Destination Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah

• Is your family looking for a twist on the traditional Bar or Bat Mitzvah?

• Is your family seeking out an alternative to the run of the mill bar or bat mitzvah?

• Would you consider a destination Bar or Bat Mitzvah?

We offer bar and bat Mitzvah ceremonies in Boulder, Denver and Summit County Colorado as well as any place you can dream up.

Why are destination bar and bat mitzvah so popular?

Destination Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Saving Money

Why do bar and bas mitzvah cost so much anyway? There are DJs, bands, themes, centerpieces, gifts, photographers, videographers, Kiddush luncheons, gift bags and on and on. You feel obliged to invite all the aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, colleagues and clients not to mention your bar or bat mitzvah student's entire class. Ouch it hurts the wallet just thinking about it!

Although a destination bar or bat mitzvah has its own unique costs (airfare, hotel and meals) because you tend to have fewer guests and a simpler celebration, the average price is much lower than the cost of doing a ceremony at home. And the memories you create during this unique, alternative bar or bat mitzvah will be priceless.

Destination Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Time with your family

Destination bar or bat mitzvahs create family time. When you come to Boulder, Colorado (or other location of your choice) for your destination bar or bat mitzvah, you will have some relaxed, quality time with your family. Most families take time before or after the ceremony to vacation. Whether you relax or adventure, a destination bar or bat mitzvah gives you precious time with your family and close friends.

Destination Bar and Bat Mitzvah: Changing the Emphasis from the Party to the Journey

A destination bar or bat mitzvah let's you focus on your son or daughter's journey of learning and discovery, rather than on caterers and DJs.

A Destination Bar Bat Mitzvah will enable you to escape the one-ups-man ship of Bar and Bat Mitzvah parities. A destination bar or bat mitzvah will return the emphasis of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah to what it should be, because it takes the focus off the fancy party and puts it on the ceremony. A destination bar or bat mitzvah allows you to focus on a smaller, close circle of community - your closest family and friends.

Destination Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Personalized Ceremony

Destination bar or bas mitzvah gives you the opportunity to put your family’s unique stamp on the bar or bat mitzvah ceremony. Unlike many synagogues that have bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies every weekend and therefore need to keep all the ceremonies the same, your bar or bat mitzvah will be unique. When you work with our rabbis to create your destination bar or bat mitzvah, we will help you craft a ceremony that reflects your family. Maybe you want your destination bar or bat mitzvah to include a hike, a horseback ride or a day of skiing. Or perhaps you want your destination bar mitzvah to be more traditional, inside a hall with the guests in suits. (Yes, we occasionally do those as well!)

We will help you create a ceremony that matches your family's style. You will have a say in elements ranging from where the ceremony is to who participates in the service. (We can create many opportunities for your guests to participate.)

Destination Bar or Bat Mitzvah: Outdoor Possibilities

Many people experience their most spiritual moments outdoors, so it seems odd to restrict bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies to indoor synagogues. We are amendable to officiating at bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies in a variety of outdoor locations.

But, we also understand that families often include an important guest who can't do a hike. Another option at destination bar and bat mitzvah is to have the bar and bat mitzvah service indoors but to add a Friday night service with a hike for those guests who are physically ale to partake. We have also done an optional afternoon havdallah hike for guests after the bat or bar mitzvah. We have lots of creative ideas; just ask

Destination Bat or Bar Mitzvah: How it works

View Video on an Adventure Rabbi Destination Bar Mitzvah

First: You pick a place for your destination Bar or Bat mitzvah. The majority of our destination bar or bat mitzvahs are right here in Boulder, Colorado. With some of the finest hiking in the world, why anywhere else the destination? Copper Mountain in Summit County is a favorite for our Ski bar or bat mitzvahs. But our rabbis do travel, so you pick a destination and we will meet you there.

Second: You pick a date for your destination Bar or Bat mitzvah. We only book dates 18 months in advance, so no need to plan 3 or 4 years out. (We don’t want to think that far ahead!) But since Bar and Bat mitzvah can be on Monday, Thursday or Saturday we can almost always find a date for you, even late in the game if you can be flexible.

Third: Preparation

Monthly work with the Rabbi:
The bar or bat mitzvah student will work with the rabbi in preparation for the destination bar or bat mitzvah service. Once a month for ten moths before your ceremony, the bar or bat mitzvah student and the rabbi will meet by phone or Skype. They will discuss the meaning of Bar or Bat mitzvah.

Topics are individualized for each student but generally include questions like:

• What's this Bar / Bat mitzvah thing about anyway?
• The purpose of Tikkun Olam / Who am I to try to save the world?
• Taking on responsibility
• What is prayer and how does it work?
• Can God help me with my math test? (And who/what/where is God anyway?)
• Is Shabbat relevant and meaningful to a 12 or 13 year old?
• What does this Torah potion mean and what does it have to do with me?
  
  Your rabbi will also supervise the work the bar or bat mitzvah student does with their Hebrew tutor. (You contract for the Hebrew tutor in your community separately.)
  
  The Rabbi will help the bar or bat mitzvah student:
  
• Write their D'var torah (speech about the Torah portion)
• Find meaning in their social action project
• Write a speech about their social action project
• Find meaning in their Shabbat project.

Fourth: Community and Rabbi
We really encourage your family to come to Adventure Rabbi events. This is a great way to get to know Rabbi Korngold (The Adventure Rabbi) and for her to get to know you and also a fabulous opportunity to connect with what may well be the coolest Jewish community in the United States. Check out our retreats attended by people around the country and our local events.

Fifth: Ceremony Prep:
You can choose to have Rabbi Jamie Korngold or one of our other Rabbis officiate at the service. A month before the service, you will meet by phone Skype or in person with the officiating rabbi to plan your service, polish your talks, rehearse the service and set the tone for the bar or bat mitzvah.

Sixth: Ceremony:

We use Gate of Prayer (Gender neutral edition) the Reform Movement’s gray colored prayer book. We also welcome your family to create their own prayer book, although admittedly this is a lot of work so few families do.

We welcome your family and friends participation in the service to make it meaningful and unique.

We use a third-size, backpacking Torah, which has been read in all sorts of wondrous location, on the top of peaks and the bottom of canyons. We look forward to adding you to the long line of bar and bat mitzvah students who have read from our Torah is all sorts of amazing places.

View Outdoor Bar Mitzvah One Minute Video >>

View photos from a recent Skiing Bat Mitzvah at Copper Mountain >>

View photos from an outdoor Bat Mitzvah in Boulder, Colorado >>

Read about Adventure Rabbi's Alternative Bar Mitzvahs and Alternative Bat Mitzvah ceremonies >>

For different details about our bar and bat mitzvah program, click here >>