I had a blast photographing Sophie’s Bat Mitzvah.  The one thing that’s always choked me up at the few Bat/Bar/Binai Mitzvah’s that I’ve photographed is the display of love and support from families and from the synagogue communities.  The majority of the people in the room have worn the same shoes and understand how daunting, public speaking and undivided attention is for anyone, let alone a thirteen year old!  The words cited from the torah are words that have been cited from generation to generation for thousands of years.  It is all quite beautiful.

This Bat Mitzvah, however, was no ordinary affair.  It had the cultural fusion that only those of us who grew up in a big city can embrace.  She had henna done on her arm and hands, one grandmother prepared Persian Jeweled rice while the other, Baba (who flew in from Mexico,) prepared homemade baklava.  Sophie’s  Dad prepared some of the moistest and most beautiful breads that I’ve ever tasted (see photo) and while there was a Middle Eastern menu for the mature diners, there was also a taco bar for those with less experimental palettes.   Sophie said that she wanted to have an “Epic Party” and it certainly didn’t fall short!  Mazel Tov!  And enjoy this sneak peek!