[HANASHIR:8834] Re: B'nai Mitzvah celebrations

[LSalvay <LSalvay...>]

I don't know if this does away with the "reception" aspect of the b'nai 
mitzvah celebration, but it would certainly create a more personal, 
"Shabbos-dich" atmosphere for the event:

Conduct the bar/bat mitzvah weekend as a Shabbaton. This would require some 
kind of a "retreat" environment (but you could have guests pay most or all of 
their own lodging/food expenses, since it's a whole weekend). It would enable 
everyone who attends to participate in all the services -- from Kabbalat 
Shabbat through Havdalah -- and enjoy a genuine Shabbat experience together 
as they celebrate the simcha. Also, include some elements of Shabbat learning 
on Saturday afternoon (maybe even bring in a "scholar-in-residence"), and 
have family members/friends work together to prepare some kind of 
entertaining post-Havdalah program.

I imagine it would take quite a bit of planning and organization, but the 
rewards of a memorable Shabbat and bar/bat mitzvah event would be well worth 
the effort.

Linda Salvay

(P.S. -- I suggested this idea to my daughters several years ago prior to 
their own bat mitzvah celebrations. Neither of them was even remotely 
interested, I'm sorry to say.)

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+