Bar•Bat Mitzvah, Fall 2019

The Cleveland Jewish News

Mitzvah Bar•Bat

BARBATMAGAZINE.COM

FALL 2019

CELEBRATING

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Mitzvah Bar•Bat

Fall 2019

CONTENTS

18

12 50 On the cover: Eva Rose Stern celebrates her bat mitzvah Nov. 10, 2018, at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. Cover photo courtesy of Kim Ponsky Photography.

8

24

For panicked planners, start here

24

Bar•Bat Mitzvah welcomes Amanda Koehn as its new editor and she attempts to alleviate concerns around planning b’nai mitzvah

12

Looking Back Northeast Ohioans recall their bar or bat mitzvah and how it influenced their lives

18

Mitzvah Project: Israel Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation offers mitzvah project opportunities that shape the lives of at-risk youth overseas, as demonstrated by a local bar mitzvah boy’s trip

22

Spotlights Introducing the Spotlights feature, which tells the story of a recent bar mitzvah through photos and commentary

6

Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Ask a Pro Planning tips from Northeast Ohio professionals on catering, decor, entertainment, floral, photography and ceremony preparation

40

Activities Abound From curated music to bowling and WhirlyBall, local entertainment providers ensure an exciting and special party

46

Super Spots Local party venues offer unique activities for all ages

50

A Party for Everyone Party planners can help with creative elements that make the event one to remember

PHOTOS BY MAKINGTHEMOMENT.COM

Mitzvah Bar•Bat

FOR PANICKED PLANNERS, START HERE

I

’m excited to introduce myself as the new editor of Bar•Bat Mitzvah magazine – your local resource for planning and celebrating b’nai mitzvah. You may know me as a former reporter for the Cleveland Jewish News, and more recently, I was bureau chief of another sister publication, the Columbus Jewish News. I’ve always enjoyed the creative opportunities longform writing allows, so I am excited to transition to editing for this magazine, as well as the others published by the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company – Jstyle, a lifestyle, fashion and food magazine; Canvas, a Northeast Ohio arts magazine; Balanced Family, a parents and kids oriented magazine; and SOURCE, the annual guide to Jewish Cleveland.

When putting together the stories in this issue, I could easily imagine how parents and families feel overwhelmed by the prospect of planning everything that has to come together to celebrate the moment of change in their child’s life. Planning ahead doesn’t always come naturally to me. Although I’m not necessarily the last minute type either, more than a couple weeks in advance sometimes seems as far as outer space mentally. Fortunately, I’ve learned to handle planning ahead, at least at work, with many self checks – I have calendars with set reminders synced to both my computer and phone, lists encompassing lists on my Notes app and my favorite, deadlines looming over my head that scare me into action.

Planning a major lifecycle event like a bar or bat mitzvah or wedding, however, is a different matter. When I saw the binder and complex organizational system a friend had a few years ago while she was planning her wedding, I made a mental note that if I ever had a party of that scale, I might have to become a different kind of person – like the kind who buys binders.

For those of you who also panic about planning, I hope you’ll use this magazine and the experts featured in it as a resource. For example, in a feature on party planning, local experts give advice about how to tie in creative elements so the b’nai mitzvah party creates a lasting and meaningful impression.

Two other features detail what local venues and activities offer to make the day perfectly in tune with a young teenager’s interests. As always, our Ask A Pro feature provides information on how and when to schedule different aspects of the party, service and more.

8

Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Publisher & CEO Kevin S. Adelstein Vice President of Sales Adam Mandell Editor Amanda Koehn akoehn@cjn.org Design Manager Stephen Valentine CJN Managing Editor Bob Jacob Controller Tracy DiDomenico Digital Marketing Manager Cheryl Sadler Events Manager Gina Lloyd Editorial McKenna Corson Skylar Dubelko Jane Kaufman Becky Raspe Contributing Writer Michelle Jacobson Columbus Bureau Chief Abby Cymerman Custom Publishing Manager Paul Bram Sales & Marketing Manager Andy Isaacs Advertising Marilyn Evans Ron Greenbaum Adam Jacob Nell V. Kirman Sherry Tilson Yocheved Wylen

And if you want an example of the best possible outcomes resulting from good planning, I encourage you to take a look at the Looking Back stories about Northeast Ohioans reflecting on their bar or bat mitzvahs and how the events influenced their lives. Or, read our new feature, Spotlights, which highlights photos from a local b’nai mitzvah in the last year and explains why the day was special.

I hope these stories can alleviate at least a little of the worry around planning, and more importantly, help ensure a memorable and meaningful day that celebrates the next step in the child’s life!

Design Larisa DaSilva 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. 143 NO. 51

Amanda Koehn Editor

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS (ISSN-0009-8825) is published weekly with additional issues in January, March, May, June, August, October, November and 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 additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER and additional mailing offices. Send address changes to the Cleveland Jewish News, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Cleveland, OH 44122-5380

LOOKING BACK

Northeast Ohioans remember their bar or bat mitzvah Eileen Saffran

EILEEN SAFFRAN Eileen Spandorf, left, and Teri Stein wore matching pearls for their joint bat mitzvah, which took place in July 1965.

By Jane Kaufman

L

exington, Kentucky may be known as the horse capital of the world, but in 1965 it was also the place of a forward-thinking rabbi.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eileen Spandorf (now Saffran) and her family moved to Lexington when she was 6 months old. Not long after moving, her parents, Anita and Lou Spandorf, joined Ohavay Zion, the city’s small Conservative synagogue, which embraced the family.

“The good news for me was, I learned about every religion because I was a minority,” remembers Saffran, founder and CEO of The Gathering Place in Beachwood and Westlake, which offers support services to cancer patients. “And fortunately, I was exposed to Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday with my Episcopalian friends, and I exposed them to the Jewish side of life. But I was very involved.

Hebrew School three days a week, Friday night services, Saturday morning services, Sunday school up until the time through my bat mitzvah. So I spent a lot of time at the synagogue, but I was bat mitzvahed actually when I

was 12.”

Saffran’s bat mitzvah took place in the summer of 1965 with Teri Stein (now Harper), with whom she still maintains a friendship.

“It was hot, and I can remember a pool party the Friday night,” Saffran says.

The pair shared the pulpit on both Friday night and Saturday morning.

“We led the Friday night service and we also did some of the Saturday morning service, but not the lion’s share,” she recalls.

She said she worked “probably intensely” with Rabbi Bernard Schwab for about a year prior to the date of her bat mitzvah.

“I was in theater all my life, so I can memorize with the best of them and was able to just kind of have the poise and presentation that was necessary at the time,” she says, adding she wrote a speech for the occasion.

On Saturday, her family hosted out-of-town guests at home, and

12 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

then there was a party at the synagogue for the girls’ friends.

“I do remember (there) was a DJ,” she recalls. “It was just fun. It was innocent and fun, no issue with alcohol.”

Saffran was aware her bat mitzvah was unusual for the times.

Schwab’s wife had a high position in Kentucky state government and he was a believer in equal rights for women, Saffran recalls.

“Not every girl was being bat mitzvahed, and certainly I learned that my contemporaries here growing up in the ghetto of Cleveland, Jewish ghettos of Cleveland, none of them were bat mitzvahed,” she recalls. “Many have been bat mitzvahed as adults.”

In describing her childhood synagogue, Saffran says the congregation was “fairly liberal” although the two girls did not read from the Torah scroll.

