By COLlive reporter
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, Tamar and Faivish Pewzner of the Five Towns, NY, had no idea how long the shutdowns would last. But as the weeks in isolation dragged on, they soon realized that their son Shabsi‘s Bar Mitzvah would not be able to take place as planned.
“We had to cancel the large celebration we had planned, but we decided, that since we couldn’t have the ‘Bar’ we would focus on the ‘Mitzvah,’ Tamar Pewzner told COLlive. “So the theme became, ‘Less Bar, More Mitzvah,’ and we just ran with it,” she says.
Together they came up with a plan to have a Bar Mitzvah with a positive twist, to give to others in honor of Shabsi’s special day.
They rented a luxury convertible, and all decked out in balloons and signs as “Shabsi’s Mitzvah Mobile,” they drove around their Five Towns neighborhood visiting the elderly and homebound, particularly hard-hit during the pandemic, and distributed flowers, gifts, and cheesecakes in honor of the upcoming Shavuos holiday.
The seniors were moved and delighted with the gifts, leaving emotional messages for Tamar with profuse thanks for thinking of them during their celebration.
The Pewzners then hosted a drive-by celebration for Shabsi’s classmates, who each received a copy of the book Positivity Bias, “which we hope will promote more positive thinking during this difficult time,” Tamar said.
A special visitor was Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, Director of Chabad of the Five Towns and a dear friend of the Pewzner family, who stopped by for a socially distanced l’chaim and joyous dance.
They later joined family and friends for a Zoom Bar Mitzvah, and keeping with the theme, featured addresses by lecturer Rabbi YY Jacobson and Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson, author of Positivity Bias.
“We focused on the Mitzvah, and it turned out to be a more meaningful day for everyone,” Tamar says.
While it wasn’t what he had thought his Bar Mitzvah would be like, Shabsi says he loved his “happy and meaningful party.”
“At first I was sad, but with my family’s help and enthusiasm, and fun surprises, (especially the car), I had a meaningful and fun party,” Shabsi said. “I was so happy to see the faces of the elderly people that we visited so surprised and happy,” he said.
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so special . Love all that giving and that wonderful resilient attitude.
those cakes look good enough to eat the pictures!
@_batya_naparstek
MAZALTOV MAZALTOV WONDERFUL, HOW VERY BEAUTIFUL BH
The Pewzner family is incredible!!! Love them dearly such special people.
Mazel Tov!
Such a meaningful and beautiful way to celebrate. Mazal Tov. Loads of nachas from your beautiful family.
Yehudis Leiter
Lots of Nachas always Besuros Tovos. It’s so beautiful .
חג שבועות שמח וכל טוב סלה.
I was so very touched to see that Tamar took a challenge and turned it into a wonderful and special Mitzvah. I’ve known Tamar for many years and this doesn’t really surprise me.
This is really beautiful!!!!
Wishing you loads of nachas!!