Reboots and Blessings
I am thinking of my family, friends, and neighbors in the Federal workforce, as are many others. The sudden loss of engaging in meaningful projects, connected colleagues, and a known compensation package is potentially a soul-staggering experience. This multilayered...
A Story About Pet Loss
My local friend texted early on Sunday morning. She had received an emergency call from a friend of a friend, looking for a rabbi who deal with the loss of a pet. My name was shared. An hour later I am on a call with a person in South Florida with a traumatic recent...
Venue Considerations
There is literally a world of venue options for your student’s ceremony and celebration. “Form follows function” is a helpful mindset to keep in mind when considering the venue. Here are some essential points to consider: Guest List size: Clearly this is an important...
Hebrew Language Skills and Using Phonetic Hebrew
Hebrew language skills add an important sense of identity along with capacity for a student celebrating b* mitzvah. The ability to see the letters’ connections between various words enhances understanding and meaning. The skills-and-drills training certainly operate...
Honors and Roles for Friends and Family
Incorporating family and dearest friends into the celebration adds layers of meaning. Having ones’ closest relationships recognized in the celebration are often occasions for joy, and sometimes occasions for stress. Extending an honor should be understood as an...
Extending the Mitzvah: Community Service, Tzedakah, and Hesed Projects
Generations of students celebrating their b* mitzvah have gone beyond the bimah (pulpit). They have taken explored the treasury of Jewish values, and applied their energy and attention to a worthy need. Often called “mitzvah projects” in the synagogue setting, the...
Harness Your Student’s Passion: Alternative B* Mitzvah Celebrations
Today’s adolescents have many interests and passions and their busy personal calendars reflect their commitment to their endeavors. Parents who manage their children’s schedules and logistics are well-aware how intense the time commitments can be. Often, there are...
Destination Travel B* Mitzvah: Israel and Beyond
The costs of a b* mitzvah celebration are almost exclusively a function of values and priorities. Some families look at the higher end of what the occasion can cost, and wonder if there is a better value for the expense. Destination travel b* mitzvah is an option for...
Friday Evening Torah Celebration
Placing a b* mitzvah on Friday evening strongly lends itself to a larger Friday night Shabbat experience. Starting Shabbat with the lighting of candles, joyous singing, and bringing a Shabbat dinner to the table will make the event memorable for all concerned. It also...
Saturday Evening Torah and Havdalah Celebrations
The Torah is read on Saturday afternoon during the brief minhah prayers, in an essential ceremony with three short readings. Following the conclusion of the afternoon service and a brief study session, the evening (ma’ariv) prayers are recited as night falls. These...