Bar•Bat Mitzvah, Winter 2021 by Cleveland Jewish Publication Company

Periodical Supplement to Cleveland Jewish News, November 5, 2021

Mitzvah Bar•Bat

BARBATMAGAZINE.COM

WINTER 2021

CONNECTING &

CELEBRATING Families unite in religion, heritage for b’nai mitzvah events

one-of-a-kind

Mitzvah 14 Bar•Bat

WINTER 2021

CONTENTS

Periodical Supplement to Cleveland Jewish News, November 5, 2021

Mitzvah Bar•Bat

BARBATMAGAZINE.COM

WINTER 2021

CONNECTING &

CELEBRATING Families unite in religion, heritage for b’nai mitzvah events

On the cover: Elliana Berkowitz leads her bat mitzvah ceremony with Rabbi Matt Eisenberg of Temple Israel Ner Tamid in Mayfield Heights on Aug. 28, 2021 at her grandparents’ home. Cover photo by Gabe Feinberg.

An experience for the whole family Editor Amanda Koehn discusses the comeback of b’nai mitzvah celebrations for families

Looking Back Northeast Ohioans recall their b’nai mitzvahs and how they influenced their lives

Spotlights Elliana Berkowitz

Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

20 16

Interfaith families, interfaith solutions B’nai mitzvahs serve as learning opportunities for mixed families

Giving Back

Local venues offer creativity, beautiful backdrops, fun

Ask A Pro Planning tips from Northeast Ohio professionals on catering, desserts, entertainment, photography, stationery and the religious service

Teen themes Local vendors, centers allow celebrants to explore unique interests

Mitzvah project helps local families, cancer patients

Setting the Spot

Hora Jacey Simms celebrates her bat mitzvah party

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Left photo © New Image Photography Right photo © Dennis Crider Photography

Mitzvah Bar•Bat

AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY I’m excited to welcome the first issue of Bar•Bat Mitzvah in 2021, and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year. Although we published two issues of Celebrations – a special combined issue of Bar•Bat Mitzvah and Jstyle Weddings – in 2020 and 2021, it feels great to once again focus wholly on the coming-of-age ceremonies and celebrations that are slowly returning to Northeast Ohio. While some are still being cautious and planning their celebrations for later dates, as older children and teens are getting vaccinated, the parties are coming back in a measured way. As I’m writing this on Oct. 20, the White House today detailed its plan to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to meet and rule on authorizing the Pfizer shot for children within that age range soon, possibly giving way for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make recommendations on the shot in early November, The New York Times reported. It’s certainly possible this change could allow b’nai mitzvah celebrations to return at a faster pace. After all, many children celebrating the rite of passage have younger siblings who parents now likely fear will be left vulnerable attending any semblance of a party. The stories in this issue certainly demonstrate how a bar or bat mitzvah celebration is an important and triumphant day for the entire family. I encourage you to check out our Looking Back feature, where writer Jane Kaufman interviewed three well-known Northeast Ohioans about their memories of their big days decades ago. I was struck by the bar mitzvah story of Vladimir Lapin, who went on to become cantor at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood. After immigrating to Philadelphia as a refugee from Belarus, part of the former Soviet Union, Lapin and his family saw their first real opportunity to be involved in Jewish life. His bar mitzvah was one of the family’s first big steps in practicing Judaism – reclaiming the religion and culture they were unable to celebrate in their native country. When he became bar mitzvah at Temple Beth Ami, a Conservative synagogue in Philadelphia, he told Bar•Bat Mitzvah, “It was the first time that I publicly offered gratitude for my family and for the support we received

6 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Publisher & CEO Kevin S. Adelstein Vice President of Sales Adam Mandell Editor Amanda Koehn akoehn@cjn.org Design Manager Stephen Valentine Managing Editor Bob Jacob Controller Tracy DiDomenico Digital Marketing Manager Cheryl Sadler Events Manager Gina Lloyd Editorial McKenna Corson Jane Kaufman Alex Krutchik Becky Raspe Contributing Writers Ed Carroll Amy Richards Columbus Bureau Chief Stephen Langel

from the Philadelphia and the American community. I felt like this was a validation that I could create for my family in that moment.” Although Lapin certainly had a unique experience, I would expect that for many families, a bar or bat mitzvah of a child holds important significance and builds a connection to Jewish tradition for the entire family. The other stories in this issue echo that idea. For example, writer McKenna Corson caught up with Rabbi Melinda Mersack, director of jHUB, about how some interfaith families approach b’nai mitzvahs in ways that involve the whole family. And, as always, our Ask A Pro feature provides vital tips from professionals serving the b’nai mitzvah industry for how to go about the day in the best fashion possible, benefiting all involved. For those looking forward to such celebrations, I hope your entire family is able to feel connected to and joyful about the big day – all while celebrating safely and with health protocols in mind. And for those postponing, I hope the extra time leading up to the big day also offers a chance for your family to continue connecting to its own Jewish journey.

Amanda Koehn Editor

Custom Publishing Manager Paul Bram Sales & Marketing Manager Andy Isaacs Advertising Marilyn Evans Ron Greenbaum Adam Jacob Nell V. Kirman Sherry Tilson Design Jessica Simon Ricki Urban Digital Content Producer Alyssa Schmitt Business & Circulation Tammie Crawford Abby Royer Subscriber Services 216-342-5185/circulation@cjn.org Display Advertising 216-342-5191/adsales@cjn.org

VOL. 145 NO. 50 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS (ISSN-0009-8825) is published weekly with additional supplement issues in February, March, April, June, August, September, October, and twice in December, by The Cleveland Jewish Publication Company at 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380. Single copy $1.25. Periodicals Postage paid at Cleveland, OH and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Cleveland Jewish News, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380.