Saffran’s friends enjoyed the services.

“My friends, my non-Jewish friends, got into it,” she says. “They loved it, enjoyed attending and were very respectful and congratulatory and it was well received.”

Saffran enjoyed having family gather in Lexington as well.

“That didn’t happen very often,” she says. “So I remember really

enjoying that.”

In college at The Ohio State University, she joined a Jewish sorority.

“To date I’m a traditionalist, not deeply religious,” says Saffran, who is now a member of Suburban Temple-Kol Ami in Beachwood. “I really am proud of the fact though that I can participate in a service because I can read Hebrew.”

In addition, Saffran says Judaism played a role in her decision to found The Gathering Place.

“I identify with being Jewish and the values of tikkun olam and tzedakah, and that’s part of The Gathering Place, the whole creation of The Gathering Place,” she says.

A teaching social worker in the 1990s, Saffran’s parents were each diagnosed with cancer within six months of one another and died 3½ years apart.

“So the combination of witnessing what was going on in health care, understanding the integrative approaches that were starting to become popular, as well as my own personal journey with my parents,” led to the founding of The Gathering Place, Saffran says. “I saw the needs that weren’t being met, so I started a movement to get them met.” BM

Jane Kaufman Eileen Saffran stands in the garden of The Gathering Place.

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RABBI ELYSSA JOY AUSTERKLEIN

By Jane Kaufman

W

hen Elyssa Joy Auster was 10 years old, an award-winning essay plummeted her onto the bima of her synagogue.

“I had won the Holocaust essay award, which I think still happens, and had to read it in front of a thousand people or even more,” she recalls as she thinks back to her childhood experience at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood. “ And I was incredibly nervous.”

Now-Rabbi Austerklein – she’s since become a rabbi and married – remembers similar feelings during her bat mitzvah.

“I felt very nervous and uncomfortable being up there, but I also felt there was an important reason I needed to do it,” she recalls of her Nov. 12, 1994, bat mitzvah.

Austerklein, who now speaks from the bima at Beth El Congregation in Akron, says she still gets occasional jitters.

When she was a rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Boston, she had a revelation about leading services that helped to calm her.

“I realized it’s not about me,” she remembers. “I’m doing this for G-d.

Then it doesn’t matter if my voice sounds good or not. That’s nothing to do with it – it’s about focusing people’s attention upwards and inwards, and not on me.”

Born in Portchester, New York, Austerklein’s family moved to Shaker Heights from Stamford, Conn., when she was 1 year old.

“We always joked about the fact that I was the only Clevelander in my family,” she says.

Austerklein first attended Jewish day schools and entered Shaker Heights public school in fifth grade. In addition, she attended both Fairmount Temple’s religious school and Cleveland Hebrew Schools. Her bat mitzvah preparation started “late,” but her musical ability and Hebrew skills helped her memorize her parts of the parsha and Haftarah quickly.

Her tutor, Tzipora Fromer, taught her using a cassette tape

with Cantor Sarah Sager’s voice that Austerklein played on a fire-engine red tape recorder.

“And I did share my bat mitzvah day with another student whom I didn’t know at the time,” Austerklein says.

On the weekend of her bat mitzvah, Austerklein’s family held a Friday night dinner at an Italian restaurant and a luncheon on Saturday at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. On Saturday night her parents held an informal gathering for out-of-town family and friends at home. They hosted a Sunday brunch as well.

“We had a lot of people in from out of town,” she says. “And I remember Saturday night a lot of people gathered around the piano and (were) singing like all kinds of folk songs, Broadway songs…”

They celebrated with a cassata cake with white chocolate shavings that is recalled fondly by family. Centerpieces were baskets painted with purple flowers that held African violets.

“And we still have African violets that are alive from my bat mitzvah,” she says. “The baskets, which my mom had saved, I used at my daughter’s baby naming this past year. You can see we’re a sentimental family.”

Austerklein says at the time she became bat mitzvah, the rabbi stuck his finger in her back as a technique to get her to speak louder. That did not deter her from considering the profession.

She looked to Sager as a role model and liked Rabbi Stacy Schlein, then an intern, and Rabbi Sharon Marcus, who taught at Fairmount Temple at the time.

A graduate of Shaker Heights High School, Austerklein studied European cultural studies and Latin American studies at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Upon graduating, she earned a

14 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Above: Elyssa Joy Auster is flanked by her parents, Douglas and Marcia Auster.

She wore pearls her mother was given on her 12th birthday. “The pearl earrings a family friend gave me saying that a pearl is beautiful not because it is perfect but because it is unique. I say something similar to b’nai mitzvah students, that an oyster can take even a piece of dirt and through the process make it into something beautiful,” Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein recalls. Below: Elyssa Joy Auster and her father, Douglas, take out the Torah.

Elyssa Austerklein Master of Theological Studies from Boston University before pursuing rabbinic studies and ordination.

She met her husband, then-Cantor Matthew Klein (now Austerklein), on retreat at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Conn. When they married, the two decided to share a pulpit – and combine their names.

“I’ve always felt from the time

I was a really little child, like in my earliest memories, from two years old, I felt G-d’s presence in the world,” she recalls. “And that was part of my just human experience.

But I think the first time I thought it was really possible for me to become a clergy person – and I wasn’t sure at the time whether it be a cantor or a rabbi – was when I had my bat mitzvah.” BM

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TODD POLIKOFF

By Jane Kaufman

W

hen Todd Polikoff and his family relocated from a noisy, dense neighborhood in Philadelphia to a subdivision in Marlton, N.J., just 20 minutes away, there were plenty of adjustments.

“The joke is that New Jersey is a suburb of somewhere else, the entire state,” Polikoff says, who moved when he was 11 or 12. “I loved my neighborhood (in Philadelphia).

We lived in a relatively blue-collar area with row houses. We knew all the neighbors. We knew all the kids. We would play stickball in the alley.”

In Marlton, there were no alleys and no stickball games: only lawns, single-family houses, new faces at school and a bedroom of his own rather than a shared one with his younger brother.

In Philadelphia, his family had belonged to Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, Pa. But once arriving in Marlton, his mother nixed all thought of Polikoff becoming a bar mitzvah at a local New Jersey synagogue after the local rabbi wanted to send Polikoff back two years in Hebrew first.

“My parents have a very blue-collar family,” says Polikoff, 48, who today is coming to the end of his first year as CEO of the Jewish Community Board of Akron. “We didn’t have the money to do a lot of stuff. Joining a synagogue with dues and everything else was not something we necessarily did.”

Instead, he ended up working with a private tutor, Rabbi Shimon Berris, who lived in the same building as Polikoff’s grandmother, Sadie Polikoff.

“The funny part was I was like 6’1”, 6’2” at my bar mitzvah,” Polikoff recalls, who was 14 when the ceremony took place. “Rabbi Berris

Todd Polikoff

16 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

is maybe five foot tall. It was very funny seeing us stand next to each other and the whole thing.”

Polikoff’s bar mitzvah took place Sept. 14, 1985 at the Sheraton in Cherry Hill, N.J. “They had an ark that they rolled in and all the trappings of a bar mitzvah, just not the synagogue,” he says. “Cherry Hill is a relatively Jewish area, so the hotel actually has one. If I remember correctly, a local synagogue would loan to them.”

