Peninsula Temple Sholom is a beautiful, modern space for prayer, community and reflection. Documenting the Peninsula Temple Sholom Bat Mitzvah of Shana, I loved that music was incorporated into the ceremony. The cantor accompanied many prayers on his guitar, and this really brought the congregation into the moment. The bat mitzvah guests eagerly joined the…
Temple Emanuel in San Francisco is one of the most spectacular synagogues in the Bay Area. The congregation boasts a cavernous sanctuary, beautiful chandeliers, imposing stained glass windows and a magnificent marble bimah. A temple emanuel Bar Mitzvah can be stunning. One of the biggest challenges to capturing a Temple Emanuel Bar Mitzvah is that…
Congregation Beth Am is a reform synagogue nestled in a tranquil space in Los Altos. Surrounded by nature, the wooden sanctuary has a subtle, organic feel. Ellen’s Congregation Beth Am Bat Mitzvah felt very warm and intimate. Many of the guests were Russian Jews, whose families had emigrated from the former Soviet Union. Ellen’s Bat Mitzvah…