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The sweetest lesson might be
summed up by an image Howard
Young shares of watching his wife and
daughter laughing and crying in the
rain, dressed in bathing suits, soap and
shampoo in hand, as they showered,
courtesy of Mother Nature, before the
Friday night dinner.
Ment.cch tracht un Got latch. t. Perhaps
it's not ironic laughter but the laughter
of delight that sees families embrace
and support one another in the face of
upended plans. 11

ime
Cr
Tines

Janice Cherkasky of Gourmet Parties suggests the following when planning for a
bar/bat mitzvah party:

• 18-24 months ahead:
videographer
caterer
location for party
music: disc jockey/band

I

was wonderful."
The Rabotnicks were so moved by
their daughter's bat mitzvah weekend
that they decided to enroll her at Hillel
Day School for the eighth grade. Jamie
went from bat mitzvah tutoring to a
summer of Hebrew tutoring to catch
up to her classmates-to-be. She hopes
to attend the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit next fall.
Sandi Jaffa knows the impression it
made on Randi to have her communi-
ty rally around.

MMInr. L " I

0 1,

*

A Little Bit of New York
Right Here in Bloomfield Hills

:CATERING IS .4(
OUR SPECIALTY1V

FABULOUS PARTY TRAYS
& COMPLETE DINNERS
FROM AMAZING APPETIZERS*,
1, TO DELECTABLE DESSERTS *

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4

4

• 12 months ahead:
hotel

• 6 months ahead:
favors
calligrapher
invitations
personalized kippot

Debra Darvick, whose only party planning credential is that she organized her

son's and daughter's simchahs, offers these suggestions:

Purchase a three-ring binder and manila pocket folders. Assign one pocket to

each element of the event: Torah portion, Hebrew and English; your child's talk;

your address to your child; candlelighting text; party venue; music; meals; guest

list; calligrapher; table assignments. Have a few extra pockets on hand.

Computer programs abound for those inclined to organize electronically. But

remember: back-up, back-up, back-up.

Clothes: if you see it and love it, buy it.

Don't alter your son's suit too far in advance, especially if his bar mitzvah is

three weeks after summer camp. He's likely to have grown six inches and lost

seven pounds.

Keep your sense of humor. Everyone is coming to be with you and celebrate.

•GRADUATION PARTIES
* •BAR/BAT MIZVAHS
•OFFICE & HOME PARTIES
•MEMORIAL DAY PARTIES 3('
•FOURTH OF JULY PARTIES 4:

Barring blackouts and blizzards, most glitches go unnoticed. Stay in the moment

and savor the experience. Monday morning arrives sooner than you can believe.

6646 Telegraph Road at Maple Road
Bloomfield Plaza ■ 248.932.0800 1:

3/24

2005

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