At the bar mitzvah party, the Eddie Davis Orchestra, headlined by a neighbor in Philadelphia, played, and Polikoff’s parents Jack and Judy cut the rug. Polikoff’s friends got empty mini trash cans with their names on them and two candy carts were rolled out.

“They filled up their trash cans,” the Akron resident recalls. “Some guys took off their socks. And we wanted it to be sort of like that, but the trash can was because my room was always a mess. (My mother has) always got to do something. She said your room is always a mess, so I’m giving everybody trash cans so they know how much of a slob you are. I don’t recall if she did or not, but I think everybody knew why.”

There was a pool complex in the development where the Polikoff family lived.

“And my mother talked to the guy who managed it and she opened a snack bar in the complex ... and ran it for three years, paid for my bar mitzvah in cash and then closed the snack bar,” he recalls. “So, you know we all worked it, we were all working there. It was very popular actually. My mother is a phenomenal cook.”

Polikoff remembers Berris held him accountable.

“He had like a personality about him,” Polikoff says. “We’d talk about serious things and we’d talk about the Torah portion and all that stuff, but I just remember it was fun. He had a sort of grandfather quality about him.”

He remembers feeling a bit let down afterward, realizing the bar mitzvah now meant that he had to fast at Yom Kippur.

Polikoff’s grandfather, Samuel Polikoff, was an immigrant from Russia. He traveled by ship from Osaka, Japan to Seattle and then across the country by train to settle in Philadelphia. That weighed heavily on Polikoff as he prepared for his bar mitzvah.

“You’re representing those who came before,” he says.

Polikoff found Jewish community at B’nai B’rith Youth Organization in high school and, after graduating bought a ticket to go to Israel for several months.

He came back, traveled, attended Camden County College in New Jersey and transferred to Stockton University in Pomona, N.J. He majored in psychology with a minor in Jewish studies and Holocaust education.

He became involved in Jewish campus life and was invited to apply for a fellowship to help restart the Hillel at the University of Moscow. While there, he had dinner with a family who showed him burn marks on the bottom of a cabinet, where they had lit Chanukah candles in secret.

“As kids you don’t think of Chanukah as one of the serious holidays, right? It’s not Rosh Hashanah; it’s not Yom Kippur,” he says.

“But yet, this family, they were risking their lives to celebrate this holiday that I had trivialized. And I remember after that I said, ‘Look, I want to make sure that nobody has to do this again.’ And that was one of the main things that got me into my career.”

He said he is a strong believer in the concept of Jews being a light unto nations.

“I think that everyone in the Jewish community represents all other Jews and that we should carry ourselves and we should work according to that,” he said. “I think there is a point to the Jewish community helping everyone. And I think sometimes we get so insular that we stand on our own rock in Jewish community and we don’t really look to see if the rest of the land is falling away.”

BM

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MITZVAH PROJECT:

ISRAEL

By Michelle Jacobson

Heller family

I

n 2008, years before Ben Heller’s bar mitzvah, his family hosted a local tennis exhibition for Israeli at-risk youth. A 14-year-old Israeli tennis player stayed with Heller’s family, and he shared details about his own family life in Kiryat Shamona, their difficulties and how the Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation program changed his life.

The program offered the boy an escape, allowing him to play tennis and meet others with similar backgrounds. Through the athlete’s story, Heller says he gained a deeper understanding about life in an impoverished area.

Founded by six volunteers in 1976, ITEC is a social service program that offers a nurturing environment for underprivileged children in Israel. Based on a vision to bring tennis to the masses, regardless of background, religion, ethnicity or physical ability, ITEC aims to provide the foundation to create champions in tennis and in life.

“I learned how much of an impact the ITEC has on so many children, and I wanted to make sure that I not only shared my experience with my inner circle, but also with those who didn’t know about the program’s work,” Heller says.

Motivated by ITEC’s mission, Heller decided he wanted to visit one of ITEC’s centers in Israel for his bar mitzvah. Fifty of his friends and family members traveled with him for the mission, which lasted 10 days between the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011.

Heller, now 21, looks back fondly on the experience.

“They saw firsthand the importance of the center and how it is so much more than just tennis – it is a place that these kids can call their second home,” says Heller.

TEACHING LIFE SKILLS THROUGH TENNIS ITEC has 14 centers throughout Israel, serving more than 20,000 children each year. All programs are designed to assist

Siblings Lindsey, Eliza, Ben and Sam Heller.

Heller family

Ben Heller’s friends and family at the top of the Aish HaTorah building overlooking the Kotel in Jerusalem, where his bar mitzvah was held in 2010.

Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 19

children at risk, those with special needs and children of recent immigrants from Russia and Ethiopia.

“The program embodies inclusion and unity,” says Jacqueline Glodstein, ITEC executive vice president of global development, based in the New York City USA national office. “It provides children an equal opportunity for education, to be healthy and pursue their dreams.”

The tennis center was built to get children off the street and provide a structured environment to improve their quality of life. By getting involved with a sport, the children gain many useful talents, including gaining qualities often sought by employers.

“There are many skills the kids learn through tennis,” Glodstein adds. “They learn how to focus, respect an opponent, how to lose and be independent. It also allows them to become empowered.”

Young teens who get involved with the program for their mitzvah project or become a volunteer expand their cultural awareness as well. Strong relationships are built between the volunteers and players, opening doors for cultural exchanges and building appreciation for each other’s circumstances, Glodstein says.

These initiatives are what drew Heller to become more involved and do his part for his own mitzvah project.

A BAR MITZVAH TRIP FOR THE AGES During the trip, Heller and his guests met the local players and coaches at the ITEC center. While there, everyone participated in tennis drills alongside team members. They also learned about the program’s educational aspect, and heard from children who benefited from the center and the social support it provides.

By the end of the trip, Heller says everyone who took part wanted to find a

20 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Heller family / Marc Golub Above: Israel Tennis and Education Centers Foundation mission participants wear ancient desert clothing in Kfar Kedma, Israel. Below: Ben Heller, center, davens at his 2010 bar mitzvah at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem with, from left, Gadi Galili of Park Synagogue, Rabbi Gavriel Friedman and Heller’s father, David Heller.

Heller family / Marc Golub way to become involved once back in the United States. Today, many of them are involved with tennis exhibitions in the U.S., which benefit ITEC programs.

“I have always learned that I need to take care of those who are in need,” explains Heller, now a senior at the University of Michigan in the Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor, Mich. “This program exemplified everything that I have learned from my family, in my community and the importance of philanthropic involvement.”

During the trip, Heller celebrated his bar mitzvah at Aish HaTorah, which overlooks the Kotel in the Old City of Jerusalem. Gadi Galili, Park Synagogue’s ritual director, who joined the Israel mission, led the bar mitzvah

service. When Heller returned to Northeast Ohio, he also celebrated his bar mitzvah on Jan. 22, 2011 at Park Synagogue, which is in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike.

There are several ways to get involved with the ITEC program in the U.S. Supporters can raise funds to help with programming. Individuals can also host their own tennis exhibition and organize their own trips to Israel. Through an online campaign, families can design their own unique mitzvah program.