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LOOKING BACK Northeast Ohioans remember their bar or bat mitzvah

CANTOR VLADIMIR LAPIN By Jane Kaufman

or Cantor Vladimir Lapin and his family, his bar mitzvah ceremony wasn’t just a coming of age: It was a celebration of the family’s coming home to Judaism in a new world. Born in Gomel, Belarus, Lapin, now 40, immigrated to the United States with his family as refugees in 1989. The family was initially supported by Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the Joint Distribution Committee, as well as the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. He was 8 at the time. “My parents didn’t have any of that, given the Soviet life,” Lapin remembers, referring to Judaism in the home. There were no Jewish holidays, no Shabbat dinners in the Soviet Union, and his family did not bring any Judaica with them to the United States. “It was basically like starting Judaism anew.” Lapin attended Anne Frank Elementary School and Baldi Middle School, and graduated from George Washington High School, all public schools in Philadelphia. At the age of 9 or 10, he began attending Community Hebrew School in Philadelphia, a Hebrew School aligned with the Conservative movement. He also went to the Jewish community center’s day camp and later worked at Camp Levitties, both in Philadelphia. “My family started learning about what a bar mitzvah is,” Lapin says. Around the same time, his parents signed him up for a date at Temple Beth Ami, a Conservative synagogue in Philadelphia. “My parents were, and

my family was reclaiming our Judaism,” he recalls. “We were able to finally practice what we were, whereas we couldn’t do that in the Soviet Union. And so, kind of our first big step into being able to practice who we are as Jews was for me to have a bar mitzvah.” He says he enjoyed going to Community Hebrew School and JCC camp. “It was the communal aspect, being with other teens – other Jewish teens – learning about Jewish history, learning the Hebrew language,” Lapin recalls. “I always found that incredibly beautiful. And it just really laid a foundation of a love for Judaism. I think it remains obviously with me now.” Lapin, who now lives in University Heights, began his role as cantor at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood July 1, 2020. His tutoring sessions with the rabbi were “not the most positive experience,” he says. His Hebrew comprehension skills weren’t strong, and so he prepared a couple Haftarah verses and did not plan to chant Torah. “It was so hard for me to learn another language,” he says, adding that he picked up English fairly quickly, but mastering Hebrew presented challenges. “I remember sitting at home with the tapes and text, and really trying to memorize everything.” He led a couple of prayers at

Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Above: Vladimir Lapin enjoys a moment with his grandmother, Masha Rayfeld, at his bar mitzvah party at a Russian restaurant in Philadelphia. | Submitted photo. Below: Vladimir Lapin now serves as cantor at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood. | Mariana Edelman Photography & Design the service as well. Music, he says, was important to him from the time he was young and it was “important for myself and for my family for me to be able to sing from the bimah.” Lapin says he spent most of his prep time on his speech, which he saved. “It was the first time that I publicly offered gratitude for my family and for the support we received from the Philadelphia and the American community,” he says. “I felt like this was a validation that I could create for my family in that moment.” Lapin says, “In a way, I was leading the way,” adding that after his bar mitzvah, his father and he regularly attended synagogue together on festivals. “We had seders every year – that became a constant,” he recalls. “We started acquiring more and more Judaica in the house. All of a sudden, we had kiddush cups, and we had Shabbat candles, and we had all of those things we didn’t have before.” One moment sticks out in Lapin’s memory. Two weeks before his bar mitzvah, his rabbi asked him if he’d prefer to have a kiddush cup or a prayer book. Lapin chose a kiddush cup.

On the date of his bar mitzvah, the rabbi presented him with a prayer book. He recalls the disappointment he felt. “I still have this prayer book to this day,” Lapin says. “I have used this prayer book. It has remained with me. Even though I was disappointed at that moment, I feel like it was a sign.” As to the party, Lapin and his family celebrated in a traditionally Russian way. Lapin invited four friends and there were more than 40 family members present. They went to a Russian restaurant in the basement of a shopping center and ate a full Russian feast as a one-man band played keyboard and percussion. He recalls, “There was lots of vodka, lots of toasts, and just a really fun celebration.” BM

Mazel Tov on your big day!

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HALLIE ABRAMS By Jane Kaufman

or Hallie Abrams, becoming a bat mitzvah gave a sense of being different.

While Abrams grew up in University Heights, Lyndhurst and Pepper Pike, she attended Hawken School in Lyndhurst starting from kindergarten. “We were not flush with Jewish kids and bar and bat mitzvahs in the ‘80s at Hawken,” says Abrams, now 51. Social gatherings were more segregated as well, with three ballroom dancing schools in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland separately serving Catholic, Protestant and Jewish teens. Right about the time of her bat mitzvah, Abrams began attending Marilyn Bialosky’s dancing school, which met at the Masonic Hall on Lee Road at Mayfield in Cleveland Heights. Abrams remembers donning white gloves. She wasn’t sure what her non-Jewish classmates would think about her bat mitzvah. “What are they going to say about having to wear that thing on their head?” she remembers thinking at the time, referring to yarmulkes. Abrams shared her time on the bimah not only with her family and Rabbi Daniel Roberts, now rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu El in Orange, but also with a classmate from Temple Emanu El who went to Beachwood schools, Stephanie Gottlob. “I actually remember being very glad that I was sharing it with somebody, so I wasn’t the only one up there in the spotlight,” Abrams recalls. “I also vividly remember that I felt like I was standing on a hot plate.” She recognizes that sensation now as stage fright, but at the time didn’t understand what she was experiencing. “I was also very excited for my outfit because I think I was who I am back then even,” Abrams says. Now, she is The

Wardrobe Consultant, a personal stylist and fashion blogger who lives in Orange. Her next-door neighbor at the time was a master knitter, and Abrams went to the yarn store to pick out colors – taupe, lavender and coral – for a sweater the woman knit for the occasion. In addition, she and her mother found a fabric for a pleated skirt to match, made by a seamstress. “I was very into that. That was a big part of it,” Abrams recalls. “And I also remember that my feet were small, and it was hard to find shoes that would really fit me at that time.” Abrams learned the v’ahavta and read part of Leviticus 19, whose first verse she can still recite in Hebrew. She found it moving when her grandparents and parents passed the Torah from one to another and then to her, she says. “The party was very fun,” she says of the luncheon held in the ballroom of the University Club downtown. There was a kids’ side and an adults’ side. “The theme was frogs, ‘cause I liked frogs back then,” she says. Abrams says she spent weeks working with her aunt, Ellen Levine, making white, dark and milk chocolate in molds for the occasion. The tables had chocolate lily pads on them as well. Vichysoisse, the cold soup, was on the menu. And her father’s mother, Pearl Hurwitz, complained to Abrams’ mother that the soup was cold. Her bat mitzvah also marked the first time in her life when her groups of friends intersected with one another and with her family – including friends from Chincapin Camp in Kirtland, Hawken, Hebrew school and dancing school.

