MitzvahChic: How to Host a Meaningful, Fun, Drop-Dead Gorgeous Bar or Bat Mitzvah [Paperback]

Gail Anthony Greenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006

An indispensable, modern-day guide to planning the perfect bar or bat mitzvah, celebrating substance and style

There used to be only two approaches to the bar or bat mitzvah party -- a low-key event that reflects the solemnity of this sacred rite of passage or a big bash that has no connection to the religious service. For many, it was an impossible dilemma. Will a big bash trivialize and overshadow the bar or bat mitzvah experience? Will too much spirituality suck the life out of an otherwise fabulous party?

MitzvahChic is the first book that proves that if you want a truly amazing experience, you can and must have it all! Blending meaningful Jewish elements with high-style contemporary party planning, this inspiring and useful guide will show you how to have the ultimate bar or bat mitzvah -- a profoundly moving service followed by an unforgettable party. The MitzvahChic approach also shows how to honor your child in a big way, rather than reducing him or her to an overused pop culture theme or a single cliché: He's into baseball! She loves horses!

This must-have guide gives advice on the major decisions, the basics of the service, and the party details that really matter. It also features:

• A complete guide to the Torah, including dates and summaries of the portions and supplementary materials
• Eight complete, themed parties, including party favors, decorations, and photographs of sample tables
• A time line to help plan the bar or bat mitzvah up to two years ahead
• Instructions for being MitzvahChic on a budget
• Advice on how to include non-Jewish friends and family members in the ceremony

A practical guide to all things mitzvah from the Torah to the tablecloth, MitzvahChic will help create a beautiful, powerful, resonant, and unforgettable rite of passage.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"More than a plan book to create one perfect Jewish day, it's a lens through which the ancient ideas of Torah look modern and poetic. . . . Judaism has never seemed so cool." -- Sam Raimi, director, producer, and screenwriter

"Just the right mix of serious content and entertainment tips. Any family will be helped by reading it!" -- Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

About the Author

Gail Anthony Greenberg is a lifelong writer, editor, and crafts artist. Born in a small town, she saw her first bagel when she attended college in Boston. While planning her son's bar mitzvah, she asked questions that led to formulating the MitzvahChic approach. She lives with her family in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743284925
• ISBN-13: 978-0743284929
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #747,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!, December 6, 2004

By 

Susan (Long Island, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MitzvahChic: A New Approach to Hosting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah That is Meaningful, Hip, Relevant, Fun & Drop-Dead Gorgeous (Paperback)

Five stars are not enough - Fifty stars would be more fitting! We are 3+ years away from my oldest daughters bat mitzvah. I've been dreading this time mainly because of the meaningless and costly party that I felt compelled to throw for the occassion. While I am not at all religious, I do have strong feelings for Jewish tradition, culture and history, and wanted the bat mitzvah to have meaning and not be just another over the top theme party.

Mitzvahchic is packed with ideas from centerpieces to mitzvah ideas. I felt such relief in finally finding someone who shared my opinions with long uncomfortable candlelighting ceremonies and the never ending video montage! Were you aware the candlelighting ceremony has no religious basis but was created by a caterer to liven up the party?! Gail Greenberg is chockful of ideas to include these elements but in a way which is meaningful and truly honors those who are meant to be honored.

If you are in the market for a new approach to your bar/bat mitzvah get this book. You will be overjoyed. Gail Greenberg will become your new best friend. In response to the one reviewer who gave the book one star - it's obvious this was not someone who was looking for a new approach or someone looking to keep mitzvah in the occassion. Party planners plan parties. They don't bring mitzvah or meaning as that's for you to do!

Order this book NOW. You won't be sorry!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mitzvah of a Book, April 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: MitzvahChic: A New Approach to Hosting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah That is Meaningful, Hip, Relevant, Fun & Drop-Dead Gorgeous (Paperback)

I have never written an online review before, but the benefits of this book compelled me too, as a Mitzvah in its own right. My daughter and I were at a "Bat/Bar Mitzvah" fair, where, in between caterers, DJs, and people selling flannel pants, sat Gail serenely with her book. I liked the pictures in the book, the physical quality of the pages and as Gail was offering an additional time line book mark with it, I figured - why not? It turned out to not only be the most significant information I picked up that day, but in fact the most significant information I have received for approaching the Bat Mitzvah as a whole. My daughter and I both read the book, and it really influenced our perspectives about how to approach this milestone event (and helped me to convince my daughter that a NY Yankees theme was not the most significant part of her religious identity - although we did manage to figure out how sports related to her Torah Portion in some way - courage, perserverance...a point of the book as well). Not only does the book help put things in perspective (with NO PREACHING), but also gives actual, useful, information to implement a beautiful, fun, and spiritual Bat/Bat Mitzvah. From information about the meaning of each Torah Portion (and how to integrate that into the Bat Mitzvah as a whole), invitations, to decorations, to advice on catering and location (which I took, and literally changed the venue we ultimately chose), to mitvah projects and bima speaches, this book covers everything in a sympathetic, funny, and incredibly practical way. It really did change our whole approach to the Bat Mitzvah. I very highly recommend it.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, insightful guide to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah!, June 8, 2003

By 

lindafab "lindafab" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MitzvahChic: A New Approach to Hosting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah That is Meaningful, Hip, Relevant, Fun & Drop-Dead Gorgeous (Paperback)

This book provides an inspiring, fresh look at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process, which comforts, encourages, enlightens and informs in a concise and witty style. Her tone is conversational and very funny, yet the book is rich, intelligent and full of practical suggestions that can be used either as given or as a springboard for your own ideas. The author feels like your new best friend as you embark on this overwhelming feat of pulling off an American-style Bar/Bat Mitzvah without completely losing sight of it's deeper meaning. In addition to talking you through the whole process--from choosing a date to finding meaning in your Torah portion to designing a beautiful party that reflects this meaning--it provides many lists and charts and a timeline, all of which are extremely practical and easy to use. There are many money-saving tips as well...but the real strength and uniqueness of this book is that it revives an emphasis on the deeper meaning of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and takes that meaning well into the party. Beautiful photos, wonderful and artistic touches, clear and concise instructions. Her website does not seem to be "live" yet--I think the book was newly published at the time I'm writing this--but it looks like it will be a fantastic resource for information and products. I wish this book had been around when we first started planning my daughter's Bat Mitzvah, which is only a couple of months away.....!