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Planning a Bar Mitzvah in Israel? It doesn’t need to be a hassle.

[additional-authors]
June 15, 2017

My third son Avi’s Bar Mitzvah is fast approaching! Although I used an event planner for my eldest and second sons’ Bar Mitzvahs, I decided to plan everything myself this time around. Boy, do I regret it!

 I would especially advise families coming from abroad not to even attempt planning everything on their own. Yes, I know that now, in the age of the internet, it’s super-easy Google synagogues, jeep trips, Masada tours and hotel rooms online. However, it’s impossible to foresee all the nitty gritty details. Most Bar Mitzvah event planners who deal with American clientele, have years of experience under their belts and can add all those special custom touches that you or I would never be able to pull off. Anyway, us Moms-of-Bar-Mitzvah-boys have so much on our minds during the pre-Bar months, that hiring an event planner is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

That being said, let me tell you about my Avi. He’s soooo excited about his upcoming Bar Mitzva, it’s the cutest thing ever! In addition to his basketball practice, swimming and riding lessons, homework and more, he now attends group Bar Mitzvah lessons twice a week. Teaching a bunch of energetic 12-year-olds is not exactly my idea of a good time, but his Bar Mitzva teacher is so patient and so in love with Jewish heritage that his gentle words penetrate all the boys’ hearts.

Having worked at aJudaica.com for the past 12 years, I’ve learned a thing or two about saving the day for families on Bar Mitzvah trips! I’ll never forget the father who, while unpacking his suitcase at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, frantically called up aJudaica:

“Help! My son’s Bar Mitzvah is in three days, at the Western WallBar Mitsvah Preparation. But we left his new tallit and tefillin in Denver!”

“First of all, Mazel Tov!” I recall myself saying in an attempt to calm his nerves, “We have hundreds of tallits and tefillins available here, 15 minutes away from your hotel. What style are you looking for?”

A phone call from the hotel reception desk 1 hour later alerted the Frantic Dad that a gorgeous new tallit-tefillin set awaited him there…

That episode gave way to a great service that we began offering our pre-Bar customers, the “No-Schlep Express”. Instead of having all your Judaica needs shipped from Israel to your US home, and then schlepping everything back to Israel two weeks later in your overstuffed suitcase, we hold the order for you and conveniently deliver everything to your hotel the day you arrive. Sounds good, huh? I must humbly admit that it was my idea… 😊

Another fantastic idea founded by me (gee, I’m so humble today!) is the “Grand-Dad-Son Tallit-Kippa Package” whereby, you guessed it, Grandpa, Dad and Bar Mitzvah Boy all order matching tallits and kippas. Although a bit tacky, people love it! (Some even pair this package up with the “No-Schlep Express” for a smooth experience).   

Will your Bar Mitzvah be themed around a Jewish holiday? We have ultra-extensive Holiday Judaica section boasting the most eye-catching shofars, honey dishes, dreidels, groggers, seder plates, etc… I would even suggest handing out candles to the women before the onset of Shabbat and kaleidoscopic Havdallah candles once three stars have appeared in the post-Shabbat sky.

Now, I’m going to make a suggestion that you may find outlandish or just plain crazy, but here goes- Perhaps the bar mitzvah boy would like to present his parents with a gift to thank them for 13 years of upbringing. What could be more meaningful than a shofar or menorah?

Whatever you decide- hiring an event planner, planning everything yourself, or a little of both- I wish you and your son a hearty Mazel Tov and a very meaningful Bar Mitzvah!

 

 

 

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