10 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Above: Hallie Abrams on the bimah at her bat mitzvah. Below: Hallie Abrams, left, with classmate Stephanie Gottlob and Rabbi Daniel Roberts, now rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu El in Orange. | Photos / DVD screenshots

“Everybody had at least one person they knew, but it wasn’t like just one cohesive group,” she recalls. Her mother told Abrams she needed to thank each of her guests. “I remember going table to table and thanking everybody for being there and having those kinds of conversations,” she says. Reflecting on the experience,

Abrams says, “You work hard towards it. It’s not easy to get up in front of people, especially at that age. But having done it, it instills in you the confidence to know that you won’t die.” BM Publisher’s note: Hallie Abrams is a columnist for the Cleveland Jewish News, the sister newspaper of Bar•Bat Mitzvah.

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ADAM HIRSH By Jane Kaufman

hen he was 9, Adam Hirsh remembers being on the bimah at his older brother’s bar mitzvah.

“Ethan’s the oldest grandchild – he’s the oldest in our generation,” Hirsh recalls, adding his brother’s bar mitzvah took place at Park Synagogue Main in Cleveland Heights in the domed main sanctuary. “It was a time that we were all up on the bimah together, which is really just amazing.” Three years later, it was his turn to lead and chant Torah and Haftarah on that tall, even “iconic” bimah, as he puts it. Hirsh, 35, was born in Cleveland and grew up in Lyndhurst, where he attended public schools, graduating from Brush High School in Lyndhurst. He was in the third generation in his family to attend Park Synagogue, where his grandmother, Lesley Hirsh, served on the executive committee. “Even up until her passing in 2020, she was still coordinating things like the flowers on the bimah, the food at the Purim carnival, the little things that only my grandmother could do so perfectly,” Hirsh recalls. In fact, once in 2017 – in his current professional role as executive director of Kent State University’s Hillel – Hirsh spoke to the sisterhood at Park Synagogue at a meal. Afterward, the members

asked Lesley Hirsh to lead the chanted grace after meals, known as the Birkat Hamazon. “She did so eloquently in tune, and they just all relied on her to provide that leadership to their group,” Hirsh recalls. Back at his bar mitzvah, Rabbi Joshua Skoff officiated with the late Cantor David Wolinsky, who was also Park’s ritual director. Hirsh remembers attending weekly tutoring sessions at what is now the Ratner School and at the time was Park Synagogue’s eastern campus. His grandparents – Lesley and Arthur Hirsh or Rita and Marvin Lockman – drove him to be tutored, and sometimes sat in on his lessons. Hirsh recalls Wolinsky fondly. “He was such a warm person,” Hirsh remembers. “Funny, but also full of Jewish wisdom and joy that it made you want to leave the service the best that you could as well.” Learning his Torah and Haftarah portions and chanting the Haftarah blessings were the most challenging parts for him. “It was learning how to sing and learning how to pray in a different way than I ever had growing up in school,” he says. Hirsh worked with Skoff on his d’var Torah. “I remember meeting him in his

Adam Hirsh blesses challah with his great-grandfather, Al Lockman. The challot spell “Adam” and were made by his grandmother, Rita Lockman. 12 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Adam Hirsh is lifted up on a chair during the hora at his reception at the Lyndhurst Community Center in 1999. | Submitted photos office for a really powerful session just to understand the parsha and to translate it to my life as a 12-yearold at the time,” Hirsh says. Still, writing that speech was challenging, and he asked both of his parents for help finding the right words and the places to add humor “because I wanted to be a witty 12-year-old.” “When the day came, knowing that so many people were invested in each part – each piece of it that I was practicing for – made it that much more of a special event for me,” Hirsh says, adding that his 96-year-old great-grandfather, Al Lockman, was in attendance. The day of his bar mitzvah he led “any prayer that I could,” including much of the Shacharit service, he says. His family had aliyot, the honor of blessing the Torah prior to readings, and his siblings dressed the Torah scroll. “It was an amazing family event,” says Hirsh, now a Solon resident and member of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in

Pepper Pike. “It’s the power of community. You’re not just davening by yourself. Everyone’s davening with you.” Hirsh says his was the first b’nai mitzvah in most of his class, taking place in June prior to his 13th birthday, “so I felt that added pressure.” The party was held at the Lyndhurst Community Center and the themes were each of his interests. Kids were on one side of the dance floor and the adults were on the other side. A DJ played tunes from the 1990s and the 1970s, “and lots of line dances,” he says. Hirsh also did a candlelighting ceremony. Usually, this is confined to 13 candles, but having been raised in a blended family, Hirsh decided to add candles. “That moment of just having to articulate … what 17 different groups of people mean to me,” Hirsh recalls, “I think that’s one of the most important parts of my bar mitzvah.” BM

Lawrence Hirsh, from left, Adam Hirsh, Ethan Hirsh Tupelo and Marla Schlessel. Lawrence is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors.

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SPOTLIGHT

ELLIANA BERKOWITZ

Bat mitzvah: August 28, 2021 Synagogue: Temple Israel Ner Tamid | Mayfield Heights Ceremony and celebration: Her grandparents’ home Officiant: Rabbi Matt Eisenberg Age: 13 Hometown: Solon School: Solon Middle School

Gabe Feinberg 14 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

How did you adapt your bat mitzvah in response to the COVID-19 pandemic? Elliana: We held the service and celebration outside. We provided masks for people that wanted and we were able to be socially distanced. What was the best part of the day? Elliana: The best part was getting through my service and getting to celebrate with my family and friends. Stacy Berkowitz, mother: Being able to celebrate safely with over 100 people outside. What advice do you have for other young adults preparing for their b’nai mitzvahs? Elliana: It will be challenging, but worth it in the end. Stick with it!

