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Planning a Bar/Bat Mitzva

For many parents and grandparents, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel provides a young man or woman with an unbreakable link with what it means to be Jewish. Travelling together and experiencing the phenomenal renaissance of their ancient homeland, members of a family can help a child realise the importance of his/her Jewish heritage. Celebrating a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel leaves treasured memories which last a lifetime.

BAR/BAT MITZVAH CEREMONY LOCATIONS

A Bar/Bat Mitzvah is easy to arrange - whether individually, or by participating in a group tour where all the planning is done for you. Call us with your questions, on UK Tel: 0800 028 7579 or US Tel 1 866 854 1848.

Taking a group tour

More and more people considering a Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel leave the planning to the professionals - the tour operators, Jewish organizations, federations, synagogues and travel sponsors who can arrange group Bar/Bat Mitzvah tours.

The obvious benefit of these trips for many families is the relief from the work and pressure of planning. Even more important, perhaps, is that the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrants make friends with the other children who are sharing the identical event. It helps promote a more relaxed atmosphere and turns the trip into a true holiday for the entire family, as well as a remarkable spiritual experience.

Tours are arranged during school Holidays and invariably include a special discount, or even a free tour, for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrant.

Taking an individual family tour

Many tour operators, organisations and travel sponsors can also make similar arrangements just for your family and provide tailor-made itineraries. The advantage is the planning is left to the professionals, while the family enjoys its own privacy.

Doing it yourself

Of course, some parents who are familiar with Israel, or who have family and friends in Israel, may prefer to handle everything themselves. Here are some pointers: it is customary for a Bar Mitzvah celebrant to be at least 13 years and one day, according to the Hebrew Calendar, and for a Bat Mitzvah celebrant to be at least 12 years and one day.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism is delighted to provide a beautiful certificate to Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrants. The certificate includes the celebrant's name in scripted calligraphy, and is signed by both the Minister of Tourism and, if the ceremony takes place in the capital, also by the Mayor of Jerusalem. It is free of charge and perfect for framing. (If you are taking a group or individual tour with an experienced Bar/Bat Mitzvah tour operator/sponsor, this tour organiser will automatically make the arrangements for obtaining the certificate.) Requests for individual certificates for families planning the arrangements themselves must be made a minimum of 21 days in advance of the ceremony.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony locations

The Western Wall: the holiest site in Judaism, Jerusalem's Western Wall - once known as The Wailing Wall - was the last remnant of the Temple enclosure left standing after the Roman destruction in 70AD. In 1967, it became part of the modern State of Israel, and overnight became the central focus of modern-day pilgrimages.

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs at the Western Wall are held on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7:30am until noon. The Bar Mitzvah celebrant may read a portion of the Torah (maftir); reading the Haftorah is optional. Services at the Western Wall are in the Orthodox tradition, and men and women are separated by a partition (mechitzah); it is customary for Bar Mitzvah celebrants to wear tefillin.

Bat Mitzvah celebrants do not read from the Torah: instead, her father or other male relative is called to the Torah in her honor. The family comes together after the service, and the Bat Mitzvah celebrant recites a thanksgiving prayer.

Ceremonies at the Western Wall are free of charge, however, donations are gratefully accepted. Families may have their own Rabbi officiate at the ceremony. To have the Rabbi of the Western Wall arrange the ceremony, contact Rabbi Nahum c/o Tzvi Hoffman, Hechal Shlomo, Moreshet HaKotel, King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel (tel: 011-972-2-627-4422).

