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Bnai Mitzvah

Iris’ Bat Mitzvah

Apr 20th, 2013
by kpikephoto.
2 comments

Bat Mitzvah photography burlington, vt

Iris celebrated her Bat Mitzvah two weeks ago at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, helping to lead the morning Shabbat service and beautifully chanting her haftarah. Her family and friends supported her on this day, by first attending the service and then, later, celebrating with her at a dinner reception held at the Sheraton in South Burlington.

Bat Mitzvah photography, Burlington, VT

Bat Mitzvah photography, Burlington, VTIris looked poised and beautiful, regardless of the purple cast that accessorized her outfit because of a broken leg. At least the color went nicely with Iris’ Tallit (prayer shawl), which belonged to her late mother, Laura Mann. Laura was warm and generous and loving and also the first nurse midwife in Vermont to assist in home birth deliveries. She was an extraordinary woman who’s life was cut way too short, in 2009, from Breast cancer. And as I photographed Iris on this day celebrating her glorious right of passage into Jewish adulthood, I smiled at the thought of how proud Laura would be of her lovely daughter.

Burlington, Vt bat mitzvah photography

The Saturday night party was a time for love and laughter, music and dancing. And while Iris had some difficulty maneuvering on the dance floor, she had no trouble being raised in a chair during the traditional Hora!

Burlington, Vt bat mitzvah photography

Whats a party without a cake! After the candle lighting ceremony, Iris’ friends (above) helped her blow out the candles.

Burlington, Vt bat mitzvah photography

I hope you enjoy this slideshow recapping Iris‘ celebration, to the song “DREAMS” by the Cranberries. (note: the slideshow is made in FLASH, so you cant see it on your IPHONE or IPAD. Please send all complaints to APPLE CUSTOMER SERVICE.)

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If you’d like to see all of the pictures in Iris’ photo gallery, please click HERE (You’ll need to get the password from Iris or her family to enter).

Burlington, Vt bat mitzvah photography.
Mazel Tov, Iris. I hope you always look back at this day with pride and joy. Your family and friends surely will.

Zaq’s Bar Mitzvah

Jan 2nd, 2013
by kpikephoto.
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Zaq became a Bar Mitzvah on the morning of December 8th and then, later that evening, he celebrated both his coming of age in the Jewish Religion AND the first night of Hanukkah with a party at The Round Barn at Sleepy Hollow.

Zaq’s Hanukkah-themed party commemorated both joyous occasions with music, laughter and fun. From Latkes, dreidel and lighting the Menorah to dancing, sparklers and roasting marshmallows over a fire pit, there was something for everyone.

It was an amazing day for Zaq and his family and there are so many fun pictures that I’ll just let the images tell the story… Enjoy the slideshow-with some rockin’ music from Journey and Red Hot Chili Peppers (NOTE: THIS SLIDESHOW IS CREATED IN FLASH so it cannot be viewed on an iPad or iPhone. RUN as quick as you can and find a computer or laptop!!):

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If you want to see all of the picture from Zaq’s celebratory day, please click HERE (but make sure you get the secret password from the family!)

David and Maddie’s B’nai Mitzvah

Jun 4th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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So, what’s double the fun of shooting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Naturally, it is photographing both a brother and sister becoming B’nai Mitzvah together!

David and Maddie, both hovering around their 13th birthdays, chose to celebrate together their coming into Jewish adulthood. The family did so on a recent Saturday evening at The Essex Resort and Spa, holding a joint B’nai Mitzvah service followed by a fun-filled reception. It was a heart-felt service, relaxed and unorthodox. Both David and Maddie recited their Torah and half Torah portions, along with additional prayers and song.

Afterwards, it was time to party and all the guests- kids and adults- enjoyed cocktails and dinner in the atrium, and one of the most enthusiastic Horas I’ve seen to date!

The kids ate quickly and then left the adults for their own DJ and disco lit dance party in the Ballroom. The grownups, meanwhile, stayed in the Atrium for some contra dancing along with caller Lausanne Allen and a great country band, including banjo player Rick Ceballos, and guitarist Matthew Witten.

Everyone had a ball and it was a festive night for all the guests. Here’s a fun recap of the day’s events, shot with the help of my mega talented 2nd photographer Jennifer Kiewit:

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If you’d like to see all the photos from David and Maddie’s celebration, click HERE (but you’ll need to ask the family for the password).

Rachel’s Bat Mitzvah

Mar 26th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
1 comment

Rachel celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on March 17 at Temple Sinai in South Burlington. It was a beautiful service, after which her family hosted a delicious luncheon catered by Susanna Keefer. Later that evening, a dinner and dancing reception was held at the Burlington Hilton , with Top Hat Entertainment helping to make the party memorable.

All eyes were on Rachel when she showed off her amazing talent as a dancer during the evening.

The Bat Mitzvah girl got a little help from her family at the end of the candle lighting ceremony.

There was so much love and emotion flowing throughout the day’s celebration. If you’d like to see a recap of Rachel’s extraordinary day, watch this slide show!

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If you’d like to see all the photos from Rachel’s celebration, please follow this link (but you’ll need to get the password from the family!) RACHEL’S PHOTO GALLERY

Mira’s Bat Mitzvah

Mar 24th, 2012
by kpikephoto.
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Mira celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on March 10 at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue in Burlington. Family and friends gathered at the Saturday morning service and Mira read the Torah portion she has studied most of the year. Since photography is not allowed at the Temple on Shabbat, I met the family on Friday to photograph Mira looking proud and lovely up on Bema, followed by family portraits.

