Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Celebrate your Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Neot Kedumim!

The key words here are unique and flexible.
Unique: As the world's only biblical landscape reserve, we offer a venue like no other. The jewel of your family celebration will shine in the setting of the eternal landscapes of Israel.
Flexible: Whatever your orientation vis-a-vis Jewish tradition, we will facilitate the program according to your preferences.

You can have the entire celebration at Neot Kedumim -- service, Torah reading, tour, hands-on activities, music, dancing, and food -- or choose one or more modules. You can have a small, intimate celebration, or invite hundreds of guests. A member of the Neot Kedumim staff will work with you to custom-design your program.

Choose among these modules:

Guided tour

This is the heart of the program -- a tour linked to the season, to the Torah portion or haftara, to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah's name. For a Bat Mitzvah, special tours can focus on Women of the Bible. Every tour includes hands-on activities appropriate to the season, topic, and ages and interests of the participants. Conveyances (TourTrain and electric carts) are available. Trails are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Tours are available at any time of day. Very special are the quiet beauty of early morning tours (lovely followed by a biblical breakfast), and the charm of evening tours along an illuminated trail — highly recommended for the summer months.

Mezuzah Treasure Hunt

Active, fun, and unobtrusively educational. Based on the text of the mezuzah scroll, specifically, "I will grant the rain for you land in season...you shall gather in your grain and your wine and your oil" (Deuteronomy 11:14-15). The Bar/Bat Mitzvah person leads the guests on a search for the "rain, grain, wine, and oil," which are hidden appropriately in such locations as a cistern, threshing floor, winepress, and olive press. Lots of possibilities for participation by siblings, friends, and accompanying adults. Hands-on activities at each point according to season.

Mitzvah Vineyard

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah and guests help restore the hills of Judea to their former fruitfulness by planting a grapevine on a restored ancient terrace and watering it from an ancient cistern. We drink a lehaim, present the Bar/Bat Mitzvah with a special certificate, and talk about the fruit of the vine, symbol of joy.

Torah-scribe demonstration and calligraphy session

Watch our skilled and genial scribes demonstrate the ancient art of writing scrolls for mezuzah, tefillin, and the Torah itself. See how the ink and parchment are prepared. Participate in a real reed-pen calligraphy session. By advance order, the scribe can prepare a hand-written and illustrated parchment certificate for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

Prayer service

What could be more inspiring than reading the Torah portion or haftara in its original context, while contemplating the beauties of Creation?
We provide

a beautiful indoor or outdoor setting

facilitation of the service according to your preferences.
You are welcome to bring a rabbi or other qualified person to lead the services if you wish.

Music

Up to you. If you like, we can provide a list of local talent. The outdoor Summer Garden has a concrete dance floor among the trees and a raised platform for the musicians, with electricity and lighting. For groups up to 180, there is room for music and dancing in the indoor Winter Garden.

Food

From simple to elaborate, your choice. Select a tasty meal from the Neot Kedumim kitchen: biblical-style vegetarian or a wide range of kosher meat and dairy menus. You are also welcome to bring any kosher caterer of your choice.

To create your special event, contact the Reservations Dept.

Bat Mitzvah

Create a special Bat Mitzvah experience with a Women of the Bible tour.

We will "meet" biblical women at the appropriate places:

Rebecca

at the water source, like the one where she drew water for Abraham's servant and his camels, demonstrating her strength and generosity.

Deborah

at the "date palm of Deborah." We'll learn about this judge, prophet, and warrior, and find out why her date palm was a special place.

Ruth

at the grainfields and threshing floor where she met Boaz. We may prepare kali, the roasted wheat kernels Boaz offered Ruth
.

Miriam

at the bulrushes like the ones where she watched over her baby brother Moses.

Avigail

at the winepress. This wise woman brought wine and raisins to David, averting bloodshed and becoming the wife of the future king.