I don’t know what it is about Washington Hebrew Congregation mitzvahs and kids sleeping (not during the service I promise) but I always seem to find at least one. In every case but Sophie’s it has been at the end of the party and the kid has been a pre-schooler not a teenager. But, I’ll cut them some slack as we all need more naps in our lives and 8:30am for a teen may as well be the same as 8:30pm to a toddler.

The other great thing about Washington Hebrew is the ability to photograph the service. Watching the bat mitzvah and her family is a great treat for this photojournalist turned mitzvah photographer who gravitates toward real events over staged. And Sophie performed perfectly. It is not easy to get up in front of a large congregation reading a language you probably don’t understand, let alone chanting it. Audiences are distracting. Maintaining focus and continuing through those distractions is a testament to your strength and bearing. Mazal tov on the fantastic job done.

And I want to thank you Sophie for so many wonderful expressions during the slideshow. Normally, I get two to three good expressions but you gave me dozens and dozens. I hope you enjoy these few photos from the day. Check out the portraits in my last post here: Sophie’s Washington Hebrew Congregation Portraits