“We want to help expand the footprint and help peers understand what the organization does,” Glodstein says. “I see this as an opportunity for parents and kids to engage and get to know Israel and empower children in Israel.” BM

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WHITNEY NEIDUS | EVENTS DIRECTOR | 440.461.4653 x232 | WNEIDUS@STONEWATERGOLF.COM 1 CLUB DRIVE HIGHLAND HTS, OH 44143 | WWW.STONEWATERGOLF.COM Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 21

AVI SAIDEL

Bar mitzvah: Aug. 31, 2019 Synagogue: Park Synagogue | Pepper Pike Age: 13 Residence: Beachwood School: Gross Schechter Day School

Courtesy of Saidel family 22 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Introducing:

SPOTLIGHTS

From time to time, Bar•Bat Mitzvah magazine will feature spotlights on local bar and bat mitzvahs. Submit yours at clevelandjewishnews.com/ barbatmitzvah.

This day was special in so many ways. I was glad to be able to take part in such a memorable Jewish tradition and share that with all my family and friends from the community. Everyone was there for me and that felt so special. I enjoyed having a color theme and felt proud seeing everyone wear the kippah that I chose to share with them all.

Avi Avi is extremely special to us, but also to many people in the world. His heart is huge and his love for friendship and Judaism was shared on this day. Everyone came to see Avi embrace his culture and religion and did so with every inch of his heart. He smiled from cheek to cheek and made everyone experience a very special Saturday morning.

Karen Saidel, mother

Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 23

Kim Ponsky Photography

Much time, planning and money often go into planning a bar or bat mitzvah. To keep the tasks from being overly stressful, and to help families know where is best to plan ahead and focus their attention, local professionals serving the industry offer their advice.

Compiled by Becky Raspe

24 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Mazel Tov on your big day!

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Lauren Berkowitz Dicesare Sales & Catering Manager 216-755-1911 Lauren.dicesare@marriott.com www.marriott.com/CLEEM 26300 Harvard Road Warrensville Heights, OH

Making the Moment Soft pretzel station with assorted dips.

“If the food is not good, people will talk about it. If the food is good, you often won’t hear anything about it.”

– Joan Rosenthal

CATERING

Peppercorn and herb crusted Boursin.

JOAN ROSENTHAL

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT MARIGOLD CATERING + EVENTS | CLEVELAND WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? The biggest thing for the client is to come to the caterer with their vision for what the event should be and work closely with us to create that vision. We want it to be an interactive process between us and the client. Even if there is an inclination of their vision, we can work closely with them for what they want. This is about the client, not us. The key is listening and following through. We want each client to feel like they’re our only client and concern.

HOW DOES CATERING IMPACT THE ATMOSPHERE? As far as my company is concerned, we’re a one stop shop.

If a client wants to use us for everything, we can create the entire event. Our role is imperative in making the vision happen.

We can either coordinate or do most of the leg work, and a lot of it can be done in house. We’re the point person for all of the services being provided. In my opinion, all the client has to do is show up and everything else is taken care of.

HOW CAN CATERING BE USED IN UNIQUE WAYS?

Mariana Edelman Photography & Design

You can latch onto a theme. And it comes down to vision – if the theme is basketball, we can use vessels and props to create that feeling. Whether it’s race cars, princesses etc., we’ll tie in all of the accouterments into that vision.

Mariana Edelman Photography & Design

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING? In terms of the food, trends move to taking simple and familiar things that everyone understands and is accustomed to, and putting an elegant twist on it. ... It’s about giving it that culinary feeling. It’s about taking the pieces of each part of the party and marrying it all together and taking it to the next level. It’s not food, it’s an experience.

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? One of the things parents need to think about is budget. They can have a million ideas, but if we have a budget in advance, we can work backwards, make it happen and stay in a price point they’re comfortable with.

If we’re all on the same page, we

26 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

can make something everyone is happy with. That avoids overall disappointment. It happens all the time where clients have these extravagant ideas, and they are shocked at the cost. It’s also good to involve the child in the planning process.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING? It’d be great if we can get them a year out. The easy part is getting the catering, but the key is locking down the venues. It’s an issue if you don’t have a place to put everyone.

WHY IS CATERING A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE PARTY? If the food is not good, people will talk about it. If the food is good, you often won’t hear anything about it. There is always an expectation at these events that food will be great. People won’t complain if the balloons aren’t right – but if the food isn’t right, there is a problem. People look for that quality. BM

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Willows and Sage Flowers

“It’s a cornerstone of their life, so it’s important to stop and celebrate with people we care about and make the child feel like this is their day.”

– Anna Bolman

DÉCOR ANNA BOLMAN

OWNER | WILLOWS AND SAGE FLOWERS | BEACHWOOD WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? Not to lose sight of the purpose of the event. You use decor to beautify the event and to make it a nice celebration. But you don’t want to lose sight that, at its core, it’s about the young person and this new connection they have to Judaism. Sometimes we get so homed in on the party element, you forget to really consider the ceremony.

HOW DOES DECOR IMPACT THE ATMOSPHERE? The first thing they ask is how we can incorporate their mitzvah project into the decor and the importance of the Jewish aspect of it. You want it to be elegant and you want the child to feel celebrated. Flowers and decor can do that in a way, so the child really does feel that.

I also invite the kids into my meetings, so everything is still their choice and they’re involved in the process. So, that way, we can find out their style and how

we can make it into more of an impactful experience.

HOW CAN DECOR BE USED IN UNIQUE WAYS AND WHAT CAN IT SAY ABOUT A CHILD? B’nai mitzvah are an excellent way to think outside of the box.

There is no right or wrong way to go about it, and no one right decor element. I always ask the child how they want to impact the community, what colors they like and what experience they want people to have. By chatting with them, we’re able to tailor it to them. And there is nothing wrong with wanting a nice party, but there are still other elements available.

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? I think every family is so unique in what they want from their event, so I just kind of just go with the client and their desires and something they say might pop another question. It’s more of a personal experience, so maybe it’s about keeping

30 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

an open mind. I’ve done very straightforward mitzvahs, but also very interesting ones. It’s about going with the flow, making sure the child is represented and knowing what you want. If you do that, you’re likely not to overlook the big things.

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING? I do a lot of b’nai mitzvah in the religious communities of Beachwood and University Heights, so I see a lot of trends for wanting to bring that decor into the community and really involving everyone. Most of my events are for Kiddushes in the community, and it’s making them part of that and involving everyone in the celebration. I’m more so seeing these community celebrations and a private lunch for family and friends and decorating to that idea. It’s about the decor that goes up on the bimah and buffet tables, and then something smaller for the child and their close friends after.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING THIS ASPECT? I always tell parents the earlier, the better. You know it’s going to happen and have an idea of when, but it isn’t a wedding. So, most people reach out four to five months before. And if it’s a bigger event, maybe a month or two before that. Even if people reach out a year before and book a date with us, you can have the actual planning meetings later on. At least the date is reserved.

WHY IS DECOR A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE PARTY? It beautifies the event. It’s something that is a little more extravagant and more special than the yearly birthday. It’s a cornerstone of their life, so it’s important to stop and celebrate with people we care about and make the child feel like this is their day. We beautify the days of our lives through decor. BM

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Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 31

Michael Roy’s Cirque du Papier

“Find entertainment with a unique tie-in to your child’s interests and preferences.

That way, the event can be an expression of the person of honor, what they like to do and care about most.”

– Michael Roy Baldridge

ENTERTAINMENT MICHAEL ROY BALDRIDGE

PERFORMER AND OWNER | MICHAEL ROY’S CIRQUE DU PAPIER | KENT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? Hire an origami artist, of course.