From time to time, Bar•Bat Mitzvah magazine features spotlights on local b’nai mitzvahs. Submit yours at cjn.org/barbatmitzvah. Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 15

INTERFAITH FAMILIES, INTERFAITH SOLUTIONS B’nai mitzvahs serve as learning opportunities for mixed families By McKenna Corson

t a glance, it may seem daunting to go about planning a b’nai mitzvah when not everyone in a family – or even both parents – is of the same religion. How can someone not ingrained in the complexity of Jewish customs play an active role in such a pivotal event in a Jewish child’s life? But Rabbi Melinda Mersack, the director of jHUB – a Cleveland organization to help interfaith couples and families explore and connect with Jewish culture in the modern world – says celebrating b’nai mitzvah within an interfaith family includes a similar process Mersack as for an all-Jewish family. In a Q&A with Bar•Bat Mitzvah, she says it’s an opportunity for education, growth and coming together – and not something to fear. Do many interfaith families have b’nai mitzvah? It’s common. There are a number of interfaith families certainly here in Cleveland, as there are everywhere, that do celebrate bat or bar mitzvah within congregations. There are some people that also celebrate outside of congregations. There’s a growing number of families in general, but also specifically interfaith families that are looking for different ways to celebrate becoming bar and bat mitzvah. How important is it for non-Jewish parents to be involved in the b’nai mitzvah process? It’s essential, because this is their child. It’s important for both parents’ participation. How might you advise an interfaith family with a child celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah? Each congregation has their own practices and expectations of their b’nai mitzvah students, so I encourage interfaith families who are celebrating within a congregation to contact their clergy and ask what the expectations are, what the different ways are that relatives of different faith backgrounds can participate during the service. Make sure that you understand what the process is, what your participation is as a parent, and to ask all of your questions so that you are informed and understand what the process is, what the celebration is and the meaning behind the customs. If people are interested in celebrating b’nai mitzvah but aren’t yet connected to a congregation, we can certainly help people in that direction. Or, if people just have questions in general about what does it mean to become a bar or bat mitzvah and what their options are in the community, we can help answer those questions as well.

16 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Is there a way the family can create an engaging experience for everyone? One hundred percent. Most rabbis and congregations do a really lovely job of explaining the customs and the practices during the service so that not only do the child and their family understand what’s happening, but all of the relatives and their guests in attendance do as well. How could a family honor the non-Jewish parent during the bar or bat mitzvah? How we include a Jewish parent, I would suggest, is how we should include the parent of a different faith background as well. If this is a choice that they are supporting, that is a gift to the Jewish community. It’s important that we as the Jewish community acknowledge that and include them as much as possible in the entire process and the service just as we would a Jewish parent. At some congregations, both parents of any faith will be invited to come up to the bimah to stand together and perhaps to offer their own words of blessing to their child. Some congregations will pass the Torah from generation to generation, and some congregations will include the parent of a different faith background in that transmission. For an aliyah – the blessing over the Torah – some congregations will invite both parents up. Some congregations will invite the Jewish parent to say the blessing and the parent of a different faith background to stand with them in support. Some congregations will offer the parent of a different faith background an English reading to say during the service. How can non-Jewish parents support their child celebrating their b’nai mitzvah? They can do this in a myriad of ways. Simply helping schedule the Hebrew lessons and taking the child to and from synagogue are all minor ways that are really huge in supporting the choice of the child or the family in celebrating becoming bar or bat mitzvah. It’s really important to talk with your child about what it actually means to become a bat or bar mitzvah, so that they have an understanding of what it is that they are affirming when they stand up before a congregation. Whether a parent is Jewish or not, they absolutely should be having this conversation with their child – what does it mean to them, what role does Judaism play in their family and why it is a meaningful part of their family’s life and celebration? BM

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GIVING BACK

Mitzvah project helps local families, cancer patients By McKenna Corson

Above: Addison Gillett shows off the 11 inches of hair she donated to Locks of Love in honor of a best friend’s mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer and lost her hair due to chemotherapy in July 2019. The donation was a part of Addison’s mitzvah project. Below: Addison stands in front of a car full of toys she collected for eight years that she donated to a toy drive held in partnership with Solon Chabad and the Cleveland Chesed Center in December 2020. The donation was a part of Addison’s mitzvah project. | Submitted photos

“I like giving back to people who are less fortunate than I am. It makes me happy that I can put a smile on another kid’s face.” -Addison Gillett

18 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

hen it comes to deciding on a mitzvah project, many excited preteens start thinking about ideas a year or so before their b’nai mitzvahs. But for Solon resident Addison Gillett, her mitzvah project was almost a decade in the making. Addison, a 13-year-old student at Solon Middle School, crafted a multifaceted mitzvah project, one that impacted local families in need, as well as cancer patients. Eight years ago, she decided she would put aside a majority of the gifts she received every birthday and Chanukah with the goal to donate them to less fortunate children as part of her bat mitzvah. These gifts consisted of items like clothing and toys. “I was trying to think of mitzvah project ideas, and I just decided that I get a lot of presents every year for Chanukah and my birthday that I don’t really need,” Addison says. “I thought that I could put them aside and save them up. Then when it’s time for my bat mitzvah, I could give them to someone who would deliver them to kids who don’t get as many presents.” With over 70 gifts she had amassed by the time 2020 neared its close, Addison’s mom, Shari Gillett, reached out to Solon Chabad for help. Chabad was set to host a toy drive along with the Cleveland Chesed Center for Chanukah in December 2020, where the donated toys would be given to sick children in the hospital and Jewish families in need. Addison’s contribution to the drive doubled the amount of toys the Chabad had received, says Miriam Greenberg, the educational director at Solon Chabad. “It’s gratifying to see that families will make it a priority to teach their children how to be givers instead of takers in our society,” Greenberg

says. “That’s really what God wants from all of us, to see what we can do to help – not only when we feel like it and not only when we want to.” Completing her years-long toy collection was a meaningful effort to Addison, yet in her eyes, her project wasn’t done. The mother of one of her best friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to chemotherapy treatments, she lost all of her hair. Looking at her own lengthy mane, Addison realized her hair could be put to better use. In honor of her friend’s mom, she donated 11 inches of her hair in July 2019 to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that makes custommade hair pieces for disadvantaged children and young adults who’ve experienced hair loss due to medical conditions. “Instead of just cutting it off and it going to waste, I thought it would be nice to donate it,” Addison says. Having celebrated her bat mitzvah Oct. 3 at Solon Chabad, Addison says it finally sunk in that the mitzvah project she’s spent years on was finally completed. “It was really exciting, and I felt really accomplished when I was done with it,” she says. “I did it just to make other kids happy, really, and to give back.” Her mitzvah project introduced her to a world of community service and helping others, she says. Now that she’s started making an impact in the community, Addison looks forward to finding more ways to lend a helping hand. “I like giving back to people who are less fortunate than I am,” she says. “It makes me happy that I can put a smile on another kid’s face.” BM Publisher’s note: This story first appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News, the sister newspaper of Bar•Bat Mitzvah.

