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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.

 

Youths enjoy dressing up in ancient costumes during a treasure hunt at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. (Bible Lands Museum)

Rabbi Yehoram Mazor officiates at a bar mitzvah at Masada.

(Oded Hausner)

 

The full article on bar and bat mitzvot appears in ERETZ Magazine 102.
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