Jerusalem’s Southern Wall is no less holy than the Western Wall, for it is part of the remaining southern enclosure of the Temple Mount. Private Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies may be held here. Unlike at the Western Wall, ceremonies are held according to you and your rabbi's traditions - so men and women may celebrate, sit and pray together. The atmosphere is tranquil, the view of the Judean Hills and the Mount of Olives is haunting. The congregation sits on the ancient, stone Hulda Steps, the original stairs leading to the Second Temple. Your rabbi should make arrangements with the office in charge: Chevra L'Pituach Mizrach Yerushalayim 8 Shamai Street (POB 2395) Jerusalem 94631. Telephone: 011-972-2-627-7550 or 011-972-2-625-4404

Fax: 00-972-2-627-7962 or 00-972-2-624-7137

The Western Wall tunnels were excavated almost 30 years ago and are one of Israel's most splendid archaeological discoveries. Their galleries enable visitors to comprehend the enormity of the Second Temple (a construction of such height and vastness that it dwarfs the Dome of The Rock) and give a glimpse of Jerusalem as it was 2,000 years ago. Visitors can also reach the nearest accessible point to the destroyed Temple's Holy of Holies. Ceremonies here, like at the Western Wall, are strictly Orthodox. To make arrangements: (Tel) 00-972-2-627-1333.

The Tower of David Museum of the History of Jerusalem: Private Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies may be held in the historic courtyard and gardens of Jerusalem's 2000 year-old Citadel. For information: (Tel) 00-972-2-627-4111 (fax) 00-972-2-628-3418

The Hurva Synagogue: destroyed in the War of Independence in 1948, it is now a simple and elegant memorial graced by a giant arch which soars against the blue sky in recollection of the synagogue's shattered dome. It has become a symbol of the Jews' return to their holiest city, and it is an ideal site for a private Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.

Neot Kedumim: this 625-acre nature reserve, dedicated to the restoration of the ecology of Biblical times, lies between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It contains hundreds of species of trees, plants and vegetation mentioned in the Bible and Talmud: cedars and hyssop, olives, figs and pomegranates, grape vines, date palms and Jerusalem sage. It is also home to wild donkeys, ostriches, oryx, Golan wolves and fallow deer which are easily observed by visitors. Explore ancient olive and wine presses, and excavations revealing ancient threshing floors, cisterns and ritual baths. Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies can be Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist and include a tour of the nature reserve which connects to the week's Haftorah. Celebrations are held in Neot Kedumim's 600-seat outdoor theatre and vegetarian or dairy catering is available. Arrangements should be made by the Rabbi or travel agent with the Neot Kedumim Reservations Department:

(tel) 00-972-8-977-0777

(fax) 00-972-8-924-5881.

The Israeli synagogue of your choice is also an ideal location for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, particularly if you wish to hold the ceremony on Shabbat. For specific information contact:

The Centre for Conservative Judaism: (Tel) 00-972-2-625-2529 (Fax) 00-972-2-623-4127

Har-El Reform Synagogue: (Tel) 00-972-2-625-3841 (Fax) 00-972-2-623-4866

Movement for Progressive Judaism: (Tel) 00-972-2-620-3477 (Fax) 00-972-2-620-3446

Orthodox: Jerusalem Connection Resource Centre (Tel/Fax) 00-972-2-627-1283, or The Great Synagogue, (Tel) 00-972-2-624-7112, (Fax) 00-972-2-623-3620

• Masada: after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, hundreds of Jewish refugees escaped from Jerusalem and fled to King Herod's abandoned fortress-palace atop Mount Masada, near the Dead Sea. For three years, the refugees - known as "the Zealots" - lived, farmed and prospered atop the mountain, taunting the Roman besiegers from its summit. When the Romans finally breached the refugees' stronghold in the year 73AD, they discovered that 970 men, women and children had taken their own lives rather than becoming slaves. Masada was excavated in 1964 and has become one of Israel's most prominent and most visited sites. For Israelis and for post-Holocaust Jews everywhere, it is a symbol of Israel's self-reliance and determination that such atrocities will "never again" be committed against the Jewish people. Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies atop Masada are held in the remains of the Zealots' Synagogue, arguably the world's oldest synagogue still in use. Services here are conducted by the rabbi of your choice, according to Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist tradition. Arrangements should be coordinated by your rabbi, travel agent or relative in Israel by contacting Masada National Park: (Tel) 00-972-8-658-4207/8 (Fax) 00-972-8-658-4464 or

Arad Tourist Centre: (Tel) 00-972-8-695-9333, (fax) 00-972-8-695-5052.