom, media center, library, a pantry where a family can warm a home cooked meal, and a treatment room for invasive procedures with an elaborate fish tank and movie screen to distract the children during these painful treatments.
When I began to study for my Bar Mitzvah and the cantor spoke to our class about a Mitzvah Project, it was very obvious to me what I would do. As I always knew that diagnosis of a sick child cannot be helped, however the way a sick child goes about their day can. So, I spoke with the Supervisor for Pediatric Services at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and we brainstormed ideas. She told me that bubbles, Play-Doh, Uno, other card games, and crayons are items that are always needed for the children. Because they are concerned about spreading germs, these are single use items and they can never be shared.
After that conversation, my mom and I had a card printed up to be enclosed with my Bar Mitzvah invitation asking all my guests to kindly bring some of these items with them on May 11th. With that, the Amazon deliveries to my house bringing boxes of Crayola, decks of cards, and bubbles were amazing! Friends from Florida and Massachusetts, who were unable to attend but wanted to help, sent as much as they could.
And then, coming home from my party with eight boxes full of the requested items made my whole Bar Mitzvah experience worth it. Knowing and hearing from people and the child life specialists working at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital about how many kids’ lives and days were about to be made more enjoyable was so special to me and made it so worth my while.
Jared with some of the donations he collected for hospitalized kids
One lesson I’ve learned from studying my family’s organization and becoming a man in the Jewish religion officially at my Bar Mitzvah, is how to make the best out of everything that happens to you in your life. In fact, that was one of the main points I wrote about in my speech on my special day; if something in your life isn’t going right, don’t waste your time on that, find something else to do, or learn and grow with it. This is a lesson I am continuing to use and will take with me forever.
As I said, tradition is a big part of my life. One of my goals is to take the keys of this charity and inspire others, including, hopefully, my siblings and cousins. I hope to keep the tradition going, and someday give my own kids the gift of doing things in your life to benefit others that I was given at a young age. At the end of this Mitzvah Project, my wish is to expand on the mission to help hospitalized children and their families.
To give back will become my personal tradition.
Jared Schwartz is an 8th grader from West Harrison, NY. To learn more about ASW Cares for Kids, visit aswcaresforkids.org.
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January 11th, 2020
If you’re in planning mode for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you don’t want to miss this sale on premium lounge decor! Supreme Productionz Furniture and Décor Rental, based in Somerset, NJ, is holding their Warm Up to Winter sale and the savings are BIG!
Book by February 1, 2020 to lock in the following lounge package for $1,200:
2 high back white leather lounges
6 white leather ottomans
2 rectangular LED coffee tables
4 LED high boy tables with toppers
8 ghost bar stool chairs with tufted white leather cushions
1 circular lounge with center cone
Supreme Productionz will work with you to create the perfect décor layout to compliment your theme. See below to learn more about the sale and to see photos of their merchandise.
Learn more about Supreme Productionz Furniture and Rental Décor by visiting their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
