The Latest Bar Mitzvah Fad?

I was so delighted to contribute to this article in the Forward. The image above is of my niece Ruby in my bat mitzvah dress - with my mother and me standing behind her! I am so proud of her - she did an amazing job and had an awesome green bat mitzvah.

Here are some of the other green elements that were included in the event:
- the party was held at the Brevard Zoo so the money went to a good cause.
- they served organic chicken and greens
- Ruby wore a handmade necklace by Etsy artist Etcetrix
- Drinks were served in corn-based plastic cups

To read the article click here.

A Green Mitzvah in The Jewish Times

A recent article in the Jewish Times featured Josh Spokes (above). I commented on this piece and included links to some of the eco-friendly products Josh used on the Green Bar Mitzvahs blog. Click here to be directed to "Eco-Kippot + Dishes."

Another Green Bar Mitzvah In The News!

The New Jersey Jewish News ran a story this month about a green bar miztvah. Click here to read it!

Kosher Wars

Kate Epstein sent me a link to a big article in the Times last week about eco-kashrut. Click here to read more.

JNF B’nai Mitzvah Kit

My aunt Mindy just had her bat mitzvah on top of Masadah and said it was incredible to celebrate this special occasion in the holy land. The Jewish National Fund now offers a free b'nai mitzvah information kit which include "information on using JNF Tree/Water Certificates as Invitations, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Projects, Permanent Recognition in Israel, B’nai Mitzvah tours to Israel, and much more."

The JNF does a lot of great work in Israel and has planted 240 million trees since 1901! If you want to offset the carbon from your bar or bat mitzvah consider doing it by planting trees with the JNF. You can also support the JNF by purchasing holiday cards, mezuzahs, and other merchandise in their store.

Flowers for the Table

I rarely rave about flower books but I am so impressed with this one I felt compelled to include it in the reading room. If you are thinking of doing your own flowers or are looking for seasonal inspiration pick up a copy of Flowers for the Table: Arrangements and Bouquets for All Seasons.

Ariella Chezar is a master arranger, and incorporats fruit, vines and many unexpected items into her magnificent floral arrangements.

Here are a few pictures from her book courtesy of Amazon:

To buy her book click the link below:

Jewtopia

Amazon Book Description:
From Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson, the creators and stars of the national smash hit play, Jewtopia, comes the most hilarious, over-the-top guide to Judaism unlike anything you've ever seen. So comprehensive that owning a copy ensures that Elijah himself will show up at your Passover Seder!

This book is funny in a low-brow "dirty birdy" way. The pee jokes will appeal to any 13 year old while simultaneously conveying information about Jewish culture and history. A few sample pages from Amazon:

Bar Mitzvah Disco

Okay, so this book is technically not green but it is fun and funny and has terrific pictures and reflections from dozens of 1970s and 1980s bar and bat mitzvahs. It highlights some of the changes and developments in the mitzvah "trends" (e.g. the poster that every guest signs, the candle lighting ceremony, etc.) and helps put the whole thing in perspective. If there were ever a book that made an "over-the-top" affair look a bit silly this is it, so perhaps it is green after all. Plus - the introduction was written by the Village People.

Images from Amazon Search Inside This Book

Hello Cupcake

My brother called me today raving about a new booked called "Hello Cupcake." It offers clever, fun and EASY cupcake designs - perfect for any DIY bar or bat mitzvah. No special tools required. As one reviewer wrote, "Wow, wow, and WOW! This veritable encyclopedia of "mini-cake" decorating is so fun and easy that there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to lament "they can't". With the use of food items found anywhere, you will be making the cutest, and most impressive cupcake creations you can possibly think of, and Karen and Alan will make you legendary to boot! "

I downloaded these adorable and illustrative images from Amazon.

If you are interested in reading more about why cupcakes are green click here.

How to Be a Budget Organic

My mother - an avid reader of Prevention Magazine - sent me this article today on how to make thrifty organic food choices. It is a quick informative read on how to prioritize on a tight budget. Click here to read the article online.

