A private, beautiful facility available to entertain your guests. Weddings
“I felt there needed to be a greater component than simply having parents write a check.” -Miriam Zager
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Bridal shoWers anniversary Parties CorPorate events Birthday Parties
•
Bring in a kosher Caterer 3 soCial halls
Temple Beth El
1305 sPringhouse road, allentoWn | 610-435-3521
For more information contact: Melanie May, simcha Coordinator | melanie@bethelallentown.org
2
Give a Mitzvah
DO A MITZVAH
Ron Kahan, owner
Capture fun, spontaneous and memorable images! The fun of a traditional photo booth with a twist. Great for a Wedding Reception, Company Party, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and more. powered by
danscamera.com • 610.434.2313
- Propertius
Sigal Museum
Northampton County’s newest historical collections
Your Event meets Our History
Celebrations
•
Meetings • Gatherings
342 northampton street | easton | 610.253.1222
northampton county historical and genealogical society
“Give the historians something to write about.”
Expertise in detailing the nest traditions 610.923.0511 www.theeastonian.com
Spacious Banquet Facilities | Seating up to 400 68 Guest Rooms | Jacuzzi Suites Complimentary Deluxe Hot Breakfast Complimentary High Speed Internet AAA Rating | AARP Discounts | Group Rates Indoor Pool & Fitness Center
610.923.9495
www.hiexpress.com/eastonpa
90 Kunkle Drive Easton, PA 18045
An Event to Remember
For that special moment...
extensive selection of unique & estate jewelry 528 N 19th St, AlleNtowN | 610.434.4437 Nancy h. Bernstein | nbjeweler@gmail.com
Best Western Plus Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center 300 Gateway Drive • Bethlehem www.lehighvalleyhotel.com 610.954.5000
www.hanovergrandeballroom.com
DESTINATION By Adrienne Wright Editor, Hakol
Bar/Bat When it came time for Nilaya Knafo, a seventh-grader at the Jewish Day School, to start planning her bat mitzvah, she knew she wanted to keep the focus on the spirituality of the day. So the next logical step was to fly across the ocean and celebrate the rite of passage in the holiest place around: Israel. “I really wanted to do it in Israel because it’s such a special place,” Knafo said. “I felt like it would be more important to me than having a party that doesn’t really mean anything. It meant more to spend time with my family in Israel.” It’s a trend that many have started following in recent years, forgoing the big party for a more intimate, spiritual experience. And, just like more and more couples are opting to throw destination weddings in exotic locales, “destination bar/bat mitzvah” is a term entering the modern lexicon as well. Some parents might balk at the logistics of planning a ceremony abroad, but Knafo’s mother, Angelique, stressed that by keeping the event small and intimate, you can save yourself many of the headaches that come with planning a big party. Knafo’s two-hour ceremony was held outdoors on Thanksgiving Day at the Davidson Center, among the 2,000-year-old ruins near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Afterward, the family extended the spiritual experience by traveling through Jerusalem and visiting various holy sites—a particularly rich educational experience for Knafo, who had spent the past year learning about the history, art and architecture of Jerusalem. Angelique said she was proud of her daughter’s decision to keep the event lowkey and meaningful. “We both thought it was very important to keep the experience authentic, and keep the focus on the ceremony itself,” Angelique said. Ultimately, Angelique said that celebrating this way helped put the mitzvah back in bar/bat mitzvah. “There are so many themed events that lose the purpose of the day, that focus on getting gifts,” Angelique said. “The focus should instead be on giving back.” Following in this tradition, Knafo started a charitable organization with her brother and sister called the Maurice Mitzvah Fund, in honor of their grandfather. The foundation helps seniors in need, and Knafo and her siblings regularly visit nursing homes to spend time with the residents and bring them gift baskets created with the help of corporate and private donors. “The seniors really enjoy seeing us, and we enjoy seeing them,” Knafo said. “It’s a great mitzvah.”
6 FEBRUARY 2011 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | EVENT PLANNING
Mitzvah
EVENT PLANNING | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | FEBRUARY 2011 7
N
WE CA
ALL! DO IT
SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE?
rist ideo flo pher/v otogra h p ent tertainm en s n o ti a it v in terer ca ction nue sele nt e v elopme v e d e em th rs rty favo nen pa ons & li ti ra o c . .. re de o .C. & m T.L
Lori Wiener | 610.398.8599 Suzanne Harris | 610.366.0202 inkredibleevents@gmail.com
FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
A FAMILY TRADITION FOR ALL OCCASIONS Formerly of Fleets Celebrating our 14th Anniversary
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M, T, Th, Fri, Sat 10-5 | W 10-8; Sun 12-4
PL Bridal Boutique Up to 80% off retai l
designer wedding dresses new & pre-owned formal gowns extensive selection alterations on premises formal accessories low cost NY- style DJ with over 15 years experience bar/bat mitzvahs & weddings
2159 MacArthur Rd, Whitehall, PA 4 84.3 57.9 0 69 www.plbridalboutique.com Tues-Sun 12-7pm & Monday by appt
20-25% DISCOUNT •Bar/Bat
Mitzvah and Wedding Invitations •Announcements •Party Favors •Stationery
’ s d i n E E N G R A V I N G S Enid Tope 610.395.4653
Holiday Inn Conference Center -Lehigh Valley 7736 Adrienne Drive, Breinigsville hilehighvalley.com 610.391.1104
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Weddings • Any Special Occasion
Barristers Club
For any occasion
big city catering breakfast & lunch
kosher bagels lvkc approved
Village West Shopping Center Tilghman St. & Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown | 610-433-8555
D iamond Sale
Loose, Jewelry & Mountings 25% Off
550 Main Street | Bethlehem | 610.866.3982 Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 10-5:30; Thur 10-7; Sat 10-5
THE PERFECT PLACE
for your next event.
Specializing in Weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs!
Contact an event planner at 1-888-454-1725 or visit www.bcmountainresort.com
Community M ission to Israel March 27- April 4
Pre-Mission to Budapest Departing March 23
Call 610-821-5500 or 610-435-3521 | Israel2011@jflv.org
Israel Highlights
Budapest Highlights
• 4 nights at the historic Mt. Zion Hotel, Jerusalem • 2 nights at the David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv • 1 night at Kibbutz Lavi • Wine tasting at premium boutique winery • Visit with makers of the electric car • Shop in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Safad artist colony • High level briefings on the peace process • Great guides and lots of touring • Explore complexities of Israeli society • Optional biking in Yoav
• 4 nights at luxurious, 5-star Kempinski Hotel • Sunset cruise on the Danube River • Tour House of Parliament, medieval buildings in the Castle District • Shop on Budapest’s famed Váci Street and the Szantandre artist colony • Visit historic Dohany Street Synagogue • Tour the Lauder Jewish Day School and the Balint JCC • Shabbat with members of the Budapest Jewish community • Tour the Jewish quarter, Jewish museum and Holocaust memorial • Briefing at US Embassy • Enjoy Budapest’s vibrant café scene • Dine at the famed Gundel Restaurant
from $2899 per person, land and air $1849 per person, land only
from $1299 per person, land only
We know the land. We know the people. We know Israel. A community partnership between the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and Temple Beth El