Jamie's Bat Mitzvah

Jamie's Bat Mitzvah was amazing. Really, really amazing. The Rabbi said during the service that a lot of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are about the Bar or the Bat but Jamie's was really about the Mitzvah. The Mitzvah refers to an act of human kindness. Instead of a party Jamie, her family and friends put on a carnival for the kids at Vogel Alcove in Dallas. Vogel Alcove is an Early Childhood Education Center of Homeless kids. Several of the girls I have shot Bat Mitzvah's for volunteer at the center and they were there and they were all great with the kids. I absolutely loved seeing Jamie and her friends give of themselves to put smiles on the faces of the kids at the carnival.

So Jamie and her family started the day with a Bat Mitzvah service at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas.

A few family portraits in the garden at the hotel...

...and a few of the beautiful Jamie in the lobby.

Then, since the service wasn't at the Temple on the Sabbath I was able to take photos. Yay! It was such a wonderful service. First the Torah made it's way down the center aisle with Jamie and her family following.

 Then Jamie began reading from the Torah with her Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents around her for one of the Aliyahs.

Jamie reads an Aliyah with her parents next to her.

I love, love, LOVE this moment.

After the last Aliyah everyone threw candy. Such a fun tradition.

 After the service the girls and two awesome guys loaded this cool bus to go set up the carnival.

When they first got to Vogel Alcove they has some magical entertainment from Bo Gerard.

 Ross ended up part of the show. I photographed his Bar Mitzvah a few months ago. What a great kid and a good sport. Bo made him a "punching bag" balloon and he tried it out!

 The girls loved the show.

Jamie got called up agian to help with a magic trick where he cut the jacket with a sharp knife...or did he ;)

 After the magic shot all these amazing kids went outside and held a carnival for the kids at Vogel Alcove. THey had face painting, spin art, a DJ, bowling, beanbag toss, a petting zoo and snowcones. At the end of the day they had dinner for the kids and their parents. These kids inspire me. Today was an amazing day. Thank you Jamie for showing me that teenagers can do incredible things in their community.