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David Tavens / Natural Light Studio

By Alex Krutchik As families return to planning in-person celebrations for b’nai mitzvahs, they once again must navigate coordinating various vendors to ensure the day is special, fun and memorable. To help make sure your event is a success, local professionals serving the industry share advice regarding different elements of the big day.

20 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

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“We love to hear about favorite things, such as foods and who’s coming to the event, so we can guide you to something very unique and possibly different than you might have originally thought of.”

-Chris Hodgson

CATERING CHRIS HODGSON

▲ Lemon mascarpone tart with ribboned mascarpone mousse and lemon curd.

PRESIDENT DRIFTWOOD HOSPITALITY AT LANDERHAVEN MAYFIELD HEIGHTS WHAT SHOULD THE FIRST STEP BE IN PLANNING FOR CATERING? AND WHEN SHOULD THAT FIRST STEP HAPPEN? The sooner the better. If you know you are having an event, you should begin the process as soon as possible. In today’s day in age – and (with) the backup of events – many caterers and facilities are booking 12 to 16 months in advance. The first step should be understanding what type of event you want to have so you can clearly communicate that to the caterer.

HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND FAMILIES CHOOSE A DINING STYLE? This is all personal preference. There are so many different avenues. If you want a high energy event with mixing and mingling, you should look at

▼ Driftwood’s pan-seared salmon with cauliflower and potato puree, sweet pea, jumbo asparagus and herb and citrus puree. This dish, like all of the dishes on its extensive menu, is made in-house by its catering company. | Photos / McKenna

Corson

stations. Guests can try a little bit of everything. If you want traditional, then doing a nice sit-down dinner can always be elevated by adding portions that are family style, or table-side service.

HOW CAN THE FAMILY PERSONALIZE CATERING? At Driftwood, we love to get to know the guest first. Many people are just accustomed to the same events. We love to hear about favorite things, such as foods and who’s coming to the event, so we can guide you to something very unique and possibly different than you might have originally thought of. Emails are difficult – we want to build a relationship so that we can deliver the exact vision and experience.

22 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

HOW CAN FAMILIES CATER TO THOSE WITH DIETARY RESTRICTIONS? Knowing the restrictions first is always helpful. In today’s world, it is very common and easy to navigate through. There are so many wonderful alternatives and foods that can be created.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ADVICE FOR CELEBRANTS PLANNING THEIR MENU? It’s OK to think outside the box, (it) doesn’t always have to be chicken and mashed potatoes. Blend unique flavors and be a little more adventurous, it’s what makes the event stand out. BM

Unger’s Kosher Bakery & Food

“Just make it as nice as possible and as festive as possible. The whole family should be happy and participate in the simcha.” -Malka Rosenberg

DESSERT MALKA ROSENBERG

OWNER UNGER’S KOSHER BAKERY & FOOD CLEVELAND HEIGHTS WHAT SHOULD THE FIRST STEP BE FOR FAMILIES WHEN CONSIDERING A DESSERT CATERER?

HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE FAMILIES DECIDE ON DESSERTS OR CAKE STYLES?

Meeting with the caterer, baker or coordinator. They could speak with a party planner to put together the menu and the coloring. The tablecloths should match the flowers, utensils and the decorations on the cake.

First of all, I would ask them if they have a budget. You will need at least two miniatures per person, at minimum, or three miniatures per person. Some of the chocolate mousse cups are going to be a little more expensive than just the plain miniatures. So it depends. If they want to spend a little more, we can do fancier stuff like chocolate mousse cups or cake pops. They require more work, and they are a little bit more expensive.

HOW ELSE CAN FAMILIES PERSONALIZE DESSERT CATERING? You have to find out what you like and what the child likes. Do they like chocolate cake? Lemon cake? Strawberry shortcake? And then you go from there to make the arrangements for the cakes. You can get miniatures, hi-hats, chocolate mousse cups. We do a lot of stuff, but it goes by your taste.

ARE THERE ANY TRENDS IN DESSERTS OR CAKES THAT YOU’RE NOTICING? We do a lot of cake pops and chocolate mousse cups. And we do them in different flavors and different colors for flavorings. We have chocolate, vanilla or strawberry, and then we can put a little flower on top. And then the cake pops, which come on a stick, could be a lot of fun because you can do different colors, different drizzles on the top and different sprinkles. You can also make it gold or silver, and play around with them and make it very, very festive.

HOW CAN FAMILIES CATER TO DIETARY RESTRICTIONS LIKE ALLERGIES OR OTHER NEEDS? We can do some sugar free stuff. We don’t have gluten free, but there is packaged stuff that is gluten free. So if the family wants to take a couple of packages of gluten free (desserts), there is always availability.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? Just make it as nice as possible and as festive as possible. The whole family should be happy and participate in the simcha. BM

Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 23

Rock The House / Mariana Edelman Photography & Design

“It’s one of the few times in their life where they can be anything they want for that day. It very much is a coming out party to the community from a religious aspect, but also from a social aspect.” -Ryan Konikoff

ENTERTAINMENT RYAN KONIKOFF

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ROCK THE HOUSE | OAKWOOD VILLAGE WHAT SHOULD THE FIRST STEP BE WHEN CHOOSING AN ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDER? I think the first step in looking at your entertainment provider is figuring out what your goals are for your event. What type of party do you like? What type of party do you want? What are some events that you’ve been to that have a similar vibe or style to what you like? From there, once you get that idea of what you like, look for the people that specialize in that.

WHEN SHOULD ONE START PLANNING ENTERTAINMENT? The timelines for bar and bat mitzvah bookings have gotten shorter. I think now you’re seeing closer to 12 to 18 months in advance.

