A few months ago, I photographed the fantabulous Bat Mitzvah of the granddaughter of one of my work friends.  As always, my eye and effort were trained on the Bat Mitzvah girl and capturing her day of glory but every once in a while when the Bat Mitzvah was otherwise occupied, this other young lady would capture my eye.  During down moments, I would reflect back upon the images in my viewfinder, smiling at the joy I captured for this wonderful young Bat Mitzvah, when there she would be again.  That other girl. This raven-haired beauty who captured my attention without even trying.  

I'll admit, the photographer in me took over and I thought to myself, "Wow.  I want to photograph HER Bat MItzvah, if only so I can just lavish in her Rapunzelian glorious hair."

Guess what.  I got the call.  

This little beauty decided to honor ME as her Bat Mitzvah photographer at Congregation M'Kor Shalom in Cherry Hill, NJ.  I have to admit, I was a little awestruck.  But even more shocking, even more awe-inspiring, is what I learned when I got to know this young woman.  Because that's when I realized, her epic, mythical, luxuriant hair was the LEAST of what made this young woman so incredibly wonderful, so incredibly special, so incredibly...beautiful.  

Anyone can see her outer beauty.  Her countenance is such that I don't even need to bring attention to it.  Every person who looks at these pictures will take pause that such physical beauty can exist in someone so young.  

But dig a little deeper.  When you do, you discover that her inner beauty ECLIPSES anything one can see with the naked eye.  She has to be the most giving, most compassionate, most upstanding, most unselfish young woman I have yet to meet in this life.  Need proof of this?  Need proof of why I am in awe of this young woman?  

Take a look at her centerpieces.  The one vital aspect of one's Bat Mitzvah that is completely self-indulgent.  The item that shows OUR desires, OUR enjoyment, tells the world, "HEY WORLD!  FOCUS ON ME AND WHAT I LIKE!"

Her chance to have the spotlight on her...and she chooses to turn that spotlight around on others.  To care for others who are less fortunate than her.  To take her moment, her time in the sun, and force that light on to those who need it more than she does.  

I mean, really?  Who does that?  And what thirteen year old does that? 

I am just in awe.

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