But actually, since I have never been in the position to put together a party, this can be a tough question. I would say that paying attention to the details of the requested needs of your entertainment choice. If they are experienced entertainment professionals, they will be able to take care of the rest and do their best work for you.

HOW DOES ENTERTAINMENT IMPACT THE PARTY ATMOSPHERE? Without entertainment, everyone would probably just stand around in your colorful setting talking to each other and doing nothing else. Although there is nothing wrong with that, especially if you haven’t seen your family and friends for a while, live entertainment strongly enhances the celebratory spirit of the night and festivities.

HOW CAN ENTERTAINMENT BE USED IN UNIQUE WAYS TO COMPLEMENT THE CHILD? Find entertainment with a unique tie-in to your child’s interests and preferences. That way, the event can be an expression of the person of honor, what they like to do and care about most. Selecting entertainment should start there.

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? A couple of things come to mind as for what families most commonly overlook when planning for a b’nai mitzvah.

First, exit strategies for entertainers, artists, etc. Most hosts do an excellent job in assisting and accommodating the set-up and tech needs but often fail to do any planning on how to get the artists out at the end of the night.

This is probably not often an issue, depending on the venue and other details, but it can be a concern in certain situations.

One example: Two events are

32 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

scheduled back-to-back in the same place, but it is not made clear to everyone, especially the venue staff, that tear-down time is needed. And secondly, small, seemingly insignificant details can make a big difference to the entertainers and artists. In some cases, this can be the difference between a really good entertainment experience for your guests, or a “meh,” not so great experience.

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING? Parents seem to be trying to find and book the unusual or the unique, which is great for me since I am of only a handful of origami artists doing events.

Thanks to the internet, parents and planners can now easily find many more options to choose from and set themselves apart.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING? To get better talent, planning should start 12 to 16 months prior to the event date. ... That way, you have enough time to book the entertainer you want and have schedules match for everyone.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR PARENTS STARTING THEIR PLANNING? Remember, this is a meaningful time in you and your child’s life.

It’s supposed to be enjoyable and something you can remember and cherish for years to come. So my advice is to remain relaxed and enjoy the process.

This, of course, is a lot easier if you start early and get everything together. BM

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Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 33

PF Designs

“It’s about having interesting pieces, as opposed to round tables with beautiful, elaborate table settings. It’s about catering to each age group but also staying in a cohesive theme.”

– Toni Byrne

FLORAL TONI BYRNE

OWNER | PF DESIGNS | SOUTH EUCLID WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? Actually, within the ones that I’ve done, flowers aren’t really the complete focal point. It’s more about the effect of them and the props with them. The flowers are important because everything has to go together. With mitzvahs and birthday parties, it’s about the “wow” effect. Flowers have to complement the props and everything else. It’s the whole picture. For weddings, flowers are the focal point. But with mitzvahs, it’s the whole thing and how the flowers fit into that.

HOW SHOULD FLOWERS BE UTILIZED AT THE PARTY COMPARED TO THE CEREMONY? They accent. They are definitely needed to complete the picture but they aren’t the big focus. Tall vases and a lot of lighting and things like that, they’re more

the focus. The flowers are meant to enhance. They give it the full picture. You need something to brighten it up and be bold.

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? If I’m being completely honest, I would wish they would come to us first to help them design the whole evening. A lot of times, parents have rented this and that.

So, we’re trying to use everything they’ve done. It’s harder to fit and plan what they have with what we can do. It’s easier for us to be at the beginning of the process.

It’s like they want it all to fit and it can be very difficult. A lot of times it would be easier to help them form a whole plan, as opposed to coming in and getting things from others and trying to get us to fit into that.

34 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING? A lot of people are doing stations for their foods, so we have to decorate with florals to that end. You have high top tables and low top tables, and there is a lot of movement happening in these parties. So, there is a lot of energy that goes through the room and florals have to complement that. It’s about having interesting pieces, as opposed to round tables with beautiful, elaborate table settings. It’s about catering to each age group but also staying in a cohesive theme.

HOW CAN FLORALS BE USED IN UNIQUE WAYS? Recently, we did a club theme.

So, we brought in a whole banquet theme with leather furniture and did bigger, focal floral arrangements around the room as opposed to doing smaller pieces on the table.

Another mitzvah, we did for a young girl who loved flowers, so we catered to that. It’s about tapping into the child and their personality and seeing what is right for them.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING? I would prefer to be reached out to before they start connecting with others so we all have input into what is going on. So, at least nine months before. It’s a process and evolution.

WHAT MAKES FLOWERS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE PARTY? They set a tone. They enhance all the things you have and make it softer. If you just use lighting on the tables, it’s just half finished. It’s like a cake without the icing – it’s still delicious, but not as great as it could be.

BM

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“With all of the careful planning that goes into this, photography is the only way to remember and hold onto it.”

Kim Ponsky Photography

– Kim Ponsky

PHOTOGRAPHY

KIM PONSKY

OWNER | KIM PONSKY PHOTOGRAPHY | BEACHWOOD WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? You start talking about what the priorities are. If it were up to me, the most important thing is the service-oriented pictures, whether that is at the rehearsal or before (the ceremony), that rite of passage. But for some families, it’s the party details. So, the most important thing is to talk it out and find out what is most important and then follow that lead. I’m not photographing for me, it’s for (the family). That’s the reality. I do try to remind them that they are having a party to celebrate the actual mitzvah, so there is greater meaning in pictures during the ceremony or with the Torah than pictures with their friends.

HOW CAN PHOTOGRAPHY HELP CAPTURE THE MEMORY? One of the hurdles that we face is people want convenience.

Sometimes, depending on the synagogue they’re at, they ask if I can take the images through the service. It can make people uncomfortable and it can

distract the child during the service, who is already nervous.

So, I can stand on a step ladder or move my light, and get a portrait that symbolizes what we’re there for. It’s about the symbolic meaning – and being symbolic is worth that trade-off.

The beautiful portrait capturing that symbolic feeling and memory is worth it. It’s timeless.

Without photos, you don’t get that timeless representation. To me, you want photographs to capture the significance.

HOW CAN PHOTOGRAPHY BE USED IN UNIQUE WAYS? Like I said before, I try to read the client. I don’t have a cookie-cutter shotlist that I use from family to family, nor a specific pose I always use. I look for family interactions. If the siblings are close and playful, I will bring that into the portraits I take. And if a family is more serious or reserved, I won’t make them take laughing or hugging pictures. Making pictures unique is about following the family cues. It all comes down to that photographer’s unique style.

36 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? Making a shotlist. If I remind 10 clients to do a shotlist, maybe three do it. And even if they hand it to me day of, it’s appreciated.

The planning can be so busy, the shotlist gets swept under the rug. This allows the client to put something on my plate – you can avoid the disappointment of not getting pictures with someone when using a shotlist. You can always choose to dismiss something later on. That allows me to remind clients of everything they wanted.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TRENDS? There is something so timeless about b’nai mitzvah. I think that is something kind of cool. I see a lot of kids do grand entrances and something unique to them.

And being able to know about that in advance, that’s great. It’s all specifically unique to each client and that will make their photos and experience different from the last. But one thing I am suggesting my clients do is step outside, weather permitting, for a natural light, outdoor family portrait.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING THIS ASPECT? Typically, we find people book a year out. I’ve had a year and a half to two years booked out.

