Shrek 2

Amidst all the wild pre-Bar Mitzvah planning, etc., I actually took time out on Monday afternoon to see Shrek 2 with my daughter and two of her friends and the Dad of one of those friends. I laughed through the entire movie! Cute and clever. The storyline was maybe not as terrific as the first movie, but still I had a ball. My favorite character? Puss in Boots! Antonio Banderas is hysterical as a cartoon Zorro kitty.

Knitting-wise, I tried to make a kippah (yarmulke) using the beginning of the French Market Bag pattern. It starts off on 4 double points, making a tiny little square, and then increases until there are 4 nice wedges on circular needles. I really thought it might turn into a circle! Alas... I now have a flimsy, Koigu multi-colored square-shaped kippah. Oh well, I tried!

Things are here are pretty much Bar Mitzvah 24/7. If you have never been through it, it is almost like making a wedding. I have lists and lists and lists and THANKFULLY, I've been crossing things off of those lists like mad the past several days. My husband worked this afternoon on sprucing up the back patio, just in case it is nice enough on Sturday night to actually hang outside! That will be the informal part. The out of towners and a few special close friends and a few special gourmet pizzas. The formal part is the Friday night dinner (catered, thank God) at my house after Friday evening services at the temple, and, most of all, the luncheon at the temple after Saturday morning's service. My caterer is a gem and I just know things will be beautiful! The centerpieces (ballooms and mini hockey sticks with my son's name on them) are very cool and amazing that I got it together without much forethought. I had ordered the sticks and some hockey puck trophy-like thingies, but had no clue how I was going to deal with them. I took them to this Wonder Woman of party planning and she worked up these delightful centerpieces with the puck thingies in the center underneath two criss-crossed ministicks anchoring a bouquet of balloons. Thank Goodness! I emailed the DJ a list of our favorite songs and bands. I will call and confirm the photographer tomorrow. Nails get done tomorrow afternoon. Hospitality bags for the out of towners get done as soon as I log off the computer. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The MOST important thing, though, is that my son shines and enjoys this very important day. Not in the sense of performance, but in the sense that he has learned and accomplished so much while preparing for it. It is an enormous task that we Jews demand of our 13-year olds. To lead the congregation in prayer, to chant Torah, to analyze their Torah portion and teach of it to the congregation....

I will be the first to say that many Bar Mitzvah parties are way over the top, that they lose the meaning of the ceremony itself -- the taking on of adult responsibilities as a Jew, the recongition of this rite of passage, the transmission of faith and community from generation to generation -- but when you have seen your child commit themselves to study and preparation for all of these months, believe me, you want to celebrate that with your family and your friends and you want him (or her) to feel fantastic about their achievements! Rock on Zack!

Comments

[anonym]

Hi, tolle Page, tolles Design und super gemacht, echt klasse...freue mich!

[amélie]

allo je le touve sublime le chat botter et la fasson de parler (love):P :) ;)

[eileen]

I came across your website quite by accident and was taken by what you wrote regarding not only the preparations for preparing a bar/bat mitzvah but the enormous undertakings it is for the young adult. I am planning my daughters' bat mitzvah May 2005 and I can certainly relate. She is studying very hard, memorizing, and reading from the torah without transliterations. I can only say from one mother to another "I am so proud".
Eileen from Florida
P. S. I came across your website because I was looking for ideas for shrek centerpieces for a 4 year old birthday party.

[jo]

i want to knit my little girl a "shrek" sweater or cardigan - can anyone advise me on where to get a pattern?! please!

[jo]

i want to knit my little girl a "shrek" sweater or cardigan - can anyone advise me on where to get a pattern?! please!

[Julie]

Waiting for the report on the Bar Mitzvah! Having recently attended the Bar Mitzvah of a young relative and his sister's Bas Mitzvah two years ago, I must agree on what a difference all the preparation and study made in the lives of those young people. Like Sharon said, the poise with which they carried themselves was amazing to me, who only sees them once a year or so and it seems like they went from babies BOOM to young adults. And the parties! My six year old DD was priveleged to be among the few little kids who were invited and boy did she have a ball! In fact, everyone did, from age 3 to age 83, everyone was up dancing and having fun.

[Sharon]

Amen. This experience was a pivotal turning point for all three of my kids. While they didn't suddenly become "adults," they did make a leap in the way they saw themselves, and in their ability to present themselves in a poised manner to the adult community. The planning is horrendous, but it's also incredibly gratifying. You will remember this always. Mazel Tov!