Spotlight

Thatcher Gross at his bar mitzvah service Nov. 14, 2020. His party was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and combined with his brother’s a year later. Oliver Gross at his bar mitzvah service Nov. 20, 2021.

THATCHER GROSS & OLIVER GROSS

B’NAI MITZVAH: NOV. 14, 2020 ANDNOV. 20, 2021 SYNAGOGUE: TEMPLE EMANU EL CELEBRATION: PINSTRIPES OFFICIANTS: RABBI STEVEN DENKER AND CANTOR DAVID MALECKI AGES: THATCHER, 15; OLIVER, 13 HOMETOWN: SOLON SCHOOLS: SOLON HIGH SCHOOL AND SOLON MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOOKING BACK, WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF YOUR WHOLE B’NAI MITZVAH EXPERIENCE?

Thatcher: During the pandemic, I didn’t get to spend much time in person with my friends. Since I had to wait a year after my service to celebrate, my favorite part was being able to spend time with my friends in person.

Oliver: My favorite part was being able to celebrate with my closest friends and spend time with friends I don’t spend a lot of time with. Also, being done with all the studying!

Tera Gross, mother: Being able to finally celebrate both my sons with all of our friends and family.

HOW DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECT THE B’NAI MITZVAH?

Tera Gross: Thatcher’s original bar mitzvah was May 2020, which we had to reschedule for November 2020. We were only able to have 10 people at the service and we had to cancel his party. Since Oliver’s date for November 2021 was already scheduled, we proposed doing a joint party to celebrate both of them together. Thatcher, who is now a freshman in high school, enjoyed finally celebrating his hard work from last year. And Oliver had an absolute blast.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER YOUNG ADULTS PREPARING FOR THEIR B’NAI MITZVAH?

Thatcher: Don’t let unexpected events or things outside your control bring you down or lessen your motivation.

Oliver: Study, study, study! Also, during the hora, trust that the people holding you up won’t drop you.