So, a good rule of thumb is to book your vendors the day you get the date. Taking care of and checking all those boxes early is a way to ensure you get the team around you that you want.

WHY IS THIS A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE PARTY? When you think about all of the planning that goes into an event like this, at the end of the day, photography is what you have. Rarely do people dry out and preserve the centerpieces.

With all of the careful planning that goes into this, photography is the only way to remember and hold onto it. We can capture the people most important to you. It’s a snapshot of your life.

The world is busy and moves quickly, so at the end of the day, photography is all that is left. BM

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“Students feel more personally invested when it is not only the Torah portion, but the entire service that is open for interpretation.”

Mariana Edelman Photography & Design

– Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk Mariana Edelman Photography & Design

SYNAGOGUE

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple

RABBI ROBERT NOSANCHUK

SENIOR RABBI | ANSHE CHESED FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE | BEACHWOOD WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO GET RIGHT? A b’nai mitzvah, at its core, shows the relationship between a young person and Torah.

When a student has, in their own way, discerned what Torah means to them and their family, their confidence as they chant or read from the portion and interpret the passage for the congregation rises exponentially. It sets the tone for every aspect of the celebration. I work to help each b’nai mitzvah speak honestly and in their own words about the meaning of Torah, including the elements of our tradition with which they struggle.

WHAT CAN THE CEREMONY SAY ABOUT THE CHILD? The best b’nai mitzvah experiences enable a child to express their wonder and amazement at the world around them, and not simply their gratitude for specific

ways in which they have been taught and supported. I strive to build a personal and enduring connection with each student, and to understand what amazes them.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, z”l, said that our goal should be “to live life in radical amazement ... to get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal. Everything is incredible. Never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED? In families where there are multiple children, one should not underestimate the impact of the ritual on younger siblings of the b’nai mitzvah. I am the youngest of three siblings and I remember how seeing each of my older brothers become bar mitzvah instilled in me a picture of how the ritual might be when it was my turn. Families should

38 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

take some time, in the company of their rabbi or cantor, to reflect on what was meaningful in the experience. Younger siblings can, and should, be included in such a process as they begin to navigate their own path to a relationship with Judaism and our heritage.

WHAT TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING? Our students at Fairmount Temple are granted a version of the siddur (prayerbook) that includes journal entries and exercises for them to reflect on the meaning of the individual prayers. As part of their religious school studies and tutoring sessions, they begin to articulate a personal way of relating to themes of the Shabbat worship service. We are seeing more of our students wanting to share their personal interpretations, reflections and insights during the course of leading prayers.

Students feel more personally invested when it is not only the

Torah portion, but the entire service that is open for interpretation.

WHEN SHOULD PARENTS START PLANNING? Because b’nai mitzvah is observed in such a near-universal way by families, many students don’t realize that the planning for the b’nai mitzvah began very early in their lives. Their parents were planting seeds for the meaning of the b’nai mitzvah when they determine they will raise their child with a Jewish education, or a relationship with Israel or with exposure to Jewish culture and holidays. In our synagogue, students and families receive the planning materials and the opportunity to begin to select and reserve dates during the fourth grade. But the “planning” of a b’nai mitzvah has typically preceded the receiving of a specific date to celebrate by quite some time. BM

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225 luxuriously appointed Guest Rooms and Four Diamonds restaurant The a fine-dining PawsLeopard, casualrated restaurant Multiple Ballrooms to accommodate Special Group Rates for Overnight 30-500 Guests Hospitality Suites. by AAA rated Four Diamonds Experienced Event Coordinators to assist with restaurant Free Parking Kosher Ballrooms Catering available Multiple to accommodate 30-500 Game AAAroom theme in choosing individual room design, colorwith by Experienced Event Coordinators to assist Sushi schemes menus Gamebar room theme in and choosing for a personal touchindividual room design, color Paws Special Rates for Overnight Guests Sushi casual bar restaurant schemesGroup and menus Free Parking Kosher Catering available Paws casual restaurant Special Group Rates for Overnight Guests Free Parking Kosher Catering available Inn & Conference Center 600 N. Aurora Rd. • Aurora, Ohio 44202 Toll free600 (877) 995-0200 • Road www.thebertraminn.com N.Aurora z Aurora,Ohio 44202

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Rock The House

A couple plays with a giant Lite-Bright during a party produced by Rock The House.

ACTIVITIES ABOUND

From curated music and themes, to bowling and WhirlyBall, local entertainment providers ensure an exciting and special party

By McKenna Corson

S

ure, you could have a b’nai mitzvah without any pizazz. A simple party with no multi-colored lights, crowd-exciting DJ, blaring music, fast-paced bowling or karaoke. But why would you, when Rock The House, Punch Bowl Social and WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport are available locally to make your bar or bat mitzvah something to be remembered?

These three options are among the local entertainment and activity providers ensuring b’nai mitzvah parties include fun activities for the guest of honor, and offer bonding experiences for generations of attendees.

ROCK THE HOUSE Make any b’nai mitzvah personalized and high quality with Rock The House, specializing in interactive entertainment and production

40 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

to take any event to the next level. RTH, whose office is based in Oakwood, works with its customers to create an event where the guest of honor is reflected within the song list, lighting colors, games and party favors.

“Clients come to Rock The House for more than just DJ entertainment for their child’s bar or bat mitzvah,” says Jeff Kutz, vice president of sales for Rock The House Entertainment Group, Inc. “They come to us because of our

award-winning customer service, planning techniques, roster of high-quality entertainers, and – most importantly – the experience that we have honed over 20 years in the industry.”

As Kutz describes, RTH doesn’t just bring a DJ or colored lights. RTH works with party planners to match any theme or take concepts to a new level through visual stimulation, for which he says he’s seen an increase in demand recently. Consider carnival parties with game

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Rock The House / Mariana Edelman Photography & Design booths, sports parties with basketball shooting arcade games and 15-foot long foosball tables, technology parties with interactive, activity-based lighting and bubble blowers, casino parties with slot machines and card tables. And, include confetti drops, cryo effects, indoor spark fountains and photo booths.

“If you dream it, we can do it,” Kutz says.

RTH also has options to energize and engage the audience with DJs, host emcees and “party motivators,” or dancers specific to the party size who work with the crowd to pump everyone up. Personalized party favors, whether customized photo booth pictures, LED glow sticks, light-up accessories, sunglasses and T-shirts, are also offered. From the lighting to the entertainment to the party favors, every party is treated uniquely to produce a party only experienced by those in attendance.

Kutz says RTH works with each customer individually to cater to their needs when it comes to party planning, even outside of entertainment.

“We take customer service seriously,” Kutz says. “Whether a family asks for us to simply plan the entertainment side of things or requests we join them for their venue tour and brainstorming sessions, we are going to do everything we possibly can to offer that service.

If we can’t do something or if it’s a service that we don’t specifically specialize in, we’re going to get them in contact with the right vendor

Top: A girl being lifted for the hora during her bat mitzvah, produced by Rock The House. Right: Punch Bowl Social’s mini golf course. Below: Shuffleboard in Punch Bowl Social’s mezzanine party space.

Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social 42 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

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Fall 2019 // Bar•Bat Mitzvah 43

that will.”

When it comes to booking with RTH, Kutz says there’s no standard “right” time, but it should be when party planners feel ready.

PUNCH BOWL SOCIAL Does a bar or bat mitzvah with bowling sound like fun?

