Category Archives: Articles

Book of Memories

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

A Photo Album Isn’t Just About Capturing The Big Day. The Right Photographer Can Help You Create A Family Heirloom To Be Passed Down for Generations To Come

By Sarah Merians

What is an heirloom? Is it something of monetary value passed down a family tree? Must it be a grand painting or an article of designer clothing? Or is it simply a sentimental and significant piece of a family’s story? An heirloom need not be a pricey antique, only a beautiful piece of “life art” to cherish. A bar or bat mitzvah album can be handed down just as a grandparent hands down a piece of jewelry that has been in the family for years. Read more »

Question: Will Planning Your Party Be A Marathon Or A Sprint?

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

Answer: Probably Somewhere In Between. But This Timeline Will Help You Get To The Finish Line On Time

Time, as they say, creeps up on you, and the secret of a successful event is to be organized. The more you do in advance, the more relaxing the last week leading up to your simcha will be. Here are some tips to get you started on the journey:

2-3 years before:

• Set the date at your synagogue.

• Start thinking about what this rite of passage means to your family and your child and what type of celebration you want to have. Read more »

Planning the Right Bar Mitzvah for Your Family

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

Everything You Need To Know —From Creating A Memorable Ceremony To Choosing From The Latest Party Trends

By Bethany Kandel

When did you first picture your child standing up on the bimah, reading from the Torah on his or her bar/bat mitzvah day? Perhaps it was when you first discovered you were pregnant? Maybe it was at your son’s bris, or your daughter’s baby naming? Or maybe it was even the day of your sonogram, when you watched that perfect little heart beating on the black and white screen and your mind fast-forwarded right through teething and the terrible twos to the first day of school, learning to ride a bike and that important religious coming-of-age ritual. Read more »

Been There, Done That

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

Advice From Parents Who’ve Been Through It All—From Planning The Big Day To Appreciating One Of The Most Significant Passages In Their Child’s Life

By Marla J. Wasserman

Just as a new mother collects advice on everything from pediatricians to strollers, when you are planning your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, it can be helpful to talk to others who’ve already been through the process. So we asked and, almost universally, parents said that the most important part of having a memorable experience wasn’t about getting everything just perfect, but about savoring every moment and staying true to what the day is really about. Read more »

To Israel, With Love

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

A New York Woman Take Her Family Back To Hero “Home Country” To Show Them The True Meaning Of Being Jewish

By Aiden Teplitzky Dobens, Max Dobens and Jacky Teplitzky

Closing a circle. Understanding an historic land. A special time for a mother, father and sons. When Jacky Teplitzky decided to travel to Israel this past August, it was the longed-for realization of a dream to introduce the land that she loved and where she lived for nearly 20 years—from the age of 10, when she and her family emigrated to Israel from their native country of Chile, to the age of 29—to her American-born husband and children. Read more »

Beyond the Tzedakah Box

Posted by Mitzvah Mag on May 10, 2011 No comments

One Of The Most Rewarding Parts Of A Bar Or Bat Mitzvah Is Finding A Special Way To Give Back

By Meira Maierovitz Drazin

So much about a bar or bat mitzvah is about planning for the big day. And while that means choosing a venue, a caterer and entertainment, among other things, it also means thinking carefully about how to infuse the celebration with special significance. Or, in other words, putting the mitzvah back into bar mitzvah. Increasingly, many tweens are engaging in special mitzvah projects, from raising money for charity organizations to integrating special touches into their ceremony or reception, to make tzedakah a meaningful part of their bar or bat mitzvah experience. Read more »