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BAR AND BAT MITZVAH
SUPPLEMENT
Ceremony and Celebration Options
From a traditional ceremony at an
archaeological site to a unique experience in the heart of nature,
Israel offers plenty of options for an unforgettable bar or bat mitzvah.
The ERETZ Staff has scouted out a number of them.
The Western Wall is
by far the most popular site for bar mitzvah ceremonies, with the
synagogue atop Masada coming in second. Synagogues, both modern and
ancient, can be found in all parts of the country. The ceremony isn’t
limited to synagogues either – nature reserves, museums, kibbutzim,
archaeological parks, and even wineries, can be equally good venues.
The Western Wall
Heritage Foundation can arrange for a traditional bar mitzvah ceremony
at the Wall, followed by a private tour of the Western Wall tunnels. ...
For those interested
in an egalitarian service, the Conservative movement can arrange one at
Robinson’s Arch or the Southern Steps, both in the archaeological garden
at the southern end of the Wall. The site is popular for both bar and
bat mitzvot since there is more privacy and the entire family can
participate in the service together, said Rabbi Andrew Sacks, director
of the Israeli Conservative (Masorti) movement’s Religious Affairs
Bureau. The Conservative movement (www.masorti.org) provides a table, a
Torah, and someone to help conduct the service. Sacks emphasized that
for ideological reasons, the movement does not charge a fee for
facilitating the use of the Robinson’s Arch area.
Bat mitzvah girl Hadar
Yanovsky and her friends celebrate the occasion at the Bible Lands
Museum in Jerusalem. (Elijah Yanay/Bible Lands Museum)
Synagogues – Old and New
A synagogue is
obviously a natural choice for a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony. The
ancient synagogue at Masada probably hosts more bar and bat mitzvot than
any other synagogue in Israel. “Masada is a very meaningful place to
have a ceremony,” said Eitan Campbell, director of Masada National Park.
“It strengthens the youth’s connection to Israel and the Jewish people.”
Alternatively, the ceremony can be held at the beit midrash or one of
the other structures atop Masada, or outside, and arrangements can be
made to use a Torah kept at the site. The latest innovation at Masada is
that videoconferencing technology is available so that friends and
relatives who could not make the trip can participate from a distance. A
festive meal can be organized nearby. While there is a fee for the
extras, the only fee for having a ceremony is the site’s admission
charge.
A ceremony at Masada
can be arranged through many rabbis and tour operators, or directly
through the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which administers the
site. Campbell said it is best to send a fax to his office (fax. (08)
658-4464, tel. (08) 658-4207/8) with the desired, date, time, and number
of guests.
The remains of
synagogues also have been uncovered at numerous other archaeological
sites throughout Israel. ...
Another option is to
have the ceremony at a functioning synagogue. Jerusalem is home to
hundreds of synagogues where services are conducted in accordance with
dozens of new and old traditions. In Safed and in Acre’s old city, there
are synagogues that have been in use for hundreds of years. ...
More Options
Since the weather is
fair most of the year in Israel, a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony could be
held outdoors, on a beach, in a forest, or at one of the parks or nature
reserves. Many of the scenic viewpoints along hiking trails are suitable
locations, since they often have broad plazas and shade. ...
Another option is to
combine the bar or bat mitzvah with a visit to a favorite tourist site.
Many of the tourist sites offer special programs for teens and have
halls that can be used for both a ceremony and a party. ...
For example, the
Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem has a variety of programs that are
appropriate both for youths and their friends and for the entire family.
One of the most popular activities is a treasure hunt, says Odelia
Yatzkan, the museum’s coordinator of family programming; she points out
that it is good for groups of 20-30 people. The group is divided into
teams that must accomplish various goals, which take them through the
highlights of the museum and give them a taste of the ancient world, for
example by having them dress up in costumes. Another option is a
specialized tour based on a topic that is meaningful to the youth.
Pretty much any theme that you can come up with from the Bible can be
used. Bat mitzvah girls often pick the tour on women and femininity in
the ancient world, which includes light topics like ancient makeup and
jewelry as well as more serious issues. Other popular themes are a tour
based on the bar mitzvah Torah portion (though some portions are more
conducive to this than others), Bible heroes, and biblical animals or
plants. The bar or bat mitzvah youth can also lead part of the tour –
Yatzkan will send information by email and the youth can come to the
museum beforehand to practice.
The tour can be
followed by a workshop, such as jewelry making or creating oil lamps
from clay. The museum also is an attractive venue for both the ceremony
and for a formal party. It frequently hosts weddings and bar and bat
mitzvah celebrations.
Mini Israel (www.minisrael.co.il)
can arrange a special tour and fun educational activities that are
age-appropriate, followed by a screening of the movie about the site’s
creation and a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony and party. Located near
Latrun, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Mini Israel features hundreds of
remarkably exact 1:25 scale models of Israel’s most important
architectural, historic, archaeological, religious, and secular sites
and buildings. Mini Israel’s 8.5-acre display in the shape of a Jewish
star includes models of everything from the Western Wall in the Old City
of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv’s modern towers, to Mt. Hermon in the north
and Eilat. The models are supplemented by figures and accessories,
including skiers whooshing down Mt. Hermon and jets taxiing at
Ben-Gurion International Airport. One of the most popular scenes is the
crowd of soccer fans at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium doing the “wave.” The
50,000 plants in the park include 10,000 dwarf trees from more than 50
different species of indigenous flora.
“Mini Israel was
built for everyone in the widest possible sense of the word,” according
to Chaim Rogatka, the site’s CEO. “Children and parents, students and
soldiers, new immigrants and veteran Israelis, tourists, pilgrims,
seniors, the physically challenged, business people, official guests of
Israel, and other VIP delegations all enjoy this unique experience.” ...
A completely
different option is the visitors’ center at the Ella Valley Vineyards,
which is known for its fine kosher wines. The visitors’ center can host
events for up to 100 people in summer and up to 45 people in winter. The
events can include a tour of the winery, complete with an explanation of
the entire production process, a gourmet meal with matching wines, and a
wine-tasting session for the adults.
The Party
Israelis are known
for throwing huge weddings with as many as 1,000 guests. Often, the
wedding halls also can accommodate parties of smaller sizes, while
restaurants and hotels frequently have banquet halls that are suitable
for parties of 25-75 guests. Kibbutz guest houses and hotels often have
event facilities, for example, Ramat Rachel, whose gardens and halls
offer a great view of the Jerusalem Hills, and Kibbutz Lavi, which is in
the heart of the Galilee. Ohalo Manor, with its pastoral green lawns and
view of the Sea of Galilee, is a lovely site for a bar or bat mitzvah
ceremony and party. There is a synagogue on the premises and 70
guestrooms, many of which are specially designed to accommodate families
and the disabled. To add to the experience, it is possible to arrange
tours of the Naomi Shemer Museum and the eucalyptus grove she
immortalized in song, or hikes for nature lovers in the Upper Galilee
and Golan Heights. |