What about karaoke? Putt putt?

Darts? An ’80s arcade? Ping pong?

Foosball? Shuffleboard?

With Punch Bowl Social in Cleveland’s Flats East Bank, there’s no reason to choose because the 27,000-square-foot entertainment venue features all those options, plus more.

“Punch Bowl Social is unique in itself because every which way you go into the venue, there’s something different to do compared to the next room that you go in,” says Taylor Wolfe, Punch Bowl Social Cleveland’s event sales manager. “There’s one activity here, and then the next room you go in, there is another activity. It’s very versatile. You can spend five hours in the whole venue and not even realize, ‘Hey, there’s this whole other area upstairs.’”

Punch Bowl Social’s party spaces contain different entertainment and amenities, such as the “360 space” containing a 360 degree bar, a six-lane bowling alley, darts lounge, fireside lounge, karaoke room, ’80s arcade, outdoor patio and cocktail seating. Another party area is the second floor mezzanine boasting a private bar, lounge space, shuffleboard, giant Scrabble board, karaoke room, foosball and billiards. The nine-hole mini golf course is available for rent as well as the various party spaces.

When it comes to food, Punch Bowl Social offers a menu of in-house appetizers, platters, buffet and drink options. From a taco truck to traditional American to higher end, b’nai mitzvah party throwers can also have a carving station, various beverage bars and desserts as well. If outside catering to meet special dietary needs is required, Punch Bowl Social can work with the outside vendor to meet those specific needs.

Punch Bowl Social works with party planners to make sure their parties are exactly how they imagined, and can work with outside entertainment companies, like DJs, to help customize the event, Wolfe says.

“We coordinate and see what the party planners are looking for through the events route and if there’s something that we can accommodate,” Wolfe says. “We try to do the best we can, and some things we can accommodate better than others depending on the event. We see what they’d like their party to consist of and we go from there.”

Wolfe recommends party planners contact Punch Bowl Social well ahead of the intended party date to guarantee room availability, especially around the venue’s busy party time of December and January.

WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport

Above: One of WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport Cleveland’s WhirlyBall courts.

Below: WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport Cleveland’s bowling lanes.

WHIRLYBALL Bar and bat mitzvahs don’t have to be in an old hotel ballroom where there’s nothing to do but overplayed party games. If a child is looking for a bar or bat mitzvah filled with excitement, adventure and fun, WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport in Bedford Heights is the place to go.

Featuring two WhirlyBall courts, a fast-paced combination of jai alai, basketball and hockey played in bumper cars; laser tag; six lanes of bowling and four virtual reality stations, the space offers an indoor family fun center willing to host a party of any theme.

Those planning a b’nai mitzvah have no reason to sweat the sometimes stressful party planning experience, as WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport Cleveland owner Rick Morad has more than 30 years experience of hosting parties and corporate events with the venue.

“It’s something that the whole family can enjoy,” Morad says. “Some of these bouncy places and (other venues) – it’s fun for the kids, but you know what, the parents aren’t going to get out there. Here, the whole family could do everything, which is fun for everybody.”

The venue is not open to

44 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

WhirlyBall/Laser-Sport the general public, so those hosting b’nai mitzvah can have private parties. The entire 30,000-square-foot space can be booked for a series of hours to allow for full usage of everything WhirlyBall has to offer, or specific sections can be rented out.

WhirlyBall offers catering from four local eateries: Pizza Connection, Corky & Lenny’s, Miles Farmers Market and Tang’s Wok. Catering isn’t limited to just one location, as party planners can order from any number of those four options and can select other vendors for a fee.

Adults looking to take a break from playing with the kids can enjoy the 100-foot bar space and the location’s 65 different options for beer, wine and soft drinks.

When it comes to outside entertainment, Morad encourages party planners to think big, because he’s more than willing

for party planners to transform the space in any way they desire. He’s seen Ohio State themes, sports themes, swimming themes and a beach theme complete with blow-up palm trees, beach balls and monogrammed suntan lotion party favors. WhirlyBall employees work with party planners to recommend outside vendors to help them devise a successful party.

Morad recommends those throwing larger mitzvahs with over 100 people reach out to book either the venue or a section six months to a year ahead. Smaller b’nai mitzvahs can be booked closer to the actual party date.

“From grandma to the grandson or granddaughter, they’re out there playing WhirlyBall, they’re on the bowling lanes, they’re in laser tag – and the virtual reality is something new, and it’s just pretty wild,” Morad says. BM

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Dave & Buster’s

SUPER SPOTS

Local b’nai mitzvah party venues offer unique activities for all ages

by McKenna Corson

House of Blues

B

’nai mitzvah celebration venues are often the first place the guest of honor celebrates Jewish adulthood surrounded by fun, friends and food.

Even though the phrase “location, location, location” is mostly used with residential properties, it applies to party venues just as much as it does homes.

However, for your child’s b’nai mitzvah, there’s no need for you to think too big, because House of Blues, Pinstripes, Dave & Buster’s and other local spots can do so for you.

HOUSE OF BLUES Party like a rock star – literally – at House of Blues Cleveland, the downtown concert venue where your child’s favorite up-and-coming artists have likely performed under the lights.

However, at your child’s bar or bat mitzvah, they will be the star of the show.

“It is House of Blues, but you can totally just take it over and make it your own,” says Julie Woyma, senior director of sales for House of Blues Cleveland.

And take it over people have.

Woyma has seen themes like rock, Mardi Gras and circus transform

the various party spaces from food and drink to entertainment, as well as with themes as simple as the color blue. From blue mocktails, blue lighting and Blue Man Group videos broadcasted on monitors, the venue encapsulated blue. She’s also seen fortune tellers, cotton candy stations and soft pretzel and ice cream sundae bars add to the space.

Those throwing the b’nai mitzvah are paired with a salesperson and logistics manager who work together to plan the menu of in-house prepared food and drink with the venue’s restaurant, room sets, entertainment and miscellaneous decor. And because the

46 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

Top: The game room at Dave & Buster’s. Above: The Cambridge Room at House of Blues. venue also serves as a concert hall, House of Blues can work with musical artists and DJs of any popularity level to bring them to b’nai mitzvah as headliners, taking care of everything from booking to hospitality to technical aspects.

Performers like country pop singer Andy Grammer and alternative rock band Jimmy Eat World recently performed for House of Blues parties.

B’nai mitzvah reaching a maximum of 200 people are encouraged to opt for the Cambridge

Room, a lounge space boasting wood flooring, a fireplace, high ceilings, large built-in bar and a stained-glass backdrop. Larger mitzvahs should go for the Music Hall, a funky, bi-level space with theater seating on the upper level, large collection of folk art from the South and attributes to different artists.

“Aside from that House of Blues parties are really fun, unique and people come in ready to have a good time – it’s not your hotel ballroom,” Woyma says. “It’s just a

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“We try to accommodate to what they want,” Duelfer says. “We talk to them, we see what they want and we make sure they have the specific space they would like and for it to look how they’d like. We just want them to have that space particular to them.”

Duelfer recommends booking Pinstripes for b’nai mitzvahs a few months ahead of the planned party’s date, but to work further in advance around the month of December when more companies throw corporate parties.

House of Blues

Pinstripes Top: The Music Hall at House of Blues. Above: The bowling lanes at Pinstripes. really unique space. We really pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop where we take care of everything for you and make it really easy.”