Bar Mitzvah Project - Not a "Idle" Effort

Photo Credit: PScleanair.org

For his Bar Mitzvah project Brendan T. Eprile sent the following letter to families in his community to help raise awareness about the impact of cars on global warming.

Dear Friends,

For my Bar Mitzvah project, I am exploring ways to help make Bennington more energy-efficient. One issue I have learned about is idling. It’s tempting to leave the car running to keep the heat on when it’s cold, or keep the air conditioning when it’s hot. But idling has a serious impact on the environment and is a contributor to global warning.

This is some of what I learned from the website www.idlefreevt.org:

• When the car is idling, a significant amount of exhaust fumes penetrate the ozone

• If everybody in Vermont reduced idling by five minutes a day, we could save 65/000 tons of CO2 emissions a year

• The amount of fuel Vermont wastes on idling is more than double that of most states

• Fuel emissions from idling affect health, especially with children. Exhaust fumes emit chemicals such as Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide, and others. It could cause or aggravate asthma, allergies, headaches, and mental problem.

• Idling is bad for your car engine.

• Idling causes noise pollution too.

• Vermont towns, including Brattleboro, Burlington, and Middlebury, are leading the way in establishing idle-free zones.

But hope is not lost. Each one of you can make a very large difference without many repercussions on your part. Follow the “10-Second Rule”: Idling your car for ten seconds wastes more energy than turning your car engine off then on. If all of us do not idle, we could make a serious difference in the environment. Remember, everything you do has an impact on the environment. And by taking little steps to help global warming, we can make big change.

Thank you. I encourage you to consider having your school or workplace be an idle free zone.

Sincerely,
Brendan T. Eprile

His letter was also published in the local paper - the Bennington Banner. What a great way to get the word out about the effect of idling on Global Warming.

Greening Their Synagogue

Rabbi Joshua Boettiger sent me an e-mail with a nice article on the energy audit Vermont Interfaith Power and Light did for their synagogue. It has lots of good tips and provides an example of how our communities can work together to decrease our impact on the earth. Click here to read the article.

The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life

Every wonder what the connections are between Judaism and the Environment? Well the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life has an extensive reading room with articles on the topic that is definitely worth exploring (especially if you are looking for passages to enrich your bar or bat mitzvah speech). They also offer many other wonderful resources - from tips on how to green your synagogue to how you can raise money for your community while helping to fight global warming.

Volunteer Vacations

Here is a cool idea for a tikkun olam project- make a family vacation of it! For some examples check otut "Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others."

That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise

Yesterday Gail wrote in asking me about how to ensure you find eco-friendly products. Today I read an article from last week's New York Times describing the feeling of "burnout" people seeking environmentally friendly choices sometimes feel.

Click here to read "That Buzz in Your Ear May Be Green Noise"

This article offers some good resources to help you prioritize. I also recommend the book Hey Mr. Green - which tackles many of little questions about which choices are best for daily living.

More Hip Than Hippie

Hey - Green Mitzvot was featured today on the radio show "More Hip Than Hippie - Going on Staycation" - very exciting!

If you want to help get the word out about this site click here to download our PDF.

50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth

This is a new twist on an old favorite. This time...

"The authors have teamed up with 50 of America's top environmental groups, including The Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and Rainforest Action Network. Each group has chosen one issue and provided a simple, step-by-step program that will empower you and your family to become citizen activists in the fight to save the Earth.

It's easy to get started. Just pick one!
Fight global warming "one city at a time" with the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Campaign
Roll up your sleeves and save an endangered species with the Wilderness Society
Protect coral reefs and create a marine reserve with Seacology
Get your congregation excited about protecting God's creations with Interfaith Power and Light
Invite songbirds into your neighborhood with the National Audubon Society"

This book is a great one to have around the house!

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

Mark Bittman writes "The Minimalist" column for The New York Times. My father swears by his recipes -which are reliably easy and delicious. If you plan to cook for your child's car or bat mitzvah or just want easy recipes to give your caterer consider picking these up.

