Spotlight Reviews

See what readers are saying! The following reviews are from readers at amazon.com.

An outstanding guide for parents and teens alike!
Reviewer: A reader from Texas, USA:

This is my first e-review ever. I'm writing because I'm compelled to let other families know how much practical help and support they will find in this wonderful book! It has really excellent advice on both ceremony and party planning. It helps find a nice balance between the religious aspects and the party, without letting the whole celebration become overly sentimental. We had lots of professional help (florist, party planner, caterer); but MitzvahChic was great in helping us guide and communicate with our professionals. It sparked several new ideas with them, too. The enpowering tone of author made me do things myself that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. Our Rabbi let us write a tallit ceremony inspired by the book to honor a great grandfather! Our twelve year old used it to find ideas to discuss with us. Several guests commented that our speech during the service (written following the book's suggestions) was one of the best they'd ever heard! The resource lists alone are worth the price of the book! Overall, if I were to use just one B'nai Mitzvah planning book, this would be the one!

A wonderful book!!
Reviewer: amyweb from Austin, TX United States

MitzvahChic is the perfect book for parents who want the entire process of preparing for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah to be meaningful, individual, fun, beautiful and rich with Jewish heritage. As a mom planning her daughter's Bat Mitzvah in August, this book gave me a starting place to think about the purpose of a Bat Mitzvah, and the practical ideas to carry these thoughts into every aspect of planning for this wonderful occasion. Gail inspires you to think creatively, while keeping in mind what it's all about. I know that my daughter's Bat Mitzvah will be more meaningful and more reflective of who she is and who we are as a result of this book.

A Godsend!!!
Reviewer: Joan from New York, NY

Wow, so well done. All the writing is so lovely and you can feel the full address, presence, and good will of the author, which is itself a blessing. I happen to believe in, to want, my daily life to be an address to god, to have it permeated with my faith, but I find that a nearly impossible goal. At least for this event in our family's life, however, we wanted the details to resonate as much as possible with meaning -- to participate in the conversation with God, which we hope our children will embark upon. Gail's book was the answer to our prayers. Thank you, thank you!

Mitzvah Chic
Reviewer: A reader from PA

Mitzvah Chic is a fabulous book. It gives great ideas as well as unique and creative ways to get away from the glitsy and overdone affairs which focus more on the party and not on the important part, the Jewish ceremony. It is a book all of those who are planning a bar/bat mitzvah should read!

Thank you MitzvahChic
Reviewer: Melanie from Merrick

I can't thank the author of MitzvahChic, Gail Anthony Greenberg, enough. This book has truly made such a difference in the planning of our special day. We still have 2 months of planning to go, but if the response to our celebration is anything like the response to our invitations, we are in luck. The invitations that we chose, after the suggestion from MitzvahChic, was so very moving to all of the recipients. In addition to being beautiful, the invitations were a donation that we made in honor of each of the invitees to the Jewish Foundation for Righteous Gentiles. We received phone calls from people who had heard about our invitation from their friends. Everybody is talking about them. Three friends now want to add mitzvot to be included in their affairs. By daughter is also "twinning" with a less fortunate 12 year old girl from Israel. MitzvahChic had put us in touch with AMIT who pairs you up with children in Israel who can't afford a celebration with their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and you send $250 to cover the cost of their celebration. My daughter has become penpals with this girl. My daughter also received an award and medal from AMIT and will be talking about this girl during her speech. Now that I have spoken about the MItzvah part of MitzvahChic, let me tell you about the Chic part. We ordered the most fabulous flannel pants as party favors. We have a local party planner who has borrowed my copy of MitzvahChic (and won't give it back,lol). We have found many more ways to incorporate mitzvot into our celebration and I give much of the credit to Gail and MitzvahChic. We may all celebrate, but let us all remember to add meaning to our celebrations. It has been a pleasure planning with your help. Thank you, MitzvahChic

Invaluable - and fun, too
Reviewer: cmccoy37

As a non-Jewish parent of a Jewish youngster, I can attest that Mitzvah Chic is what I am sure will be an invaluable guide to my daughter's Bat Mitzvah, circa 2008.

With sensitivity and humor, author Gail Greenberg sketches out the situation facing non-Jewish parents and details how they may work with the synagogue to make the most of this joyous occasion.

Her crash course in Judaism was immensely helpful. It was fascinating to realize, for the first time, that every synagogue in the world follows the same global schedule in Torah readings for the ceremony. And the delightful torah summary with its suggestions for further reading, as well as "viewing," is worth the price of admission alone.

One more thing. Greenberg clearly knows how to throw a really major bash - and her book can teach you how too.

An Exceptional and Inspiring Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guide
Reviewer: A reader from Phila., PA USA

MitzvahChic has taken me from concern about how to get everything done "correctly" for our daughter's bat mitzvah to being confident that I can provide my daughter, our guests, and our family with a truly enjoyable and meaningful bat mitzvah experience. I can't imagine anything that could confront you about the bar/bat mitzvah that Gail Anthony Greenberg has not thought of. The book makes the reader feel immediately comfortable, no matter what level of Jewish knowledge you have, by reminding us about the common elements that make life's celebratory moments so precious. It then teaches us how to conceptualize, consider, and interweave all of the important elements of the bar/bat mitzvah together in a personalized, insightful, and meaningful way. The book provides advice about invitations, themes (according to Torah portion), music, venue, timing, tributes, decorations, and mitzvah ideas for charitable giving among many other things. Timelines, charts, lists of resources, and beautiful color illustrations of the ambience that you can create are invaluable to first-timers as well as those who have "been there and done that". The companion website is also an absolute treasure. In an environment that seems the ideal complement to the book, the site includes a web-based community to share bar/bat mitzvah experiences and information plus a multitude of useful and time-saving links, including those that enable you to buy or create the gorgeous decorations and ornaments illustrated in the book. You can even email the author with questions and browse by Torah portion! MitzvahChic is all beautifully written in a personal style that entertains while it educates. I learned more about Judaism, the Torah, and the meaning of the bar/bat mitzvah from this book than from any other single source. This is a thorough, thoughtful, and accessible guide that has enlightened me about the planning and significance of our daughter's bat mitzvah, and has made me confident that I can proudly and warmly honor our daughter and all of our guests. I am grateful to have found it!

Refreshing, insightful guide to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah!
Reviewer: lindafab from Pennsylvania, USA

This book provides an inspiring, fresh look at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah process, which comforts, encourages, enlightens and informs in a concise and witty style. Her tone is conversational and very funny, yet the book is rich, intelligent and full of practical suggestions that can be used either as given or as a springboard for your own ideas. The author feels like your new best friend as you embark on this overwhelming feat of pulling off an American-style Bar/Bat Mitzvah without completely losing sight of it's deeper meaning. In addition to talking you through the whole process--from choosing a date to finding meaning in your Torah portion to designing a beautiful party that reflects this meaning--it provides many lists and charts and a timeline, all of which are extremely practical and easy to use. There are many money-saving tips as well...but the real strength and uniqueness of this book is that it revives an emphasis on the deeper meaning of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and takes that meaning well into the party. Beautiful photos, wonderful and artistic touches, clear and concise instructions. Her website does not seem to be "live" yet--I think the book was newly published at the time I'm writing this--but it looks like it will be a fantastic resource for information and products. I wish this book had been around when we first started planning my daughter's Bat Mitzvah, which is only a couple of months away.....!