CELEBRATING A
BAR/BAT MITZVAH
IN ISRAEL

The celebration of becoming a bar/bat mitzvah is a monumental event in a young person’s life. Whether you’re planning a bat mitzvah tour in Israel or a bar mitzvah tour in Israel (or both!), celebrating this milestone while sharing a once-in-a-lifetime family trip to Israel can be one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen your family’s connection to the Jewish Homeland.

We know how meaningful this celebration is for the whole family. That’s one of the reasons we love creating bar/bat mitzvah tours. We know it can sometimes feel overwhelming to try to put together an amazing event from far away, so we’ve put together this resource to help you figure out what questions you’ll want to start thinking about now. And don’t forget: your tour specialist is always available to make this process as easy and stress-free as possible!

Some families know their trip dates far in advance and choose a ceremony date afterward, while others start with the event date itself and then build an Israel trip around that. However you’ll be planning, it may be helpful to know that b’nai mitzvah ceremonies are usually held on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only (with some exceptions throughout the year).

For many b’nai mitzvah families, there’s no question that the ceremony will be in Jerusalem. The most popular spot for a Jerusalem bar/bat mitzvah ceremony is at the Kotel (Western Wall) Plaza (boys only) or Robinson’s Arch (the egalitarian section of the plaza). However, there are countless other great options in Jerusalem, and each one is special in its own way and meets different needs and preferences.

Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more unique, there is no shortage of significant sites throughout the country that are incredible options for your special event. If you’re having a hard time deciding where the perfect venue is, your tour specialist is full of great ideas and can help you narrow down the choices based on your family’s specific preferences.

The bar/bat mitzvah kid has been working hard preparing for the big day, but that doesn’t mean you have to work hard planning the perfect celebration. Whether you’re thinking about a kiddush table with bagels and coffee cakes, a family lunch at a local restaurant, a private celebratory meal under the stars, or a swanky cocktail reception, you’re going to want a point person to help with all the arrangements. Your tour specialist will be here to take care of all the details.

Don’t forget to add a fun or enriching activity after the ceremony! Here are a few ideas to get you started: a scavenger hunt around the Jewish Quarter, a cooking or baking workshop, a camel excursion, or an ATV adventure. The sky’s the limit!

If you don’t happen to have a local rabbi or cantor to officiate at the ceremony, we’ll be glad to help connect you with someone. You may also want to think about other ceremony-day personnel: photographer, videographer, musicians, hair/makeup, etc.

And if you’re thinking of planning a larger trip with the whole extended family and more, you may want to have a few trip extras such as t-shirts, personalized kippot, and all kinds of other swag to give to your guests as mementos.

And don’t worry: your tour specialist is on board to coordinate all the moving pieces and make sure the big day goes off without a hitch!

If you’re planning a Bat or Bar Mitzvah Tour in Israel, it may be useful to have some local support to help with logistics. There’s a lot to think about: finding an amazing location for the ceremony, connecting with a local rabbi, choosing a fantastic photographer, organizing a celebratory meal, and more! Your bar/bat mitzvah kid has dedicated so much time and energy in preparation for this momentous occasion, you’ll both want the whole day to be absolutely perfect. Of course, at Dekel Tours, we’re tour people, and we’re dedicated to helping you plan an unforgettable B’nai Mitzvah Family Tour to Israel, from arrival through departure and everything in-between.