Braden’s bar mitzvah

It was all smiles after Braden Feuer completed his Bar Mitzvah. Braden, front, is pictured with his family, from left, back row: Jared, Hugh, Laurie and Emma Feuer.

Braden Feuer and his family had his bar mitzvah, a Jewish coming-of-age ritual, all planned out. For more than a year, they had worked together toward the big weekend: Braden, 13,  had memorized his Torah portion, relatives were booked to fly in from out of town, his day at Congregation Beth Israel was set, and everything for his party – from decorations to the photo booth to a DJ – was organized down to the last detail. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Rabbi Adrienne Scott offered to host the ritual outdoors at her house. She brought the Torah to her home, protected by coverage under her garage, and the Feuer family brought their own chairs and stayed a safe distance away from the rabbi and her husband David. Braden read his Torah portion – about sacrifice – from a sanitized orchestra stand. Out-of-town family members recited their parts virtually; multiple laptops were set up so family members could participate. Pictured are Braden (in front) with his family (in back, from left) Jared, Hugh, Laurie and Emma Feuer. For more, see "A Different Path: Braden's Bar Mitzvah Takes a Turn" by Jennifer Oakley.

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