HOW CAN FAMILIES ULTIMATELY DECIDE WHAT ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE BEST FOR THEIR CHILD? I think you have to look at the child’s wants, but you also have

to understand who that child is. It’s one of the few times in their life where they can be anything they want for that day. It very much is a coming out party to the community from a religious aspect, but also from a social aspect. So, find ways to magnify and exemplify items that are really important to your child and some of their characteristics that really make them who they are.

WHAT KIND OF CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? It’s so important to see parties back in person, and they’ve been great. They’ve actually been some of the best parties since COVID opened up that we’ve seen in years. From the religious aspect, it is becoming more and more common to stream the ceremony, whether the synagogues are offering direct streaming or you’re bringing in a company like Rock The House to offer streaming services. The second thing that COVID

24 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

Rock The House really changed for us has been our cleaning protocols. While we’ve always been very cognizant of it, (using) things like single-use props for novelties, we’ve really gone ahead and taken it a step further. We have staff sanitize on site, masks for our staff (are worn) in many venues, and (we) really make sure that the sanitary and health and safety are very much at the forefront of what we’re doing.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD OFFER FAMILIES DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS? Push the envelope and push your vendors. There are certain things that work, and it’s why you see them at the majority of the parties. But don’t be afraid to take one of those concepts and to reinvent them. Work with your vendors to say ’How can we make this different? How can we add our personalized spin on it?’ At the end of the day, it’s a celebration to recognize the accomplishments

Rock The House

Rock The House of the bar or bat mitzvah. And the more you can do to customize that will pay dividends not only at the party, but years later when you are looking back on that celebration and how it was really customized for the family and for the guests of honor. BM

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Contact our Sales Department at 407sales@signatureofsoloncc.com. 440.498.8888 | www.signatureofsoloncc.com Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 25

David Tavens / Natural Light Studio

“The photographer you choose will be spending an entire day with your family and your best friends. Who you choose to interact with them and blend in with them makes a difference and can be reflected in the photos that are taken.” -David Tavens

PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID TAVENS

OWNER AND PHOTOGRAPHER NATURAL LIGHT STUDIO | BEACHWOOD WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER WHEN HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER? The most important thing to get right and consider when hiring a photographer is that there is a good fit on a professional level and especially on a personal level. The photographer you choose will be spending an entire day with your family and your best friends. Who you choose to interact with them and blend in with them makes a difference and can be reflected in the photos that are taken.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED? Things that are sometimes overlooked is how to fit the timing of the organized photo session(s) with the flow of the day. I like to take pictures at a pace that is comfortable for the people that hire me. A brief break or some down time is a

good thing to work into a photo session, especially leading up to a religious service. If you rush through a photoshoot, it will show.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD FAMILIES BE MINDFUL OF? Being mindful that you’ve got one chance to get things right is worth additional consideration. Most families spend over a year planning for this one day in their child’s life and the day goes very quickly. When hiring vendors, not only should they get along with you and your family, but also with each other. Although I only provide photography services on the day of an event, I consider the other vendors part of a team and when we’re all of one mind the person that benefits most from this is our client and their guests.

26 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

WHAT SHOULD THE FAMILIES’ RESPONSIBILITY BE DURING THE EVENT? It is worth noting that (hosts) sometimes forget that they should be enjoying the event as much as their families and friends. Hosting an event doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good time as well. If you are comfortable with the decisions you’ve made, you should be able to wake up the day of your child’s bar/bat mitzvah and just immerse yourself in all the goodness it offers.

WHAT RECENT TRENDS HAVE YOU NOTICED? One trend I’ve noticed is that online desktop publishing options are growing in popularity. I’m finding that many of my clients like to try their hand at making their own photo albums and books. Although all of my clients get to keep a collection of the edited photos

from their event, many like that I also can provide them with the digital files for them to use in their own projects. I get to work for some very creative people and I’m glad to create albums for them or guide them as they work on their own.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER? Because temples and synagogues assign the date three years in advance, planning for a bar/bat mitzvah is unlike any other event. Parents should not rush or feel pressured to make key decisions. With so many variables to consider, it’s tempting to want to get the process underway. Too often, life gets in the way. My advice is to target a date approximately one year before the event and have your big picture decisions made by then. Spend the last year thinking about and getting the finer details in order. BM

“If someone comes to me without a vision, we find one. If someone comes to me with some pictures of what they like but want to change things up, that’s no problem. If someone has a theme and it doesn’t exist in an album I have, we create it. Nothing is impossible.” -Amy Finkenthal

STATIONERY

Noteriety Invitations

AMY FINKENTHAL

OWNER NOTERIETY INVITATIONS | BEACHWOOD HOW CAN INVITATIONS SET THE TONE FOR A B’NAI MITZVAH? A bar/bat mitzvah invitation can have a more formal feel or a more informal feel. Some choose to put the party/ celebration theme on the design of the invitation, and some choose to have the invitation stand alone as they feel that they don’t want to lose sight of what this is all about. There really is no right or wrong, in my opinion. Also, depending what goes on after the service, the invitation might portray more of an informal or formal feel. For example, if there is a simple luncheon, the invitation tends to be more simple most of the time. If there is an elaborate dinner, invites might tend to show a more formal feel.

WHEN SHOULD THE PROCESS BEGIN? At least six months before the event.

WHEN SHOULD THEY ACTUALLY BE SENT OUT AND WHY? Invites should be sent out eight to 10 weeks before. I advise my clients to send them out on the earlier side, as mail these days is unpredictable and I feel better (sending them) early than late.

HOW CAN FAMILIES PERSONALIZE THEIR INVITATIONS? The easiest way to have the best selection is to go to a place that has a lot of choices. There are many companies out there and each company (album) has different vibes with different

price points. If someone comes to me without a vision, we find one. If someone comes to me with some pictures of what they like but want to change things up, that’s no problem. If someone has a theme and it doesn’t exist in an album I have, we create it. Nothing is impossible. And if it is custom, that does not mean it is expensive.

