Seth Kaye Photography Blog » Bar + Bat Mitzvahs

Zach’s Bar Mitzvah

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:47:49 +0000

I recently photographed Zach’s Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Tikvoh Chadosheh in Bloomfield, CT, which later in the evening became a rockin’ casino-themed part at the West Hartford Town Hall. In between a charted school bus transported Zach and his friends from one location to the other. Here are some photos from that night…

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Marlee’s Bat Mitzvah

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:12:00 +0000

I recently traveled to the eastern side of Massachusetts to photograph Marlee’s Bat Mitzvah celebration, first at Temple Sinai in Sharon and later at the Thorny Lea Golf Club in Brockton for a rockin’ party. Here are some photos from the day…

We set up this shot of Marlee reading from the Torah just after family portraits at the temple.

A quick portrait.

Guests arrived as the clock ticked closer to the time for the ceremony to begin.

After the ceremony Marlee was ready to join her friends for the trip to the reception.

A bus was chartered for the kids (and a photographer) for transportation to the party.

Hanging out on the bus with the Bat Mizvah girl.

Everyone most certainly had directions to the reception, the bus led a convoy of sorts away from the temple.

I learned a few songs from the girls as we made our way to the reception.

Just inside the golf club’s entryway was a wooden chair that guests could sign instead of a guestbook. (I thought that was a pretty cool idea.)

The room was decorated with a beach theme, and balloons were seemingly everywhere.

The DJs handed out differently colored socks for the kids to wear to make dancing and sliding around the floor easier.

While I’m sure Marlee’s grandfather was enjoying the party, I caught him wistfully watching the golfers.

The party started in full when the DJs started the tunes.

Even the grownups got into it!

Marlee and her parents came out into the lobby briefly and I caught this shot through the slats of the chair her friends and family signed.

Each guest was handed a smooth stone to be placed into this bowl as an alternative to a candlelighting ceremony.

Marlee thanked everyone and her parents once all the stones were placed.

It was also Marlee’s grandfather’s birthday, who was surprised with his own little cake (which he really enjoyed).

More partying!

Marlee’s grandfather created a really nice slideshow that was played during the reception.

During the Hora, Marlee was lifted above the crowd on a chair while holding on tightly.

Marlee then shared a dance alone with her father.

The excitement lasted right up to the end of the reception.

Marlee hung out with her friends and played with some of the many balloons on the steps of the golf club after the main festivities were over.

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Ben’s Bar Mitzvah

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:50:00 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Ben’s Bar Mitzvah, which took place at Sinai Temple in Springfield with a reception, more like a great big party, at Chez Josef in Agawam that night. By all accounts Ben did a great job during the service, and he sure seemed be enjoying himself that evening. Here are some pictures…

I took this portrait with Ben holding the Torah earlier in the day, well before the guests arrived.

While Ben’s father and older sister helped put the Torah away, his younger sister decided to ham it up for me.

There was a little in-between time before meeting with the Rabbi prior to the ceremony.

The family and those who had arrived at that point met with the Rabbi for some pre-game words of wisdom.

Later that same day…

Ben’s grandfather said the hamotzi, a blessing over bread said prior to the meal.

The entertainment group hired for the evening got the crowd going with the hora, a traditional dance during which the celebrants are carried around on chairs while those assembled cheer them on.

Then the rest of the family got into it, too.

Ben’s father gave a heartfelt toast to his son.

Party time!

Dancers, a DJ and an emcee kept Ben and the rest of the crowd up on their feet throughout the night.

This was the first time I’d seen crowd surfing at a Bar Mitzvah.

The energy level was kept pretty high all night long.

What’s a party without ice cream?

High five!

Again, jumping dancers.

The entertainers handed out glow sticks and glow teeth to the kids.

The light show had some heavy shadows playing on the walls around the room.

And a final everybody on the floor at once dance at the end of a great night.

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