Scaling Back Bar Mitzvahs

The recession is forcing a scaling back from the over-the-top bar or bat mitzvahs ("bar" is the one for a boy; "bat" for a girl). There's the religious ceremony to mark a Jewish child's entry into adulthood, and then there's the party. Before the economy went into a tailspin, competition for most memorable party made live bands, recreated movie sets, video arcades, and even a make-your-own movie stations close to the norm. Now the economic downturn is bringing outlandish bar and bat mitzvah parties back down to earth, and bringing spirituality back to the forefront. Rebecca Sheir has the story. Listen at the Public Radio Exchange.

(Photo by emilio labrador via Flickr/Creative Commons)