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

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Summary: An Exceptional and Inspiring Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guide
Review: MitzvahChic has taken me from concern about how to get everything done "correctly" for our daughter's bat mitzvah to being confident that I can provide my daughter, our guests, and our family with a truly enjoyable and meaningful bat mitzvah experience. I can't imagine anything that could confront you about the bar/bat mitzvah that Gail Anthony Greenberg has not thought of. The book makes the reader feel immediately comfortable, no matter what level of Jewish knowledge you have, by reminding us about the common elements that make life's celebratory moments so precious. It then teaches us how to conceptualize, consider, and interweave all of the important elements of the bar/bat mitzvah together in a personalized, insightful, and meaningful way. The book provides advice about invitations, themes (according to Torah portion), music, venue, timing, tributes, decorations, and mitzvah ideas for charitable giving among many other things. Timelines, charts, lists of resources, and beautiful color illustrations of the ambience that you can create are invaluable to first-timers as well as those who have "been there and done that". The companion website is also an absolute treasure. In an environment that seems the ideal complement to the book, the site includes a web-based community to share bar/bat mitzvah experiences and information plus a multitude of useful and time-saving links, including those that enable you to buy or create the gorgeous decorations and ornaments illustrated in the book. You can even email the author with questions and browse by Torah portion! MitzvahChic is all beautifully written in a personal style that entertains while it educates. I learned more about Judaism, the Torah, and the meaning of the bar/bat mitzvah from this book than from any other single source. This is a thorough, thoughtful, and accessible guide that has enlightened me about the planning and significance of our daughter's bat mitzvah, and has made me confident that I can proudly and warmly honor our daughter and all of our guests. I am grateful to have found it!

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Summary: An outstanding guide for parents and teens alike!
Review: MitzvahChic is the perfect book for parents who want the entire process of preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah to be meaningful, individual, fun, beautiful and rich with Jewish heritage. As a mom planning her daughter's Bat Mitzvah in August, this book gave me a starting place to think about the purpose of a Bat Mitzvah, and the practical ideas to carry these thoughts into every aspect of planning for this wonderful occasion. Gail inspires you to think creatively, while keeping in mind what it's all about. I know that my daughter's Bat Mitzvah will be more meaningful and more reflective of who she is and who we are as a result of this book.

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Summary: A wonderful book!!
Review: MitzvahChic is the perfect book for parents who want the entire process of preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah to be meaningful, individual, fun, beautiful and rich with Jewish heritage. As a mom planning her daughter's Bat Mitzvah in August, this book gave me a starting place to think about the purpose of a Bat Mitzvah, and the practical ideas to carry these thoughts into every aspect of planning for this wonderful occasion. Gail inspires you to think creatively, while keeping in mind what it's all about. I know that my daughter's Bat Mitzvah will be more meaningful and more reflective of who she is and who we are as a result of this book.

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Summary: Mitzvah Chic deserves an A+
Review: This book has been indespensible for me in planning my daughter's
Bat Mitzvah. It's very easy to read and the author will even email you if you have additional questions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning or will be planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. It would also make a great addition to your temple's library!

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Summary: Refreshing, insightful guide to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah!
Review: 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.....!

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Summary: An outstanding guide for parents and teens alike!
Review: This is my first e-review ever. I'm writing because I'm compelled to let other families know how much practical help and support they will find in this wonderful book! It has really excellent advice on both ceremony and party planning. It helps find a nice balance between the religious aspects and the party, without letting the whole celebration become overly sentimental. We had lots of professional help (florist, party planner, caterer); but MitzvahChic was great in helping us guide and communicate with our professionals. It sparked several new ideas with them, too. The enpowering tone of author made me do things myself that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. Our Rabbi let us write a tallit ceremony inspired by the book to honor a great grandfather! Our twelve year old used it to find ideas to discuss with us. Several guests commented that our speech during the service (written following the book's suggestions) was one of the best they'd ever heard! The resource lists alone are worth the price of the book! Overall, if I were to use just one B'nai Mitzvah planning book, this would be the one!

Rating:
Summary: A Mitzvah of a Book
Review: Wow, so well done. All the writing is so lovely and you can feel the full address, presence, and good will of the author, which is itself a blessing. I happen to believe in, to want, my daily life to be an address to god, to have it permeated with my faith, but I find that a nearly impossible goal. At least for this event in our family's life, however, we wanted the details to resonate as much as possible with meaning -- to participate in the conversation with God, which we hope our children will embark upon. Gail's book was the answer to our prayers. Thank you, thank you!

Rating:
Summary: A Godsend!!!
Review: Wow, so well done. All the writing is so lovely and you can feel the full address, presence, and good will of the author, which is itself a blessing. I happen to believe in, to want, my daily life to be an address to god, to have it permeated with my faith, but I find that a nearly impossible goal. At least for this event in our family's life, however, we wanted the details to resonate as much as possible with meaning -- to participate in the conversation with God, which we hope our children will embark upon. Gail's book was the answer to our prayers. Thank you, thank you!