An initial informational meeting to introduce the upcoming Thanksgiving mother-daughter bat mitzvah trip to Israel will be held in Bergenfield on Thursday evening, May 31, at 8:30 p.m., at the home of Batya Paul. The trip is being jointly sponsored by Congregation Bnai Yeshurun and Emunah Women.
Rebbetzin Michal Zahtz of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun and Keren Fisher, a congregant at Keter Torah, are spearheading the trip that will combine travel with meaningful chesed opportunities. The vision for the trip, according to Zahtz and Fisher, is to create a unique spiritual and fun bonding experience for mothers and their daughters, even those who have spent time in Israel previously, with the intention of creating long-lasting and meaningful memories. Grandmothers are invited to participate as well, making this a potentially multi-generational experience.
One of the chesed highlights of the trip will be the Shabbat the participants spend at the Emunah Children’s Home in Afula when the American bat mitzvah girls will celebrate with their Israeli counterparts. A gala dinner is being planned for both groups in addition to the Shabbat experience. The visit will mark the first time an American group is spending Shabbat in the facility. In preparation, the U.S. participants will develop creative fundraising ideas to help them raise money to present to the Israeli girls to fulfill their bat mitzvah wish lists.
Also being planned is a rock-climbing trip with Tikvot, an organization that supports injured IDF soldiers. In addition, the American bat mitzvah girls will participate in Packing for Pantry Packers, as well as other chesed opportunities.The group will travel the country from Yerushalayim and Tel Aviv to the Gush and the Jordan Valley, among other destinations.
In expressing her vision for the trip, Rebbetzin Zahtz shared, “This is something I have been thinking about for several years. As I saw my older daughter getting closer to the age of bat mitzvah, and hearing about all of the plans for the beautiful celebrations, I wanted to find a way to do something that would be special and meaningful and have a lasting impact on the girls. Clearly, there are many different ways to do that, but the thought of spending time, mother and daughter together, in Eretz Yisrael, experiencing the land and performing acts of chesed, seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am hoping that by getting the word out early enough as families are making their bat mitzvah plans they will consider this option in lieu of some of their additional party expenses.”
She continued, “We are fortunate to be joining with Emunah in planning a great itinerary combining fun and meaningful activities with unique chesed opportunities. I am looking forward to the privilege of spending time and creating lasting relationships with both the bat mitzvah girls and their mothers and even grandmothers.”
By Pearl Markovitz
The trip will depart on a direct El Al flight on Motzei Shabbat, November 17, and will return on Sunday, November 25. Registration details can be found on the Emunah website at https://www.emunah.org/teaneck-bat-mitzvah-mission/. Further details of the trip will be presented at the informational meeting to be held at the Paul residence, 56 Norfolk Street, Bergenfield, on Thursday, May 31, at 8:30 p.m..
