MAZAL TOV on your decision to hold your bar-bat mitzvah in Israel! Let me guide you through this joyful and powerful experience in the Holy Land- whether on the ancient stones of the egalitarian area of the Western Wall, atop Mount Masada or at other beautiful and historic sites. Step by step, I’m here to answer your questions and help bring your bar-bat mitzvah vision to life – from the smallest details to the biggest decisions! Let’s set up a time to talk about your son or daughter’s bar-bat mitzvah in Israel!
- Choosing & arranging for the best location for your family’s Israel Bar-Bat Mitzvah.
- Reserving a Torah and ritual items needed for the service.
- Help finding a local tutor to learn the prayers and chanting or collaborating with your synagogue’s rabbi or cantor to support your youngster to acquire the required skills and knowledge.
- Studying the Torah portion together – whether individually or as a family to uncover the depth of spiritual and personal meaning of the parasha.
- Providing resources for further study about Mitzvot, Israel and other aspects of Judaism.
- Shaping a beautiful bar-bat mitzvah service & ceremony in both Hebrew and English with uplifting singing, meditative reflections, beautiful blessings & readings.
- Connecting you to a wide network of tour guides, travel companies, photographers and celebration venues to further customize your once-in-a-lifetime Israel adventure.
Rabbi Rosalind made our son’s Bar Mitzvah in Israel amazing. She spent time getting to know our family, customized a program to fit our needs, checked in regularly to make sure we were on track (her organizational guidance was as helpful as her spiritual guidance!) and worked hard to create a day that was perfect for us. The result was a beautiful, touching experience for our son, our immediate & extended family and our friends. We were a large, diverse group and it really was perfect. We will never forget her grace and kindness! – Cindy, Burlingame, CA
As a non-Jewish father I was unsure of what to expect from my son’s Bar Mitzvah in Israel. Rabbi Rosalind took the time to speak with me via Skype, learn about our family and make us all feel comfortable. It was honestly one of the best days of my life!- Ford, Burlingame, CA
Rabbi Rosalind created spiritual and meaningful bar & bat mitzvah service for our twins and filled it with beautiful song and chant. It was EXACTLY as we had imagined! We are not a religious family and had no idea where to begin. Rabbi Rosalind held our hand throughout the learning process and she made it easy and very straightforward. She shaped a ceremony in which we could all participate and filled with it Israeli culture, history & spirituality – all perfectly interwoven. With the Western Wall as our back drop, it was so moving. After this joyful and positive Jewish experience our son told us that he wished he could do it all over again. Even now, almost a year later, he still feels the same – and THAT says everything! – Dana, Ra’anana, Israel
Rabbi Rosalind facilitated Gaby’s bat mitzvah with warmth, openness, and thoughtfulness. After their first meeting on SKYPE Gaby talked enthusiastically about how genuine she was and how much she appreciated the way Rosalind spoke about God. She made all the arrangements and created a service that was meaningful and engaging. The entire experience was incredible for us and our relatives who shared only positive thoughts about her leadership. I happily recommend her for your simcha and if our younger daughter chooses to celebrate in Israel, we’ll be back! – Yael, Berkeley
Our son’s bar mitzvah at Robinson’s Arch was a remarkable and unique experience due to Rabbi Rosalind’s confidence and creativity! She handled the logistics, encouraged us to make the service personal and in the months leading up to the event, Rabbi Rosalind spent time cultivating a friendship with our son over Skype. The early morning service she led was magical and truly sacred! If your family is considering a bar-bat mitzvah in Israel, Rabbi Rosalind will make it spiritual, gentle and fill it with love.” – Danielle, Pittsburgh, PA
Rabbi Glazer brought the service to life for all of us, but most importantly for our son. I’m so glad we had the opportunity to work with her. It was a truly wonderful bar mitzvah and we will never forget it! – Andrew, Washington, DC
I knew from the beginning that Rabbi Rosalind would be a great teacher and that she was on my side. During every Skype call I learned something new from her about Torah, Jewish traditions and life in general – every time! Todah Rabbah – Thank you for everything! Ari, Washington, DC
Rabbi Rosalind Glazer was wonderful! She helped us find a tutor to prepare our daughter to chant the Torah and prayers and she worked with us over Skype for several months to help us plan a beautiful Bat Mitzvah service. She helped our daughter write her D’var Torah and her warmth and excitement about the process made the preparation fun. When we finally met face to face in Jerusalem a few days before the ceremony we felt as if we were reuniting with an old family friend. The service itself was personal and meaningful and included roles for everyone in our family. We recommend Rabbi Rosalind wholeheartedly! – Shari, New York, NY
