When I first scheduled this event I had to make sure I had the date correct, because it was on a Sunday!  That’s right, during Hanukkah, the Torah is read every day, which means a young man can celebrate his Bar Mitzvah!  Jacob was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah in an intimate service in the cozy chapel of their synagogue, surrounded by closest family and friends.  As a photographer (who normally can’t photograph a Mitzvah service on Shabbat), I really enjoyed being able to capture these moments.  The rabbi was encouraging of my photography, so I was able to walk around, get up close, and capture the service from multiple angles. 

The family celebrated with a lovely brunch at their home following the service, after which Jacob got to go out fishing with some of his friends.  During the brunch, his dad’s Bar Mitzvah album was on display, as there’s a striking resemblance between the two at that age, so of course, we chose to recreate one of the photos.  Mazel Tov!