Temple Sinai is a Reform Jewish congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh where Jeremy Handler became a bar mitzvah this winter surrounded by his closest friends and family. The synagogue features beautiful stained glass windows that filter morning light across the congregation, and a private back garden perfect for family photos. I have always felt incredibly welcome at Temple Sinai and Jeremy’s bar mitzvah was no different.
Jeremy did an impressive job with his Torah reading! It was clear he was bright and respected and had prepared well.
Later that day we met up at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center in the Oakland area, where Jeremy’s parents had planned a COVID-friendly bar mitzvah party. The adults enjoyed cocktails in the hallway before joining the fantastic DJ Steve Maffei Jr who was leading the kids on the dance floor. The ballroom was filled to the brim with Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates decor. Black and gold everywhere! The Handler family also brought in a roaming selfie station and some t-shirt airbrushing. And of course an overflowing candy table… primarily black and gold, of course.
If ever a room were full of Pittsburgh pride, it was this one.
DJ Steve Maffei Jr kept the energy up through the night and the boys were all over the dance floor- and of course Jeremy went up for the hora, too!
Mazel Tov, Jeremy on becoming a bar mitzvah! It is clear you are very much loved. Thank you very much for allowing me to be part of such a sacred event. Here are a handful more of my favorite photos from your big day…
I really love being a bar mitzvah photographer in the Pittsburgh area. Happy to talk at any time about your or son or daughter’s coming of age ceremony and party! Learn more information here and then contact me to talk about your own child’s big day!