This was actually a tag team approach to documenting this celebration. Since I was already booked to shoot another event Saturday night. my uber talented second shooter, Jennifer Kiewit, took over to photograph the Saturday evening party at the Burlington Hilton. Mira’s friends and family gathered for a beautiful Havdallah service and then the dancing and merriment which followed.

I hope you enjoy this slideshow, recapping Mira’s glorious celebration with her family (to the GLEE cast rendition of “Time of My Life”)
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If you’d like to see all of the photo from Mira’s Celebration, you’ll need to get the password from the family, and then follow this link: MIRA’S PHOTO GALLERY

Liz’s Bat Mitzvah

Apr 4th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
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Traditionally, in the Jewish religion, A 13-yr-old child becomes a Bar/bat Mitzvah with a service and celebration in Temple. It is a right of passage which brings joy to countless families around the world. For my (unrelated) cousin Elizabeth, she chose to embark on this spiritual journey as a 22-yr-old college senior. She began studying for her Bat Mitzvah after taking a 10-day trip to Israel last summer to explore her roots with a program called “Birthright“. She began to learn Hebrew and study the cultural and religious ins and out of her Jewish heritage. Saturday’s celebration was the culmination of a big year for Liz, but also the start of her new life as a Jewish woman.

I have to back up just a bit. I grew up with Elizabeth’s dad Rick as my “fake” cousin–our mothers were best friends and our families lived very close to each other. Rick’s mother, Dinny, was like my second mom and I loved her dearly. She died of cancer when Rick was in his early 20′s, newly married and Elizabeth was just a baby. I can’t imagine that Liz remembers much of Dinny, but she looks just like her and we have always felt Dinny’s spirit in Liz.

Well, Dinny’s spirit was definitely present Saturday in that little chapel at the Northeastern University Hillel, along with the spirit of Rick’s father Walter, who died not long after his mom. Liz was surrounded by friends and family, including her three siblings, parents, step-mother, aunts, cousins, and loving “fake” cousins (me and my sister). It was a joyous day, and though tears were shed for those who were not still of this world, their presence and their love was most certainly felt by all.

Please watch this slideshow to the beautiful Hebrew song, Od Yavo Shalom Aleneinu (Peace Will Come To Us), which Liz chose to include in her service.

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Liz and her siblings:

Sabrina’s Bat Mitzvah

Mar 27th, 2011
by kpikephoto.
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I love photographing Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations! It just makes me feel happy to see a 13-year-old kid work so hard to achieve something so important and then celebrate that achievement with family and friends. So, two weeks ago I had the priviledge of photographing Sabrina’s Bat Mitzvah celebration at Temple Sinai in South Burlington and then the party later that night at Main Street Landing.

Sabrina, who I first met when she was a baby, was poised and beautiful and confident. She thoroughly enjoyed reaching this milestone and sharing it with her friends and famly. The luncheon after the service and the party that night were both catered by Lauren, The Nomadic Chef and Supersounds supplied the music and games. And, as a special bonus for Sabrina, her dad’s band, Lokum, entertained as well, with some great Near East music.

I hope it’s a night Sabrina remembers all her life.

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If you’d like to see all of the photos from Sabrina’s big day, click here (but you’ll need the secret password from the family to view the full photo gallery)

Marcia’s Bat Mitzvah

Dec 17th, 2009
by kpikephoto.
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Marcia became a Bat Mitzvah  this month and her friends and family watched in admiration as she read her Torah portion and addressed the congregation from the bema at Temple Shalom in Newton, Ma.

Following the service, Marcia and her guests celebrated with a lunch reception, including games and dancing, a photo booth and an awesome chocolate fountain.  It was a wonderful afternoon, filled with love and family.

I should also note that Marcia’s mom, Sherry Levin, is an old grade school friend of mine and we both had our own Bat Mitzvah celebrations at this same temple–34 years ago!  My head is spinning…

Mazel Tov to Marcia and her family!

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If you’d like to see more, check out this fun slideshow:
 
 

 

If you’d like to see all 500 photos from Marcia’s celebration, please click here (and you will need to have the password from Marcia and her family to enter this gallery).

Eli’s “Rock Mitzvah”

Nov 8th, 2009
by kpikephoto.
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After a year of preparation, Eli R. became a Bar Mitzvah on October 10 at Temple Sinai in South Burlington. Surrounded by family and friends, he chanted his torah portion and led the Saturday morning service as he celebrated a right of religious passage as he moved into Jewish adulthood.

The celebration continued that evening at “Eli’s Rock Mitzvah After Party” held at Vermont National Country Club. The theme was ROCK N’ ROLL, as Eli’s first love is music. DJ Charlie Rice blasted out the tunes all night and kids and adults partied together, moving from the traditional “Hora” to classic rock and roll to old Favorites like YMCA and the Macarana! And the Bar Mitzvah boy himself took to the stage with his own rock Band and they entertained the cheering crowd, with Eli on vocals.

The only thing better was the chocolate fountain! Yum!

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If you’d like to see all 500+ photos from Eli’s big day, please click HERE (you will need the password from the family to view this gallery).

Explorer 8 does quirky things to my blog!

Jul 20th, 2009
by kpikephoto.
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I’ve just learned that when you view my blog with the browser “Explorer 8″, all of my photos look squished and distorted. So, until I figure this out and correct the issue, please do the following:

At the top of your screen, click on “page” and scroll down to “style” (it’s right under ‘text size’). Then click on NO STYLE. This will make the photos look like photos again, and not  weird distorted images that gives you a headache!

Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience. I have a call into Bill Gates and I’ll get to the bottom of this soon!

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