WHAT KIND OF TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING LATELY WITH INVITATIONS AND STATIONERY? A trend that has been steady over the past year (at least) is the printing process. Letterpress is very popular. Also, cool layouts remain a constant trend such as mixing fonts, adding cool designs and printing on the

back of the invite as well. Many of my clients are putting in something regarding COVID-19, (for example), must be vaccinated to come, the venue is asking for masks, etc. I would say 50% of what I print now includes something regarding safety and the pandemic and what rules must be followed to attend their event.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO FAMILIES WHEN IT COMES TO INVITATIONS? Be flexible. Nothing these days is constant and don’t lose sight of the event, even if it has to be less people. Your event will be magical if there are 20 people in attendance or 200. BM

Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 27

Green Road Synagogue

SYNAGOGUE

SARAH EHRENREICH

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE | BEACHWOOD HOW CAN FAMILIES CUSTOMIZE A B’NAI MITZVAH SERVICE SO IT REFLECTS THEM? Some families have special and meaningful melodies that they like to use when leading the davening at their simcha. For others, this can mean adding bouquets of flowers to the sanctuary, a special and meaningful item in their candy bags, or a poster with a photo of their child and something meaningful about them on display in the lobby.

HOW HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED THE WAY SYNAGOGUES GO ABOUT SERVICES?

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY FAMILIES WHEN PLANNING THEIR SERVICE FOR THEIR CHILD’S B’NAI MITZVAH? If you plan to hand out aliyot to friends and family members, make sure to be in contact with the gabbai of your shul to reserve those aliyot and set the order in which people are called.

WHAT SHOULD THE FIRST STEP OF THE PLANNING PROCESS BE? WHEN SHOULD THIS HAPPEN? After you pick your date, reserve your venue. We get bookings from our members two and even three years in advance.

We require everyone who attends minyan to be fully masked while attending indoor communal services and events, regardless of vaccination status.

28 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH FAMILIES? Nothing is as critical as it seems in the moment. There will be things that happen (or don’t) that are not exactly as planned. Don’t let these frustrations detract from the spiritual beauty and meaning of your family’s simcha. BM

“Nothing is as critical as it seems in the moment. There will be things that happen (or don’t) that are not exactly as planned. Don’t let these frustrations detract from the spiritual beauty and meaning of your family’s simcha.” -Sarah Ehrenreich

Host your simcha in our beautiful new building! • A wide variety of rooms to choose from • A stunning courtyard with a garden and a pergola • A fully kosher kitchen will meet your kashrut needs • Diﬀerent price points for all budgets • Discounted weekday rentals • Rental packages are available Call 216-381-4757 or email oﬃce@greenroadsynagogue.org and share your simcha with GRS

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Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 29

Dale McDonald Photographer / InterContinental Cleveland

SETTING THE SPOT Local venues offer creativity, beautiful backdrops ... and of course, fun By Ed Carroll

fter a challenging year and a half, entertainment halls and event venues are largely back to business as usual this winter, although now with a few added precautions due to COVID-19 and its delta variant.

With Northeast Ohio largely back open for business, there is no shortage of choices for parents and loved ones seeking to host b’nai mitzvah parties, with options to fit everyone’s tastes and budget. Terri Kufel, director of sales and catering, and Craig Campbell, area director of sales and marketing at the InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center of Cleveland; Bob Ulm, director of rental services at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron; and Rick Morad, owner of WhirlyBall in Bedford Heights, all explain what they think is essential for parents to consider in regard to choosing a venue.

STAN HYWET HALL & GARDENS It’s important to be comfortable with the people you’re working with at the venue, and the staff at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens has hosting events down “like a well-oiled machine,” Ulm says. The gardens offer a unique, natural advantage over other venues. “(The gardens are) absolutely beautiful,” he says of the historic property, which sits

30 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

on 70 acres of land and includes one of the largest mansions in the United States, built for Goodyear Tire co-founder F.A. Seiberling. A potential area for b’nai mitzvahs includes the carriage house, a converted garage that comfortably fits 150 people with an attached tent to provide both indoor and outdoor enjoyment. “It comes down to the comfort level of the people you’re dealing with,” Ulm says. “We pride ourselves on a lot of five-star reviews for our events, and some of (our staff have) been here for 15 to 16 years. It’s a beautiful place, that’s what makes it so special, that and the history of the area. I think that’s one of our big pluses.” Ulm says the Stan Hywet staff is wearing face masks due to COVID-19 and recommends visitors wear them as well in the indoor areas. He says for private events masks are recommended, but not required. The large outdoor areas at the gardens offer plenty of fresh air, not to mention space to socially distance as needed.

Still, he says he’s noticed events have largely returned to normal as people are more comfortable both hosting and traveling for life moments such as b’nai mitzvahs, and the staff is eager to help planners create a unique and memorable celebration.

INTERCONTINENTAL CLEVELAND The InterContinental Cleveland offers party planners a blank slate to work with and make their own for a unique experience, Kufel and Campbell explain. “It allows the individuals or whoever is doing their design work a clean palette to work from,” Campbell says. “They aren’t having to work around specific colors or worry about things clashing. It has a simple elegance.” The InterContinental has precautions in place due to COVID-19, including a wellness check-in station at the entrance and extra sanitation supplies. It requests guests wear masks in the hotel’s lobby, but the host of the event can decide for themselves in the event room of choice, including the ballroom, which can accommodate more than 1,000 people. Both Campbell and Kufel say they’re seeing more party planners opt for a relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere with couches and high tops, more informal than a formal, sit-down, multi-course dinner – though the

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens InterContinental can also accommodate that if the planners desire. “The hotel is a four-diamond luxury property,” Kufel says. “We have a large ballroom with chandeliers and our colors are very simple. You can change the look of the room very quickly.” For events using dance floors, they say dance floor wraps are popular as they can be customized to fit a theme or display a logo. Campbell and Kufel also say they’re noticing that b’nai mitzvahs – as well as other all-ages events – are increasingly using interactive dessert stations, such as a candy station or sundae bar. Their staff can help planners come up with a menu to fit their needs, or can bring in outside foods if there’s a favorite treat or dietary need.

kinds of tastes. Morad says the staff sanitizes the venue more often due to COVID-19, and they’re happy to be flexible for parents to make them as comfortable as possible. If the parents want masks, the venue will request guests wear them, but if the parents don’t care, WhirlyBall staff allows guests to decide for themselves. The venue is closed to the general public, so when parents book the facility, they have access to the entire range of activities WhirlyBall offers, and don’t need to choose between just a few.

