Preparing for the Bar or Bat Mitzvah
Before jumping into planning that extravagant affair, think about these pointers as you approach a bar or bat mitzvah (1-28-08)
By: Romi Sussman www.RomiSussman.comGetting ready for any major event in a family’s life is exciting. This is particularly so if the event marks a milestone for one of your children. A bar or bat mitzvah signifies a very important moment in the life of a child and one that you are, undoubtedly, anxious to do “right.”
The question, of course, is what does it mean to do it right? This is something very personal – and it’s vitally important for parents to remember this. Just because the neighbors invited The Village People to dance and sing at their affair (true story from my neighborhood) doesn’t mean that you need to find the next hottest band to attend yours. I’ve seen bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs that have run the gamut from circus acts and extravagant affairs to afternoon barbeques in the backyard. Both can be meaningful and important.
What you have to decide is how you want to mark this milestone. Look inside, rather than outside for these answers. Of course you’ll have to consult your pocket book as well – but that’s not really the question here. The question is how you want to mark the event and what you want to convey about your Judaism and your child.
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