Florie’s Harmonious Bat Mitzvah
Low family joy is found in making music while celebrating Florie.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Florie Charlotte Low’s bat mitzvah was full of high notes and melodies on the weekend of Oct. 26. Rabbi Peter Berg and Cantor Tracy Scher officiated at both Friday night and Saturday morning services at The Temple with the lyrical addition of Shir Chadash, the Temple’s volunteer band led by Judy Cole, who performed at the Friday night musical meditative service. Florie’s parents, Heather and Jonathan, are both in the Shir Chadash group.
In addition to leading the Saturday morning service and reading parsha B’reshit, Florie sang two duets with Cantor Sher, Schiller’s “Oseh Shalom” and a rhythm and blues version of “Michamocha/We Are Walking In The Light Of God.”
At the conclusion of Florie’s parents’ speech, Heather sang Debbie Freedman’s “L’chi Lach,” with Jonathan on guitar. Friends later commented that they were moved to tears by the songs and service. Also on Friday night, Heather sang, and Jonathan played guitar. Florie performed “Adoni Safitivtah” in three-part harmony with Cantor Scher, Katherine Crosby, and Heather. Dinner was catered by Cava and decorated in a movie theme by event planner Sherry Habif.
Another unique feature of the weekend was the reunion of Shir Harmony, Atlanta’s all-Jewish female acapella choir, in which Heather performed for 20 years. Although they no longer sing together, the women remained friends. They sang “Shehechiyanu,” “Tena Tezna/Havanagila,” and “Hamotzi,” on Friday and Saturday.
In her parsha, “In the Beginning,” Florie explained G-d’s instructions to humans to take care of the Earth and its resources by making good choices. Florie’s mitzvah project, Hope Flows, provides Birthdays in a Bag to tweens and teens in need of joy during their birthday month.
Florie said, “What better day than your birthday to have hope. Birthdays are the beginning of a new year, a day to feel special and be hopeful for the future.”
Florie also raised money for pancreatic cancer and breast cancer research, diseases that affected Low’s family and friends.
The beach-themed kiddush lunch was catered by Breadwinner and decorated by Let’s Celebrate. Florie’s parents and grandmother, Ellyn Goldstein, donated to cancer research charities and to Hope Flows in honor of all guests. Guests took home pancreatic and breast cancer-themed bracelets and “beach ball” cookies made by Grandma Ellyn and Heather’s seashell-shaped chocolates.
The Saturday evening party at The 12 Hotel Atlantic Station was also decorated by Let’s Celebrate and combined Florie’s love of acting and the beach. Guests entered the ballroom through velvet ropes under a movie marquis: “Go with The Flow: The Beach Movie starring Florie Low.”
Prominently displayed among gold balloons and Oscar Award statues were six movie posters of movies in which Florie has appeared. During the photo montage, guests saw a glimpse of Florie in the three movies that have already premiered, including “Megalopolis” and “You’re Cordially Invited.”
Entering the main ballroom, guests walked into a “beach ocean” theme with boardwalk-themed food. Dessert was a popcorn bar, an ice cream cart, and a donut wall. Music by Atlanta Fever had guests dancing the entire evening. Button It Up made flip books, magnets and key chains; and roving photographers took pictures and boomerang videos of 4D ocean-themed selfie walls. In addition to prizes, kids took home candy, beach anklets, tattoos, stickers and more. Adults got candy and lottery tickets.
There was even more time for the family to shine as they sang a rock and roll version of “We are Family.” Florie joined in and then sang, “Oh, What a Night,” with substituted bat mitzvah lyrics.
Heather stated, “The weekend went smoothly because of event planner extraordinaire Rachel Goldschein with Gold Events and her creativity, unique suggestions and outstanding personal attention.”
Goldschein’s idea was to serve the rich toppings for the popcorn bar and her famous donut wall. Rachel, who was voted Event Planner of the Year in the AJT Best of Atlanta contest, also planned the kiddish lunch.
Florie is a seventh grader at David T. Howard Middle School where she is a student ambassador and on the debate team. An active Girl Scout, Florie’s hobbies include singing, pickleball, writing, acting, ventriloquism and her love of the ocean and beach.
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