Non-Traditional Venues for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel
December 25th 2013
Weather can often be a factor when choosing an appropriate venue for your child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah in Israel. While the Mediterranean climate of the Holy Land makes for warm and comfortable days for most of the winter, rain storms can arrive with little notice, and many find extensive exposure to the harsh heat of Israel’s summer days to be oppressive. If the time of the year your family is headed here requires that you go with an indoor venue, or if you just want something a little different than the traditional Bar and Bat Mitzvah spots, here are a few ideas that you may want to consider.
If you’re hosting a modest event, the Ilana Gur Museum in Old Jaffa-Tel Aviv provides an off-the-beaten-path destination for 50 to 120 participants. Since the events are held on the balcony and scenic rooftop sculpture garden, an even larger number of guests can be accommodated in the summer months. The venue provides a majestic view of the Mediterranean shore and the Old City of Jaffa. Throughout the museum are over 500 works of art created by artists from Israel and around the world, organized into 10 thematically-arranged spaces. The staff at the Ilana Gur Museum prides itself on organizing distinctive events for each client.
There are several spectacular Bar and Bat Mitzvah venues in the ancient, holy city of Tzfat, including private art galleries for intimate events. The Red Khan, with its 13th century curved stone walls and arched ceilings, can host events up to 300 people, and the Kahn of the White Donkey is perfect for events up to 100 people. Both Kahn halls are located in the Artists’ Quarter in Tzfat.
Rosh Pina, a small, quaint city located close to Tzfat, dates back to 1882. The first public building in Rosh Pina was a synagogue, built by Baron Rothschild when Israel was still under British rule. By the 1930s, the building’s condition was so poor that it wasn’t used anymore. The Old Synagogue has been renovated with great attention paid to ensure its distinctive charm. Rosh Pina itself is replete with art galleries, cafes and restaurants of all kinds, boutique hotels and charming private guesthouses, making it possible to house and feed your guests in the city for a traditional Shabbat experience together – or to use Rosh Pina as a hub for day trips around the Galilee.
The twice destroyed and thrice built Hurva Synagogue of Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid in the Old City of Jerusalem is a historically significant place to hold an Orthodox Bar Mitzvah. Your tour agency can assist you in making the necessary arrangements.
