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B’nai Mitzvah and Jewish Weddings
November, 2004
Stars that Make a Party Sparkle
Every bar/bat mitzvah needs a bit of sparkle in the
choice of a menu, a theme, a ritual or a look. It’s that extra
oomph, that "ruach" (spirit!) that makes the party shine.
Here are a few fun, wide-ranging ideas from our book, to inspire you:
Kid-Friendly Décor that’s Comfortable
Create a cool kid’s area with rugs, comfy chairs
and tables just high enough for oversized pillow seating. For colors
and themes, think shaggy yellow and orange beanbags for a 60s style
Daniel and the Lion’s Den, smoky blue and brassy with congas and
cool shades for jazzy-clubby, hot pink and Chinese red with tabletop
lanterns and Mahjong tiles for Asian.
Share Traditions that Create Beautiful Moments
Taking a cue from an old Syrian custom, have your
child make a memorable entrance, escorted into the darkened celebration
space by friends holding votives to illumine the path. Or twist fragrant
lilacs around the chair that will hold your daughter for the Ashkenazi
chair dance.
Unique & Fun Entertainment & Themes
How about a stilt walker for a golem motif? A character
actor masquerading as the town matchmaker or as a Torah scribe turned
handwriting analyst? A fruit carver delighting kids with fancy mango
flowers? A "Who’s got Soul" dance contest? For an ice
hockey lover, an NHL theme (the National Hebrew League), with the bar
mitzvah boy as star player. His "goal" this year- his Hebrew
studies. Tablecloths with goalie net overlays, dance motivators in jerseys
emblazoned with names like Mazel and Tov, David and Goliath. God as
the goalie, with "shin" guards. A "Stanley Cup"
Kiddush.
Mitzvah Project Centerpieces
For donations to a charity called "Shoes That
Fit," assemble bright flower bouquets into small vases and tuck
them inside shiny kids’ rain boots in primary colors. Leave a
little card on the table describing the mitzvah project to your guests.
Use pyramids of Campbell’s soup cans (destined for a food bank)
accented with little bouquets of red and white zinnias set in empty
matching soup cans as vases.
Dazzling Food Presentation
Think thematic decorative buffets, such as a "Creation"
menu with stations for Ocean (fish), Earth (potatoes and grains), Garden
of Eden (salads) and Heaven (dessert, of course!). Serve food from old-fashioned
pushcarts—bagels, bialys and soft pretzels in shapes of Stars
of David, French fries in paper cones, or Belgian waffles with gourmet
ice creams served from a hand-cranked ice cream maker.
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