Those planning the festivities are encouraged to reach out to House of Blues to put space on hold at least a year in advance due to the venue’s popularity for other events and concerts. Prices also vary seasonally and range depending on selected amenities.

PINSTRIPES Instead of relying solely on a DJ or broughtin entertainment to set the tone for a great b’nai mitzvah, why not throw a party centered around activities everyone can participate in, like bowling and bocce ball? At Pinstripes in Orange, options are abound for an activitybased b’nai mitzvah, where those looking to throw a party can rent out bowling lanes, indoor and outdoor bocce courts and ballrooms to celebrate with family and friends, all with the ease of the party planned and executed for you.

“We can cater to both the parents and to the children with upscale options of food, bowling and bocce,” says Stephanie Duelfer, a brand ambassador for Pinstripes. “It’s not just like a

48 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

regular bowling alley and it’s not just like regular bocce courts. We treat you as a family once you come in the door.”

Customizable in-house food options include a bistro-style buffet, which has themes to choose like “Italian-American Feast,” “Wood Oven Flatbread Party” and “Slider Celebration,” all served with salads, desserts and drinks. Various platters, starters, premium dinner menus, family style options and beverage packages are also available depending on party size. Pinstripes also offers catering for outside events.

Certain menu items can also be interactive, such as the ability for guests to make their own pizza with a chef, gelato flavors sculpted into a cube and a chocolate fountain.

B’nai mitzvah planners can rent out a variety of Pinstripes’ designated party spaces like a ballroom with movable walls to change the room’s size, a large outdoor/indoor area with bocce courts with patio access, or the entire bowling area with 12 lanes open solely to the party.

Pinstripes assists b’nai mitzvah planners to bring in outside entertainment companies for music and lighting, and servers to help during the party to make sure guests are well attended.

DAVE & BUSTER’S If a party where your kids can transport themselves to another world with immersive virtual reality, speed down a racetrack in a race car game, challenge friends in a basketball shoot-off or escape ghosts in an old school game of Pac-Man are more their idea of b’nai mitzvah fun, then Dave & Buster’s in Westlake may be a good fit.

Those looking to throw a b’nai mitzvah can rent one of three party rooms, or choose to rent the entire building for a private party. There are a variety of party packages to choose from including a buffet or party platter, unlimited soda, “power cards” for additional game play and special perks for the b’nai mitzvah child like unlimited play and a “power tap” band. Besides any specific decorations or if a special DJ is needed, those throwing a bar or bat mitzvah have nothing else to worry about with the Dave & Buster’s special events manager covering everything to create a successful, fun party.

“We usually just do whatever the host would like to do, up to what we can,” says Desiree Bentley, head of marketing at Westlake’s Dave & Buster’s. “We’ve got the ‘you got it’ attitude. Whatever they need, we try to do the best we can.”

Dave & Buster’s has a pre-set menu when it comes to event food, but customizing it with the venue’s in-house restaurant is always encouraged to create a personalized buffet. From DJs to outside entertainment, Dave & Buster’s has recommendations and can work with those vendors to bring them to the party.

Bentley recommends contacting Dave & Buster’s for celebrations well in advance, but for parties planned for its busiest time in December and January, she recommends reaching out at least three months ahead.

She said party throwers should know Dave & Buster’s is willing to work with anything. She’s seen people bring in face painters and clowns, as well as seen Harry Potter’s Hogwarts come to life complete with owls.

“A lot of other party venues are just halls that people can rent, unlike ours,” Bentley says. “You can get the private room with the game experience with the food and drinks, and everything is already provided here for you.” BM

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New Image Photography / Burning River Entertainment Group

A PARTY FOR EVERYONE

By Michelle Jacobson

Beverly David Photography / StoneWater Golf Club

T

he guest list for a bar or bat mitzvah can be a collage of ages and types, as friends and family, including bubbe and zeyde, will be there to celebrate. With such a variety of attendees, it may seem difficult to plan a party that is fitting for everyone. However, parents can tie in creative elements that make the event one everyone will remember and enjoy.

To help make this day come alive, Gene Natale Jr., president of Burning River Entertainment Group, and Whitney Neidus, inhouse event planner at StoneWater Golf Club, guide parents through the process, including details that will leave a lasting impression.

THE PLANNING PROCESS One of the first rules to event planning is to start early. By meeting with the venue’s team, clients can better execute their vision for the party. Natale suggests starting around a year or eight months before the date. This will help reduce the risk of not

50 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

having the DJ or other entertainers available.

It’s also a good idea to have the celebrant included during the first sitdown meeting.

This way, they can include their input and the party planner can get a better sense about who the bar or bat mitzvah is, their tastes and personality.

“It’s a fun process,” Neidus says. “By going through menu details and letting the kids and parents be involved, we find out what’s important to them. We also get a better idea about

what their vision is for the night.”

The space also must work for children and adults. Make sure to work with your event planner to customize a floor plan that will be suitable for everyone. Do you prefer to divide the room with adults on one side and kids on another? Or do you want everyone together?

How should the tables be set and arranged?

These are details often overlooked, but should be considered early to help set the tone of the party.

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MENU OPTIONS Another item that should be on the top of the planning list is the menu. It’s easier to select food options when parents know their guest list and how many people will be in attendance. This will be a major driver for the budget as well.

A unique approach is to create one menu for kids and another for adults. By offering a more formal dinner style for adults and buffet selection for kids, everyone’s tastes should be met. Plus, it’s more fun for kids to be able to choose from a variety of foods.

Parents could also choose to host a brunch celebration instead of a traditional evening party.

“Get creative,” Neidus says. “A brunch is a great option for those who want to stick to a strict budget.”

To get everyone on the dance floor, the playlist should include a variety of genres.

A good way to keep all guests dancing is to follow the hora with song selections that are fun for everyone. Since the crowd is already gathered on the floor for the traditional dance, this is a great way to keep the momentum going.

“We play songs that not everyone would expect,” Natale says. “We make sure to play songs that appeal to all of our clients. For bar or bat mitzvah parties, we also incorporate Israeli hits.”

Having a DJ and entertainers who get involved with the crowd and make sure everyone is having a good time for the entire time helps create a fun atmosphere.

The event space can also be transformed to pique everyone’s interest. First and foremost, the space should be decorated to reflect the bar or bat mitzvah and the theme.

Burning River Entertainment Group provides elements that are show pieces, including special effects lighting, scenery and decorations.

Since the event is in an indoor space, lighting can be used to create a backdrop to display a skyline, bridge or other setting – allowing guests to feel like they are in a different city.

By planning ahead, considering entertainment and food options that excite all ages and learning from professionals, families can make b’nai mitzvah parties more successful endeavors for all involved. BM

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT Song selection and entertainment components are two of the most effective ways to get both kids and adults involved during a party. Whether it’s a photo booth, video slideshow, karaoke or face painting, incorporating a variety of activities will help create an exciting experience for everyone.

“We are working as part of a team to make it interesting for adults, too,” Natale says. “We have the party motivators who get everyone involved on the dance floor.”

One way they do this is by hosting games throughout the night that engage all their guests. For example, during a scavenger hunt, Natale’s entertainers will have kids collect an item from an adult guest. With this approach, both age groups get a chance to be a part of the game.

Beverly David Photography / StoneWater Golf Club

New Image Photography / Burning River Entertainment Group 52 Bar•Bat Mitzvah // Fall 2019

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