Deciding to hold our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in Israel was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made, and having Rabbi Rosalind Glazer lead the service made it even better! She was referred to us by the clergy at Central Synagogue in New York and in one brief conversation I knew we had found the right Rabbi. She was patient, kind and engaging during the months of Torah study leading up to the service. We loved her energy, her infectious smile and the depth of her spirituality. She left all 18 of us wishing the service would not end; it was so meaningful and moving. We will be forever grateful for her warmth and wisdom on this most unforgettable and paramount day. – Lisa, New York, NY
I was thrilled that a woman rabbi officiated at my granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah and I was also delighted to have been able to chant some Torah at her service. My father was largely responsible for women’s ordination in the Conservative movement and my mother, an early feminist, was also named Rosalind! Masada was a magical and perfect setting for our special day. – Nancy, Oakland, CA
Rabbi Rosalind was recommended by a cousin in California. When we met with her as a family she answered all our questions and then helped us find a local tutor. We came to Jerusalem for monthly family lessons and she also met with our twins individually by Skype. It was a steep learning curve for us all but we were curious and learned so much. Bringing a perfect combination of tradition and spirituality, Rabbi Rosalind made it accessible and beautiful! We feel lucky to have been able work with her and recommend her wholeheartedly! – Dana, Israel
As we look back on our Israel trip and on Julia’s bat mitzvah it is all so emotionally overwhelming! Words just don’t seem powerful or heartfelt enough to express our thanks for our profound gratitude! Rabbi Rosalind made Julia’s bat mitzvah so meaningful, so spiritual and so extraordinary. And she will be forever in our hearts, our souls and our memories of this occasion. I already miss our weekly lessons and hope we can find a way to continue studying!- Stacey, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Rabbi Rosalind made our synagogue the joyful & spiritual place it is with her incredible love of Judaism and her ability to sing God in every note. After Shaya’s Bar Mitzvah, his uncle Jerry, who is generally phobic about religion, said he had never before seen anyone project such a deep love for what they do and never lose their genuineness. He aptly put into words a feeling I haven’t yet been able to describe. Rabbi Rosalind is an important leader in the Jewish community and I feel so proud and honored to be able to call her my friend! – Rachel, Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Rosalind officiated at our twin daughters’ b’not mitzvah service in our backyard under a tent in the rain against a backdrop of white rhododendrons. It was a magical and meaningful experience for our entire family. She prepared the girls with patience, kindness and love and embraced us all in the process. Her beautiful voice wove the readings, songs, prayers and Torah chanting together in a seamless tapestry. Years later, friends and family still speak of this memorable occasion! – Paula, Ardmore, PA
From our family Torah study sessions to our girls’ bat mitzvah ceremony in Jerusalem, Rabbi Glazer was a pleasure to work with as she created an enriching experience for our whole family. We feel incredibly blessed to have had her play such a huge role in our lives and she will remain with us in our lasting memories of this important occasion. Thank you Rabbi Glazer for enabling us to have this monumental experience and for making it so very special.” – Jennifer, Michael, Rebecca and Samantha, Boston, MA
Our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah at Masada was a wonderful experience. Rabbi Glazer coordinated with our local clergy to help Lynnea prepare the Torah portion and design the service. Her attention to detail and her expert help made this a memorable and exceptionally joyful event for our family. – Cary, Westport, CT
Thank you so much Rabbi Glazer for helping me celebrate my Bat Mitzvah. I enjoyed learning with you and the ceremony was great! I loved touring Israel and Masada was a fantastic place for my service. I hope to return someday and in the meanwhile, my parents and I have awesome memories of my bat mitzvah and of our entire trip!– Lynnea, Westport, CT
Rabbi Rosalind was patient and kind throughout the bat mitzvah preparations. Every Sunday morning I gained greater appreciation for my Judaism and a fuller understanding of my Torah portion. Even when I started the lesson feeling tired or lethargic, Rabbi Rosalind captured my attention with her energy, her smile and her enthusiasm. And at the service I discovered she also has a beautiful voice! – Clara, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Rosalind has a warm and generous spirit and clearly loves working with young people and families. Over the course of many sessions and email exchanges, she got to know our daughter and worked patiently to help her interpret her Torah portion. She took a genuine interest in the rest of the family and in our vision for the bat mitzvah and helped us plan a service that was meaningful for us all. When the day of the ceremony arrived, Rabbi Rosalind and our daughter led us in a beautiful and intimate service at the southern area of the Western Wall. We will never forget the power and holiness of that moment and we are forever grateful to Rabbi Rosalind for guiding us! – Kathy and Andrew, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Rosalind Glazer taught my daughter and led her Bat Mitzvah service and celebration at Congregation Beth Israel Judea in San Francisco. So many of our guests said it was the most beautiful service they’d ever attended. We wanted as much singing & music as possible and Rabbi Glazer helped us find wonderful professional musicians to create an enriched Shabbat service. It was spiritually and emotionally uplifting for our family, our congregation and for all who attended. – Beth, San Francisco, CA
