Next up...

And that is it regarding Beorn's bar mitzvah!

The next major simcha we will be celebrating is Beorn's high school graduation this June. Although it is not going to be anywhere near extravagant as his bar mitzvah, I will probably still document what I can of it here.

Please stick around!

October 18th, 2006 Part II

OK, it was the fact that I'm on dial-up that I couldn't upload the videos before. Here they are, enjoy!














2011 edit: I don't know if this is going to work. If not, use the previous link and password to my photobucket to view the videos.

October 18th, 2006

I finally have both CD's I as expecting of the Bar Mitzvah pictures, and they have been refomatted to a reasonable size for posting.

Again, I only have pictures from the dessert buffet and the Sunday brunch, since we aren't allowed to take pictures at shul on Friday night and Saturday until sunset.


Beorn next to the dessert buffet before everyone started arriving.


Everyone singing "I Will Survive" by Donna Summer. I have video clips to upload, but I can't seem to figure out what to do on photobucket to upload them. :::sigh:::


Paul played DJ for the karaoke. He did a great job, too!


Hubba, Hubba!


The undecorated, but whole, Torah-shaped cake I made


The decorated Toah-shaped cake. We forgot to take a picture before we cut into it. The scrolls were chocolate jelly rolls with chocolate filling, and the center was white cake with chocolate filling.

Here are some pictures of guests enjoying the buffet.




Sunday morning we hosted our out of town guests for a NY Deli-style brunch. Dick (Paul's dad) brought up nova and belly lox and a whole smoked whitefish that Deli Den filleted for us.



There are pictures of guests and us enjoying ourselves on my photobucket Gator Pam - Bar Mitzvah album. Password: simcha.

LMK if you think I should post anymore here with further descriptions.

September 17th, 2006 Part II

Last Sunday we still had guests in town, so today was the first time I took Beorn to the "t'fillin club" at Lubavitch. He put on t'fillin for the first time (actually, it was put on him as he had no idea what he as doing) and took part in the morning minyan. Since he no longer has RS Sunday mornings, and Judaica High School starts at 12:15 p.m., I hope we can do this weekly.

He had to borrow a set of t'fillin. I hope we'll be able to afford a set for him soon.

September 17th, 2006

I just totaled up all of our expenses. I spent more than the $1500 I had budgeted, but that included a tip for the caterer who helped set up and break down the suedah shlitshis, and donations of $180 each to the Lubavitch Jewish Center and Congregation B'nai Israel. Altogether, we spent $2083.32. Not bad.

Again, I had no decorations, other than the balloons a generous congregation member donated. But I truly focused on the service, and found my family didn't need decorations or a theme, other then the one stated in the Torah portion of joining the community, to have a wonderful experience.

September 15th, 2006 Part VII

Another Addendum

I was volunteering at the shul today, when the mother of the young brother and sister who helped out during Havdalah (Erin) came up to me and said, "I want to thank you."

Me: "For what? I should be thanking you for coming to the bar mitzvah and for letting your kids take part in Havdalah."
Erin: "For having the most beautiful bar mitzvah service I've ever been to."

I just became speechless, and then gave her a hug...

September 15th, 2006 Part VI

:::Addendum:::

Beorn received a telephone call from a board member of Peaceful Paths, inviting him to a board meeting to receive recognition for collecting the 500 cell phones for his Bar Mitzvah project. We had to turn them down though, as I had a program to run that night.

Pictures to follow whenever I get them!

I hope you enjoyed. I am personally very happy with the way everything turned out, and am immensely proud of everything Beorn has accomplished.