To Buy or Not to Buy Organic by Cindy Burke

This book as gotten excellent reviews. It was written by journalist and former chef Cindy Burke. She distills some of the politics of the organic food movement and reviews key terms like organic, local, sustainable and grass-fed. She also tells you what to buy and what not to buy. Good for those of us who want answers.

Kosher Certification

Interested in learning more about different Kosher certifiers and hechshers? Check out the following links:

650+ hechsher images and information = Hechshers.info
Kosher Information Bureau = Kosherquest.org
OU Kosher = Oukosher.org
Kof-K certification = Kof-k.org
Star-K = Star-k.org

Kosher Cooking

If you are thinking about cooking some of the food for your child's bar or bat mitzvah yourself, or just want ideas to give your caterer, consider picking up one of the following contemporary kosher cookbooks.

1. Kosher By Design Entertains: Fabulous Recipes For Parties And Every Day
"Building on her popular Kosher by Design, Fishbein leads readers through an array of extremely doable kosher options, covering finger foods to main dishes to desserts, while giving suggestions for organizing a menu, decorating a table and serving foods. International offerings like Pesce Arrabbiatta, Moroccan Short Ribs, and Caribbean Jerk Chicken appear alongside variations on familiar classics, such as Mexican Gefilte Fish, Strawberry Apple Kugel, and Mexican Brisket. The author is hip to trendy food items such as edamame, olive tapenade, fennel and porcini mushrooms, reinforcing this cookbook's value: yes, every dish is kosher, but far from old-fashioned. "



2. Quick & Kosher - Recipes From The Bride Who Knew Nothing
"This is the hilarious story of Jamie Geller, a spunky young TV exec who came into marriage and kosher cooking without knowing a spatula from a saucepan. Determined to master cooking, yet pressed for time, she was dismayed to find that most cookbooks consider an hour of preparation time quick, and presumed more culinary skill than many of us have. So Jamie set out to compile her own special collection of quick and easy recipes and Quick & Kosher is the result of her quest. This one-of-a-kind cookbook contains more than 160 recipes requiring no more than 15 minutes to prepare, 120 full-color photos, clear step-by-step instructions, reliable prep and cooking times, tips and techniques, and advice on pairing wines with various dishes. Recipes range from traditional to exotic, and are well indexed and cross-referenced."


3. Hip Kosher: 175 Easy-to-Prepare Recipes for Today's Kosher Cooks
"This book is a great find - from fun recipes filled with loads of learning made easy. I look forward to flipping through the pages and finding a new recipe to try - they've all been hits with our friends so far. Easy to follow - definitely well tested - and they all paste the taste test of top notch food! Thank you, Ms. Ronnie Fein, for bringing this book to us!" - AS.R. Crow

A Greener Apple

Okay - so electronics probably aren't the first thing you think of when you think "green," but a lot of kids get new gadgets for their bar and bat mitzvahs. Therefore, I thought you might be interested to know about some of the things one of the greener electronic companies are doing. Click here to read about how Apple is leading the way.

If you are looking for a new phone or iPod, consider getting an all-in-one iPhone and reduce the number of devices you need...



If you are looking for a new computer you can be even greener by buying a refurbished (aka recycled) model...



Remember, when your old electronics break don't throw them away! Google your state's name and the words "e-waste recycling" or "cell phone recycling" etc. to find local drop off points for everything form microwaves to old televisions.

MitzvahChic: How to Host a Meaningful, Fun, Drop-Dead Gorgeous Bar or Bat Mitzvah

My sister bought this book and thought it was really well done, helpful and clever. As one Amazon reader wrote:

"Five stars are not enough - Fifty stars would be more fitting!"

For Kids--Putting God on Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
Reminds our young people that becoming b'nai mitzvah is less about the quality of their performance than about the quality of their lives. It is an important contribution in helping our youth make coming of age a sacred passage. (Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (Reconstructionist), author of In God's Name; God's Paintbrush; and other books)

And I liked what this Amazon reviewer said:

"In the frenzy of preparing for the big day, it can be easy to lose the focus and meaning of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Many kids may wonder "What is this really all about? Why am I doing this?" This inspiring, clearly-written book urges kids to think about the deeper meaning of the ceremony and of being a Jew. The emphasis is on spirituality and being mindful of God's presence everyday. I especially liked the section with suggestions and resources for acts of tzedakah as well as little mitzvahs."