Although many years have passed since my bat mitzvah, Rabbi Rosalind is still referenced in our household! She played a pivotal role in bringing my family back to Judaism with enthusiasm and a communication style that commanded the attention of one very skeptical 12 year old girl. She’s gifted with a uniquely gorgeous singing voice that heightened the spirituality of every Shabbat and holiday service at our congregation. Rabbi Rosalind has a glow about her and anyone fortunate enough to work with her gets to take a little piece of that light with them. I wouldn’t want anyone else to officiate at my family’s lifecycle events!- Kate, Peduyim, Israel
Thank you for helping me with my bat mitzvah studies and for making me feel so at home in Israel. The hard work I put in to learning the prayers and Torah chanting was so worth it! Todah rabbah for making the whole experience truly inspiring and meaningful. – Sabrina, Danville, CA
We have incredible memories of that amazing day. You made the bat mitzvah so special for our entire family. – Anjali & Judson, Danville, CA
Rabbi Rosalind Glazer is the energetic, inspiring and remarkable spiritual leader by whom we had the privilege of being guided for our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. She and Sigal clicked from the first Skype “meet” and the magic grew from there. Rosalind worked with Sigal on her D’var Torah to create something completely unique and extraordinary on the Women of the Exodus. Neither I, nor her father took part in their process and we’re so grateful for this decision! With Rabbi Rosalind’s great guidance and encouragement, our daughter created beautiful, mind-blowing midrashim (both visual and written) that left us all in awe. This was an epic, stormy, unique winter Bat Mitzvah on Masada led by Rabbi Rosalind with her beautiful voice and joyful spirit. After this amazing experience we will forever be connected and we recommend that you take your journey Bat Mitzvah journey with Rabbi Rosalind too! – Shaun, Berkeley, CA
Our synagogue, Jewish home and studies helped shape our proud identities as Jews and Rabbi Rosalind Glazer made our b’nai mitzvah service in Jerusalem truly unique and special for all of us. Thank you! – Dylan & Benjie, Illinois
Early in the school year in our English class we were assigned a story and I decided to write about my amazing summer bat mitzvah in Israel. As I wrote, I realized I had learned far more with Rabbi Glazer than I had in all my years of religious school! I am so grateful for her teaching and guidance. The entire bat mitzvah experience was a blast! – Marissa, Bethesda, MD
As we view the beautiful pictures and share memories of our Israel trip we feel so fortunate and appreciative to have celebrated Sabra’s bat mitzvah with Rabbi Rosalind Glazer. It was a bittersweet time for our family and deeply meaningful to all of us. Rabbi Glazer created the exact service we hoped for and everyone was profoundly touched. We can’t thank her enough! – Joe, Dunwoody GA
Rabbi Rosalind Glazer was extraordinary from start to finish. When we first connected to discuss her officiating at our daughter ‘s Bat Mitzvah, we were blown away by her excellent listening and thinking skills. She sought to understand before seeking to be understood and was beyond flexible in meeting our vision for the special day. She did not pressure us at all and once we did hire her, she moved at a pace that was comfortable for us. She organized the entire Bat Mitzvah from reserving the site in Jerusalem, to providing the necessary religious and spiritual objects, to predicting every possible eventuality while maintaining a positive, supportive, enthusiastic and celebratory attitude.
Rabbi Rosalind is a brilliant educator. We hired her to work with our daughter on her D’var and she loved learning with Rabbi Rosalind. She showed patience, kindness and deep knowledge of the Torah and was skillful in finding ways to relate it to our daughter’s life.
Rabbi Rosalind is very special. Her officiating was outstanding and we feel blessed that she led the Bat Mitzvah. She has become a good, kind, sweet soul in our lives. — Marlene & Michael, Newton MA
Thank you so, so much for working with us and for leading an amazing service under such challenging circumstances! Everyone raved about you – your voice, your warmth, your generosity of spirit – and we could not agree more. We honestly could not be more thrilled with how it all worked out – even with the insane wind and crazy coats and hats! Benjamin was so proud of himself and it’s remarkable that he is the only one in the photos who looks calm and composed! Again, Todah Rabah! We really hope we can figure out a way to somehow stay in touch. – Sara, Philadelphia, PA
Thank you so much for leading my amazing Bat Mitzvah service on Masada. I enjoyed every part of it, and so did my friends and family. I appreciate how you accommodated my requests and that you were able to make the service so much better than I could ever have imagined. Your wisdom, insight and knowledge inspire me and I feel so grateful to have met you! – Molly, Tarzana, CA