It works with a few local restaurants to cater food for b’nai mitzvahs, and parents can mix and match between restaurants if they choose. Morad says WhirlyBall will also work with caterers, particularly for families concerned about food being kosher. “(A party here) is going to be fun for everyone,” he says. “Everybody is going to enjoy their time … even if they don’t play, it’s a ball to watch. We’ve done so many (b’nai mitzvahs), we’re so seasoned. We put on great family events – sometimes I think I have as much fun as all the guests.” BM

WHIRLYBALL WhirlyBall has hosted hundreds of b’nai mitzvahs since opening in 1987, Morad says. Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted on events, WhirlyBall is again able to demonstrate what makes it unique: putting the emphasis of any event on being with family and friends. “Everyone can play,” Morad says. “Everyone from the kids to the grandparents – in fact, that’s what usually ends up happening. Even the little guys can get involved.” In addition to whirlyball – a combination of basketball and hockey played with bumper cars – the venue and activity center also offers six lanes of bowling and four virtual reality stations, meaning there’s fun to satisfy all

WhirlyBall Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 31

Stillwater Place / Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

TEEN THEMES

Local vendors, centers allow b’nai mitzvah celebrants to explore unique interests

By Amy Richards

reating trendy themes, incorporating personalized activities, serving enticing food and drinks, and bringing guests to an outstanding venue is a recipe for successful b’nai mitzvah celebrations. Choosing a spot or entertainment provider that offers a built-in theme or activity is one way to make a celebration stand out. Fortunately, there are many such options locally that allow for celebrants and their guests to explore interests, such as animals, history and music. Where to begin? Bar•Bat Mitzvah spoke with representatives from three Northeast Ohio venues and entertainment providers that offer unique activities and themes to hone in on interests specific to children and teens celebrating their rites of passage.

CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is one of the gems of Northeast Ohio, and entertaining guests at the zoo, located on the west side of Cleveland, makes for a unique celebration. There, children and adults alike can enjoy the company of the zoo’s many exotic animals. Sam Cario, director of events and experiences for the Cleveland Metroparks, says the three best zoo venues for b’nai mitzvah celebrations are Stillwater Place, the RainForest, and the Primate, Cat and Aquatics building. “Stillwater Place is an elegant reception event center featuring year-round, spectacular views of Waterfowl Lake,” says Cynthia Roebuck, special events and experiences sales representative at the zoo.

32 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Winter 2021

The venue also has a dance floor and can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated meal, or 500 for a standing reception. Guests are also welcome to enjoy the spacious patio and outdoor fireplace, she explains. “The RainForest offers your guests lush surroundings of the tropics, allowing them to wander through the RainForest, enjoying the animals at play,” Roebuck says. This venue can accommodate up to 300 guests for a seated meal or up to 800 for a standing reception. “After dinner in the storm room, guests move out to the cafe where they dance the night away on the tiki-thatched dance floor,” Roebuck continues. The Primate, Cat and Aquatics building has a tiered floor and can accommodate up to 225 guests for a seated meal. And, guests dine surrounded by glass-enclosed exhibits. All rentals include tables, chairs, china dinnerware, glassware, silverware and linens. And, catering is done exclusively by Aramark, but families are encouraged to coordinate entertainment, lighting, cakes and decorations with outside vendors. Kosher options are available.

CLEVELAND HISTORY CENTER The Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel, originally built in 1910 and operated at Euclid Beach Park before being moved to the Cleveland History Center, has been completely restored and is fully operational. Adjacent to the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, which has a large open rotunda area in the middle of the main level with an accompanying dance floor, the Cleveland History Center’s spaces offer b’nai mitzvah party options that celebrate local history in addition to the rare ride. Up to 300 guests can be accommodated for a seated dinner or up to 500 for a cocktail-style standing reception.

Burning River Entertainment Group / Natural Light Studio / David Tavens

“This, hands down, is a premium space for a celebration and has appeal for all ages,” says Angie Lowrie, director of the Cleveland History Center, located in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland. Guests also have access to the rotating collections of the Crawford Museum that surround the rotunda area. “Now, through September of 2022, the exhibit is ‘The Year of the Motorcycle,’” Lowrie says. “When guests walk in, they will see airplanes hanging from the ceiling, the Goodyear Blimp gondola, various automobiles and the entryway filled with the motorcycle exhibit.” In addition to the rotunda area, the Cleveland History Center also has a large enclosed courtyard that can be tented to house a celebration. This area can accommodate 150 guests for a seated meal, and a dance floor could be rented to add to the area. Access to the carousel, which is not close to the courtyard, is available for an additional fee. The Cleveland History Center has an approved list of caterers and is flexible when working with clients who require kosher catering, Lowrie says. There are no restrictions on entertainment, decorations or flowers.

“Putting a personal spin on a game that guests have played at numerous other celebrations makes it stand out,” Natale says. Personalizing decor and lighting also go far in making a celebration unique. For example, Natale says, “Once we did a party for a child who loved big cities, so we lit up silhouettes of various cities along the walls. Another time, a child’s dad dressed up in a neon suit that we lit up with black lights to create a special moment.” Natale adds, “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but want to add unique little wrinkles or personal touches that make the celebration special.” BM

BURNING RIVER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP When choosing entertainment for a special celebration, it is important to sit down with the child and decide what type of entertainment they have in mind. Are they a party lover who can’t wait to get onto a dance floor vibrating with loud music and pulsating lights? Or, would they prefer low-key music and interactive games? Gene Natale, Jr., owner and founder of Burning River Entertainment Group based in the Larchmere area of Cleveland, explains the most important factor is customizing the celebration to the child. “In our planning meetings, we listen to the child’s interests and our client’s wishes and brainstorm how to turn those ideas into something fun and memorable,” he says. “Oftentimes, families have ideas, and we have the know-how to turn them into reality.” Making the celebration unique to the child is what makes it meaningful, whether that means incorporating specific themes and activities, or simply having a bash that reflects their personality and style, he explains.

Cleveland History Center Winter 2021 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 33

MAZEL TOV! Jacey Simms celebrates – featuring glow sticks – at her bat mitzvah party on Oct. 9, 2021, at the Cleveland Marriott East in Warrensville Heights.

David Tavens / Natural Light Studio

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Bar•Bat Mitzvah, Winter 2021

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