Here are links to both the adult and child versions:

Simply Green - Danny Seo

Danny Seo (picture above taken from his blog Daily Danny), has often been compared to a green Martha Stewart. Now he has two "Simply Green" books available - each with wonderful pictures and ideas that could enhance any party.



He also has a calender with one green thing to do a day:

The Tofu Tollbooth - by Elizabeth Zipern + Dar Williams

The Tofu Tollbooth is considered a bible for vegetarian and vegan travel. It lists restaurants, health food stores and other naturally inclined venues by state:

"The guide contains more than 1,000 health-food options, and for each site, the concise write-ups contain address and phone number, directions from the highways (a wonderful addition), hours of operation, and the parade of cute icons that let you know what to expect to find there (once you memorize that the face with beret stands for café, the carrot in a glass denotes juice bar, and the hot pepper means an especially hot tip)." - Amazon.com

This book is not only good for road trips - it can also help you find sources of natural food for your bar or bat mitzvah!


If you like folk music and do not own any of Dar Williams albums I also highly recommend checking out some of her CDs:



You can also download her music directly from iTunes

Make paper flowers for decorations!

Fanciful Paper Flowers: Creative Techniques for Crafting an Enchanted Garden

From amazon:
Eleven different paper flower-making techniques, three projects for each, all developed by a proven author with an enchanting, whimsical, flea-market-meets-fantasy sensibility: that’s what makes this volume so irresistible. Sandra Evertson follows up her Fanciful Paper Projects with a fabulously feminine collection of paper flower jewelry, garlands, barrettes, hatpins, ornaments, and decorative objects ... Each chapter features a page from her very own sketchbook, plus she’s provided several pages of vintage ephemera, templates, and her original papers for readers to copy and use... this collection truly offers a garden of artistic possibilities!



Paper Bouquet: Using Paper Punches to Create Beautiful Flowers

From Amazon:
Cherry blossoms, forsythia, marigolds, and petunias: Who would have imagined you could recreate such gorgeous blooms with just paper and craft punches? ... Using her own original, unique techniques, Susan Tierney Cockburn offers 40 beloved flowers to make for decorating gifts and home décor. She teaches the simple basics, including paper manipulation, gluing, and coloring, and presents her flowers as colorfully as they’re found in nature. From A (Amaryllis) to Z (Zinnia), there’s a bountiful bouquet of blooms to choose from! Photographs document every step, and a visual template of the punches accompanies each flower. A dozen sample projects range from picture frames to wreaths.



I also recently came across Origami Flowers: Popular Blossoms and Creative Bouquets which looks fantastic!



You can do these projects with leftover and recycled paper from your house or use colorful origami paper made from rice (link available on the DIY page of the look book).

Happy crafting!

Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking

Interested in making your own invitations or save-the-dates? Check out this book from the definitive expert!

"Master papermaker Grummer (Tin Can Papermaking) presents a detailed and well-illustrated guide to recycling all sorts of wastepaper into one-of-a-kind handmade paper. Home papermaking can be done with easily obtained equipment such as a blender. The techniques are all well laid out with good illustrations and explanations of the properties of paper. Practice projects are included. This complete guide is highly recommended for crafts collections." - Amazon

Arnold Grummer also offers a complete line of paper making supplies - see the DIY page for two of their most popular kits.

Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Paper Casting

Interested in making your own table decor or favor? Consider paper casting.

"This new book offers readers clear, step-by-step instructions, tips, and techniques for the craft of paper casting. Covers the basics of casting, drying, tinting, and surface finishing, as well as project ideas for making paper casts with readily available molds and rubber stamps. Readers will also learn how to make their own molds with everyday objects, such as brass plates, bowls, shells, leaves, and paw prints. Paper-casted bowls, plaques, and other items can be decorated and embellished to suit any home décor." - Amazon