Celebrations – 2009
We all dream about the perfect wedding, bar/bat mitzvah, anniversary or special party.
We’ve all spent time dreaming about the Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the Wedding, the special anniversary or party celebrating an important moment in our lives. Having that perfect moment – something to remember – alongside dear friends and family overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem, the Mediterranean Sea, the Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee, or down south amongst ancient Nabataean ruins, these are images that will stay in your head forever. Create a new kind of meaning out of your child and family’s special day – as well as a trip and exploration of the country – that will bring greater understanding and appreciation of you and your family’s ties to the Land of Israel.
Israel’s reliably sunny climes and mild temperatures much of the year means that you can plan your dream ceremony outdoors, with your marriage canopy open to the skies above and the wash of waves nearby. Enjoy a Bar/Bat Mitzvah amid the ancient stones of what once was a working synagogue in the Golan Heights or in Jerusalem by the Western Wall or at the Southern Wall, right near the steps leading to the Hulda Gates which the High Priests used to ascend to the Holy Temple. Host a lavish party in a garden scented with jasmine and eucalyptus or sit on the beach and grill alongside the locals – dance the night away in your bathing suit or in fancier duds. In Israel, all is possible.
Israelis are notoriously casual – at weddings, they’ll always be a few guys in jeans and polo shirts and women in casual trousers and flat sandals or easy skirts and tops. Black tie is a rarity although given the opportunity; you’ll find many who enjoy pulling the suit out of mothballs and a chance to buy a fancy, new dress for a special occasion. You can come to Israel and plan a glorious affair, with fabulous foods and wines, and attend, along with your guests, in your shorts and a tee shirt if that’s what you’d like to do.
Make your special day even more meaningful with a celebration in Israel. Local event planner, Joan Summerfield, owner of Anglo-Israel Events, LTD (http://www.celebrations.co.il), notes that more and more families opt for planning their celebrations out of Jerusalem, with an eye to ocean views and outdoor venues. She commented that even in the heat of the summer, when most locals would choose to relax indoors with the air-conditioning, she has families that still want to mark their special moment outside and that she helps them plan an outdoor event that will still be manageable in August. Two locations that Joan recommends are Ronit Farms in coastal Kfar Shmariyahu for their lovely grounds and attention to detail and also Caesar-Yam in Caesarea for the sea views and a sense of history, as your family makes your own mark alongside the layers of civilization around you – thrilling.
Focus on the location and create a theme that builds on the significance of the place says Adi Porat-Tavor of Simcha Makers (http://www.celebrations.co.il). Stand on the Golan Heights at sunset and take time from your ceremony, Bar/Bat Mitzvah or Anniversary party, to reflect on the hard work - real blood, sweat and tears – that brought Israeli’s to live, play and be able to celebrate on this contested piece of ground or look on high from atop the still impressive fortress from Roman times, Antipatrius, built by King Herod near the source of the Yarkon River, or at an impressive memorial for the legions of tank fighters of Israel’s IDF. Finding that special place that has an extra bit of resonance will only add to your special event as well as your trip overall.
If you’re wondering about the food, consider yourself in good hands. Israel is of course a Jewish country and no celebration would be complete without decent eats. Israel is home to an exploding chef culture and you can pick from able catering companies with up-to-the minute offerings with the excellence and taste that you’re accustomed to all over the world or wine and dine your guests with a private chef chosen for your occasion. Many of Israel’s top chefs will help plan a top-flight meal; served anywhere you’d like – sup out in nature or at their restaurant or in an alternative location.
And don’t forget the hotel affair. There are a variety of top-flight hotels locally that know how to cater to a discerning guest who desires and expects good service as well as new ideas in design and planning their party. Choose your city and set out to make your mark along with the hotel’s catering assistance. In Tel Aviv, a crop of newer boutique hotels such as the Montefiore offer party services for intimate events and for larger groups, party at one of the refurbished hangars at the port in the north end of the city, host to many a chi-chi event for locals who like to see and be seen at the bars and party spots along the boardwalk. If Jerusalem continues to call your name, let it woo you to the new Mamilla Hotel – the current hot spot for affairs on their rooftop restaurant during the summer season or in the larger ballroom in winter – or go traditional with the King David or David’s Citadel hotels. All three of these hotels will offer excellent services and those sought after views of the Old City – imagine the bride and groom basking in the late-afternoon golden glow of a Jerusalem sunset.
Your dream event is yours, here in Israel. Plan the sort of occasion that will have your guests planning their return visit, that will leave the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child with a secure feeling of their personal Jewish connection to the land of their ancestors and that will give the bride and groom a special start to their new lives together. It’s really all possible in the land where no never means no; just let your mind wander as you consider the possibilities for a special day ‘in the sun’ in the most special place of all – Israel.
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