A young man in a tan-colored suit leans against the bark of an old tree in a park.

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Home » Blog » Events » Boulder Bar Mitzvah: Blake

A Day of Family, Ceremony, Nature, and Fun

Friends and family came together from across the country to celebrate Blake’s bar mitzvah in Boulder, Colorado at the historic Chautauqua Dining Hall and its surrounding Park.

The day celebrated a major achievement for Blake, bringing together all his hard work, study, focus, and dedication over many months. Many of his mentors, including his Rabbi, family, and friends spoke of his dedication to learning, curiosity, persistence in reaching goals, and his maturity.

The stories told showed Blake as an evolving leader. The kind of person who looks after his teammates and makes sure everyone has fun and moves toward success–together.

The bar mitzvah centered on integral themes of family, tradition, and learning, with elements showing Blake’s personality. Touches like a nature walk between the ceremony and the brunch illustrate Blake’s love of nature. And, the fact that most of his extended family decided to go along for a stretch, proves that love is mutual.

Blake’s 13 Challenges

As part of the preparation for his bar mitzvah, Blake created and completed 13 different challenges encompassing the spiritual, intellectual, and physical world. The goal was to gain skills for his emerging adulthood and beyond. He tried out many different experiences and developed a support system of peers and mentors.

Here is a quick summary of those challenges:

  1. Read a book about the Holocaust.
  2. Listened to stories from a Holocaust survivor.
  3. Learned how to make Jewish foods including bagels, hamantaschen, and matzo ball soup from his Mom and Grandma Honey. Blake also made the bread given to attendants at the end of his bar mitzvah service.
  4. Interviewed his grandparents about historic events in their lives.
  5. Helped with a home remodel, getting experience in how to pull off baseboards, rip up tile, frame, and use assorted tools.
  6. Worked on getting great grades at school, despite challenges in school format.
  7. Investigated how different businesses work and what they do to succeed.
  8. Explored the basics needed to open a business, should he want to do so in the future.
  9. Learned the ABCs of playing the piano.
  10. Studied how to read and say all of the blessings at his bar mitzvah.
  11. Learned how to read Hebrew starting in January, a great preparation to read from the Torah and all the blessings for the bar mitzvah.
  12. Got the hang of meditating through an app called Headspace which helped him to stay calm and sleep better.
  13. Started working hard at his passion for baseball so he can make the high school team, like his friends.

Outdoor Celebration

Following the ceremonies, Blake chose to celebrate his bar mitzvah in his neighborhood common area with food and a variety of recreational activities. Friends and family enjoyed playing wiffle ball, swimming, table tennis, and corn hole bean bag toss.

A slide show played favorite photo memories of Blake over the years on the big screen.

Everyone officially cooled off from the heat with treats from the Sweet Cow MooMobile ice cream truck.

Blake enjoyed helping the staff distribute ice cream flavors, giving everyone a true taste of summer.

Sneak Peek Gallery

  • Exterior view of the Chautauqua Dining Hall at Chautauqua Park, Boulder with flowers blooming in the foreground.
  • A grandfather helps his grandson with his tie before his bar mitzvah.
  • Grandmother helping her grandson by pinning on his Kippah before a bar mitzvah.
  • Both sets of grandparents pose with their grandson before his bar mitzvah in a garden.
  • Three brothers on a park bench at Chautauqua Park, Boulder, Colorado.
  • A young man in a tan-colored suit leans against the bark of an old tree in a park.
  • Six cousins pose together in a park.
  • A young man receives a pep talk from his mentor at his bar mitzvah.
  • An aunt signs the guest book at a bar mitzvah.
  • A seated guest opens the program of a bar mitzvah.
  • A young man with a microphone at a bar mitzvah.
  • Proud parents hold the Talli prayer shawl during the mitzvah service.
  • A young teen reads the Torah during his bar mitzvah with his mom on the right and his mentor on the left.
  • Close up view of the yad during the reading of the Torah at a Bar Mitzvah.
  • The Torah is held by a young teen at his bat mitzvah.
  • The Torah is respectfully carried by the grandfather during the bar mitzvah.
  • Proud parents wearing covid-19 masks watch their son lead the congregation during his mitzvah.
  • Brothers speak at the bar mitzvah.
  • Watching a mother and her son from behind on a nature hike following a mitzvah service.
  • Poppa shares wisdom with his grandson during a nature hike.
  • A young teen is picked up by his older and stronger cousin during a nature hike.
  • A proud mom and her son at his mitzvah celebration.
  • A young teen take the bat and swings during a wiffle ball game.
  • The bat suspended in mid air after the drop, the young teen starts to take off for first base during a wiffle ball game.
  • A young teen crosses the home plate during a game of wiffle ball.
  • Baseball coaches and their spouses share a table at an outdoor mitzvah celebration.
  • A view of the pitcher during a game of wiffle ball with outfield action blurred in the background.
  • Two photos showing the outfield play during a wiffle ball game.
  • A view of the outfield as the pitch is tossed.
  • An outfielder stretches his arms high and goes for the catch during a wiffle ball game.
  • A long view of a picnic table with the guests flanking each side at an outdoor mitzvah celebration.
  • A row of different colored striped beach towels hanging on a chain link fence outside of a pool.
  • The youngest brother signs the mitzvah guest book with three friends waiting along side him.
  • A young girl returns a ping-pong ball with her paddle.
  • A young teen returns a ping pong ball during a lively outdoor game.
  • A wide angle view of guests recreating in a swimming pool.
  • A young boy leans over to look at the cell phone screen of a young girl.
  • One long line of teen boys and girls hold hands and jump into the pool during a mitzvah party.
  • The baseball team takes a break from swimming to pose for a photo in the evening light.
  • A young teen assists the ice cream truck during his bar mitzvah.
  • Guests at a backyard bar mitzvah party celebration stand outside the window of an ice cream truck and decide on their orders.

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Photographer

Anne Stephenson is a Denver, Colorado photographer who captures honest, unscripted moments rooted in connection and story—reflecting who you truly are at weddings, mitzvahs, and beyond.

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