Increasingly, parents are looking for new, exciting and
less expensive ways to mark their child's milestone. As a
travel agent for more than 15 years, I have been replacing
traditional events with destination wedding or anniversary
parties. I am now finding more and more families who are
adapting this concept for their child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Among the most popular packages are a Caribbean Bar
Mitzvah Vacation with a flight to one of the islands and the
ceremony in a historic synagogue, or a Caribbean Cruise Bar
Mitzvah.
There are several reasons that a Bar Mitzvah
Vacation concept is literally taking
off:
Budget: With fewer invitees, the
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacation is usually less expensive than a more
traditional temple/reception type of affair. This may
allow you to budget a 3-, 4- or even
7-day celebration; you will create memories that
will last a lifetime.
Family Time: In
an era when family time is minimal, this presents an
opportunity for the family to spend much needed quality time
together.
Personality: For the
Bar/Bat Mitzvah child, it's an adventure they'll never forget.
For children with special needs, their role in the service can
be tailored to their abilities with less anxiety. For kids who didn't complete
Hebrew school or who don't do well in front of large
audiences, there's a lot less
pressure.
Family Ties: For
interfaith families and those who don't have membership
in a synagogue, the vacation alternative may be
preferable.
Unique for
Sibling: Some parents who held a Bar/Bat
Mitzvah in a conventional way for their first child would
like to explore a different option for their other
children.
Alternative to
Israel: Some families who had considered having
the Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel may be rethinking that
idea.
