20+ Fun Bar/Bat Mitzvah Entertainment Ideas, Party Activities & Games (2020)

Look at these shy tweens… standing there on the sidelines with their phones, instead of gettin’ Jiggy with it on the dancefloor.

But hey… can you blame them?

  1. They’re growing up in a social media world. Who needs the “real” world?
  2. Most Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties, to put it lightly, aren’t all that entertaining (read: most of them are BORING)

And when you put those two things together – don’t be surprised if kids are more interested in taking selfies, posting them on Instagram and comparing who’s got more likes.

Bottom line – this isn’t the 90’s anymore. Kids have smartphones – and they’re not afraid to use it.

There’s no point in denying it: if you want your guests to actually have fun at your kid’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah party – you’ll have to raise the bar (pun not intended).

And that’s exactly where these Bar & Bat Mitzvah party activities come into play… Read More…

Yummy! The Best Traditional Bar/Bat Mitzvah Food (+ Menu Ideas)

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Your guests came all the way to celebrate your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah… you’re not going to let them starve, are you?

Of course not! You’re like a Jewish mom hosting a Shabbat dinner: feeding and taking care of everyone!

Except…

This time – you’ve got a little more than a few guests on your hands. You’ve got dozens, if not hundreds (or if you’re a Russian Oligarch – thousands) of guests to feed!

Now… The only question (OK, 3 questions) is:

  • How do you serve so many guests?
  • What traditional Bar/Bat Mitzvah food should you serve?
  • Where can you find the best Bar/Bat Mitzvah menus you can use as inspiration?

Those are big questions.

Well, guess what? I’m going to help you answer each and every one of em’!

Excited? You should be!

Let’s get this food fest started…

Read More…

15 Gorgeous Bat Mitzvah Shoes for 12-13 Year Old Girls (2022) 

Amen V'Amen is supported by its audience. That means when you purchase something from one of our partners through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Amen V'Amen is also an Amazon Associate, so we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

You got your girl a beautiful Bat Mitzvah dress

“That’s it. All done!”

Hold on there, missy… where do you think you’re going?

Aren’t you forgetting something?

Something like, oh I dunno… Bat Mitzvah shoes?

Unless you expect your girl to arrive at one of the biggest days of her life barefoot, or worse – wearing an old pair that doesn’t even fit her anymore (hint: please don’t do that!).

There’s nothing worse than arriving at your own Bat Mitzvah ceremony wearing a million-dollar dress (figuratively speaking) with a pair of $1 dollar shoes (not-so-figuratively-speaking).

Oy vey, the madness!

How about we avoid that, shall we?

How about we look at a few stunning Bat Mitzvah party shoes that’ll make your daughter wish every day was Bat Mitzvah day…

Note: For boy’s shoes – check out our favorite, “kickass” Bar Mitzvah shoes.

Read More…

10 Classy Bar Mitzvah Shoes for a 13-Year-Old Boy (2022)

Amen V'Amen is supported by its audience. That means when you purchase something from one of our partners through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Amen V'Amen is also an Amazon Associate, so we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support!

When was the last time you stepped foot (pun intended) in a shoe store?

I remember the days we had to walk all the way to the shoe store, try on 16 different pairs of shoes, only to notice the store owner slowly getting annoyed that we’re wasting their time… Until you eventually had to give in and buy a pair… not because you liked it, but because you felt bad for the store owner.

Thank Goodness – those days are long gone… because today, you can buy any pair of shoes without ever leaving your comfy chair (or bed? or bean bag?).

Including… your boy’s Bar Mitzvah shoes!

Wait. Did I just say boy’s shoes? I’m sorry, I meant man’s shoes.

Because guess what…? Your little “boy”? Not such a boy anymore…

The young man is about to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah – the day he finally transforms from a kid → to a young Jewish adult (at least according to the Torah… hold off on the alcohol there, fella).

One thing is for sure: a Bar Mitzvah boy deserves to show up to his big day wearing a pair of fancy shoes.

That’s exactly why I wrote this article – to help you find the shoes your boy is going to wear as he steps up to the Bimah – and fills you up with pride, joy, maybe even a few tears.

Note: For girl’s shoes – check out our list of favorite Bat Mitzvah shoes.

Read More…

10+ Bar/Bat Mitzvah Symbols & Signs (And What They Really Mean)

When you attend a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony – you often wonder: “What the hell do all of these random symbols mean anyway?”

Random? That’s cute…

In Judaism, nothing is ever random. EVERYTHING has an underlying meaning… including the Bar/Bat Mitzvah symbols you often see in Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies.

In fact, there are 4 levels of interpretation (also known as PaRDeS) in Jewish scripture used to discover the true meaning behind Jewish signs and symbols:

  • Peshat (פְּשָׁט): Simple, straightforward explanation
  • Remez (רֶמֶז): Hints – symbolic or allegorical
  • Derash (דְּרַשׁ): Deriving meaning through inquiry (by cross-referencing and analysis)
  • Sod (סוֹד): Secret, mystical interpretation

In other words – Jewish symbols sometimes have simplistic interpretations, and sometimes they have such deep, philosophical meaning that before you know it – you find yourself in a deeper rabbit hole deeper than the one Alice went through.

And guess what? The rabbit hole starts right here.

In a few moments – you’ll discover:

  1. What are the most common Bar & Bat Mitzvah symbols?
  2. What do they really mean?

Ready, Alice?

Let’s get to it…

Read More…

Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel: How to Plan an Unforgettable Trip (2020)

Everyone, get your cameras out… it’s time to polish that Instagram feed with awesome pictures from Israel that’ll make your kid’s classmates (and their parents) drool out of envy!

STOP.

As crazy as it sounds – these days, Bar & Bat Mitzvah celebrations focus mostly on style, rather than substance.

We live in a world dominated by social media, where our kids are constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses (or Cohen’s), only to find themselves participating in this never-ending popularity contest called a “Bar/Bat Mitzvah party”… and guess who’s left holding the bill? (hint: look in the mirror)

Is there a way out of that madness? Yes indeed – celebrating your kid’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel!

A Bar/Bat Mitzvah trip to Israel is a breath of fresh air for parents who prefer an alternative path. A path that doesn’t involve stress, chaos, and a party that ends up costing you an arm and a leg.

A path that gives your kids the chance to (among others):

  • Take a break from the noisy world we live in and discover the spiritual side of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony
  • Discover their Jewish tradition, learn about Israel’s rich history and heritage, and visit the iconic sites they read about in the bible
  • Form their identity as a young adult based on eternal Jewish values (as opposed to Marvel superheroes)

Quite a different experience, don’t you think?

Now, the BIG question is:

“How do I plan a meaningful Bar/Bat Mitzvah trip? Where should we go? What should we do?”

(OK, those are 3 questions… but you get my point)

These are actual questions I’ve been getting from our readers for a while now… so I figured it’s about time I answered these questions and give parents some ideas on how to plan the Bar/Bat Mitzvah trip of a lifetime… so here we are 🙂

(It took me over a week to write it, so you better like it!)

Fasten your seatbelt ladies and gentleman. We’re ready for takeoff!

Read More…