Evan's Bar Mitzvah Celebration!

Evan’s bar mitzvah was both a beautiful coming of age celebration and an epic party!

I love photographing B’nai Mitzvahs and celebrating with young folks as they come into their own as a full member of their community! Plus if you’ve never seen 13-15 year olds partying harder than you ever have in your entire life, it’s a treat, and so fun to be among all that energy!

Evan’s Mitzvah project (a community service or social action project undertaken by a Jewish child celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, allowing them to express their Jewish values by making a positive impact on their community at large) was focused helping people experiencing housing and/or food insecurity secure food for their beloved pets. How cool is that?! As a fellow animal lover and vegetarian, I was absolutely inspired and love seeing young adults look for ways to engage like this!

After the Bar Mitzvah ceremony, held at Temple Beth El in Madison, the party got underway at the Memorial Union South, and speaking of energy, WOW did Vibe Entertainment rock the house! They literally had hype dancers (not that the kids needed much help in the energy department)! And to top the evening off, Bucky Badger came to party as well!

Enjoy the photos of this amazing celebration of youn adulthood and community, and help me wish Evan and his family a big congratulations!

—Sam

Here are the vendors that helped make this important celebration awesome!

Temple: Temple Beth El

Reception Venue: Memorial Union South

DJ: Vibe Entertainment

Florist: daffodil*parker

Jordan's Bat Mizvah

A COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE A COMING OF AGE

For a non-religious person, I’ve always had a tender spot in my heart for B’Nai Mitzvahs. I think there is something so solid, supportive, and loving about a community coming together to celebrate a coming of age, and helping a young adult to understand not only their place in their community and in their faith, but how they contribute positively to the world at large. These events are always a highlight in my year and Jordan’s Bat Mitzvah was no exception.

Jordan celebrated with friends and family on August 20th and the party following the ceremony, held at the Hillel Foundation on the UW-Madison campus was a blast!

Congrats to Jordan and her family on such a joyous occasion!

-Sam

Meika's Bat Mitzvah

A Community Coming Together to Celebrate a Coming of Age

For a non-religious person, I’ve always had a tender spot in my heart for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. I think there is something so solid, supportive, and loving about a community coming together to celebrate a coming of age, and helping a young adult to understand not only their place in their community and in their faith, but how they contribute positively to the world at large. These events are always a highlight in my year and Meika’s Bat Mitzvah was no exception.

Meika celebrated with friends and family on April 6th, and the party following the ceremony, held at the Hillel Foundation on the UW-Madison campus was a blast! Also, check out the donut wall, hand-made by one of Meika’s grandfathers!

Congrats to Meika and her family on such a joyous occasion!

-Sam