American Bar Mitzvah Boys Make a Special Journey to Israel

Last Sunday, a group of thirty participants, including Bar Mitzvah boys and their parents, completed a unique seven-day bar mitzvah journey. It was the first journey of its kind to be organized by the Bar Mitzvah Experience.

During the journey, which began in northern Israel, the participants visited Safed, Tiberias, the Golan Heights, and other locations as part of a complete educational program that was combined with a visit to Jewish historical sites.

When they had finished visiting the north, the group continued their journey in Jerusalem, where they participated in an impressive bar mitzvah celebration at the Western Wall. This event was the high point of the entire journey.

After a joyful service at the Western Wall, the bar mitzvah boys took part in a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels, after which the bar mitzvah party was held in the “Between the Arches” hall.

During the celebration, various personalities spoke, including Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, a member of the city council and Chabad representative in the municipality, who gave a blessing on behalf of the city administration. Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan conveyed greetings on behalf of the Israeli government and emphasized the great importance that the government attaches to this project.

The final speaker was Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who blessed the participants before giving a special souvenir certificate to each bar mitzvah boy.

At the end of the event, at which Rabbi Yossi Witkes, director of Isralinks, a Chabad on Campus project, acted as emcee, the boys each received the modest gift of a beautiful Siddur with an English translation.

“A bar mitzvah celebration in Israel is an experience that changes your life and gives you the opportunity to connect to your roots and live Jewish life even more,” Ari, a Bar Mitzvah boy living in Great Neck, NY, described the journey. Ari and his family took part in the journey along with shliach Rabbi Ze’ev Geisinsky.

“The project gives boys from throughout the United States and Canada the opportunity to celebrate their bar mitzvah with a Jewish, educational significance,” Rabbi Shneor Zalman Hadad, creator of the journey and project director says.

“The journey can create an actual revolution in the participants’ lives with regard to anything connected to Torah and mitzvahs.”

Rabbi Hadad would like to take this opportunity to thank the donors, whose generosity allowed this important project to take place.

The journey was arranged by Israel Maven LTD. For further information about the project, go to barmitzvahexperience.com