Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitations

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Invitations: Traditions and Trends

The actual religious ceremony marking a Bar Mitzvah appears to have begun late in the middle ages. However, the Bat Mitzvah ceremony appeared much more recently; the earliest record of its practice in America seems to be reported in the 1920s. The New York Tenement Museum cannot document actual Bar Mitzvah ceremonies with photos. According to researcher Steve Long, curator of the Tenement project, “I would imagine they typically took place in the storefront shtiebels (tiny shuls) or big synagogues”.

Since the Bar and Bat Mitzvah is not the culmination of Jewish Education but the beginning of a life-long commitment to the study and observance of Torah, its celebration is an important and joyous event attended by friends, family, and the synagogue community.

Researchers at Yeshiva University deduce that the earliest Bar Mitzvah invitation in America was created in the mid-1900s. Before that, word of mouth (or a telephone call) was all that was necessary to gather family and friends for the event. Everyone lived within close proximity of each other. In the mid 1900s, the Jewish population began to disperse. As new communication methods became increasingly common and printing technology improved, the printed Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitation emerged.

Regency Thermographers (founded in the 1950s) was one of America’s earliest companies to focus on Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations. (Pictured is an invitation from the early 90’s.) The Mazel Tov invitation album was one of the first books developed primarily to serve the Bar and Bat Mitzvah market, and subsequently has become one of America’s prime resources for beautiful and affordable invitations and accessories; thousands of invitations from this book are printed yearly.

How has the invitation evolved? In the early 50s and 60s a typical invitation was printed on ivory or white parchment stock. Adding Hebrew to invitations was a difficult process requiring several time-consuming steps. From the simple invitations of the1950s to today’s more creative and elaborate styles, the trend in invitations in the last 50 years mirrors the advances in technology along with changes in lifestyle and trends. Regency responded to these changes and evolved into a full service celebration resource for Bar and Bat Mitzvah. As the market expanded, Regency did as well by placing strategically located printing facilities throughout the country; most orders can now be delivered within days.

Choices abound in invitations! Hundreds of new paper stocks arrived in the 70s; simplified methods of Hebrew translation arrived in the 80s. And, in the 90s paper layers, ribbons, add-ons, envelope liners and specialized Judaic design became the norm. In today’s marketplace, invitation text can be printed in several languages, including in numerous Hebrew font styles.

The invitation itself has progressed as well. Now instead of just selecting an invitation, families have the option of including a reply card, reception card, weekend agenda, hotel card, children’s party insert, a lined envelope, calligraphic lettering, and more. Yet interestingly enough, when compared to the 50 year inflated dollar, the cost of a simple invitation set (invitation, reply and envelope), has remained stable. For example, based on an average order of 100 invitations, the Mazel Tov album features contemporary and traditional basic invitation sets for as low as $2.50 per set (including reply, reception and envelope); however, the album also offers the choice of layered and more detailed selections at $5-$6 per set. Additionally, for those people who seek more elaborate choices, a vast variety of unique custom creations and ornate choices are readily available in today’s marketplace at prices reaching a high of $50 -$100 per invitation.

From the invitation to the celebration, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah should be planned as a unique, personal and meaningful event to be shared with family and friends. The joy of each Bar and Bat Mitzvah echoes the past 3,000 years of Jewish heritage. As a child steps forward and assumes new responsibilities as a full member of the Jewish community, he shapes the Jewish future. A

To find a Regency Mazel Tov dealer near you, or on-line visit www.regencythermo.com or call 800-423-4396