My Personal Cantor

Wedding Officiant -Debbi Ballard

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Home » Lifecycle Events » Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures

Israel is opening!

April 29, 2021 by Debbi Ballard 2 Comments

I could NOT be happier! My greatest disappointment from 2020 was having to tell my 20+ travelers we would not be able to go to Israel.

When a family plans an Israel B-Mitzvah, of course they’re excited for the B-Mitzvah. Planning a trip to Israel invokes so many emotions, hopes, and dreams, and to have those dreams shattered just stinks – as it did for my families and me.

Israel B-Mitzvah with Cantor Debbi Ballard

My Israel trips are the highlight of my year. We love to spend the entire year building up the excitement – from planning calls and Friday Shabbat dinners where my travelers learn songs and music we will share together, to Sunday brunches to discuss packing lists and GREAT finds on Amazon to prepare for the trip. we have so much fun getting to know each other so we can arrive in Israel as friends.

So – this year – we had hoped we’d be able to go – but it’s still a bit early. Israel announced it is open for tourism on May 23, and our travelers felt better putting off another year – so – 2022 is ON!

I’d LOVE to share more info with you about this life changing trip. Even if you are having your B-Mitzvah at a local synagogue or with another clergy – our trip is warm, engaging and special because no other tour has a song and worship leader along making sure your every experience is amazing. You should definitely check out our trip!

Filed Under: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures, Destination Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah

Destination Bar Mitzvah and Destination Bat Mitzvah – Let’s go to Israel!

February 18, 2018 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

Israel – The ULTIMATE Destination Bar Mitzvah (and Bat Mitzvah)

Next June will be my 7th – yes – magical 7th – Destination Bar/Bat/BNai Mitzvah in Israel, and I’m so excited to share this trip with you!

Every year, for the last 6 years, I have been fortunate to take families to Israel for their children’s Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah, and have created the most magical experience for them – and for me!  One of my favorite parts of taking families to Israel is the planning of a Bar Mitzvah trip in Israel, and I’m excited to share this with you!

Tell me about the trip!

Gladly!  Our Israel Destination Bar Mitzvah is jam packed!  Not only is it jam packed with a busy schedule of EVERYTHING you could want to see and do on your first trip to Israel, but it is jam packed with spirituality, music, friendship and FUN

We take our families on an “all inclusive” 8.5 night trip,  (air not included) with 4 nights in Jerusalem, 2 nights in the Galilee, and 2.5 nights in Tel Aviv.  (We extend hotels till 9pm so we don’t have to check out early and wander around all day.

Our 2017 Bar Mitzvah in Israel photo album

Jerusalem is first!

With 4 nights in Jerusalem, the trip starts out on a major high note!  We usually arrive just in time for a wonderful Kiddush and Shehecheyanu moment, overlooking the city of Jerusalem at sunset.

Israel Destination Bar Mitzvah with Lauren
Lauren at Jerusalem Overlook in Israel

With 4 nights in Jerusalem, we will do so many wonderful things!  Masada, The Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Yad Vashem, Machane Yehuda, The Western Wall, The City of David and MORE!

Our B-Mitzvah families gather at The Davidson Center, at Robinson’s Arch for the special moment their children and grandchildren will become a Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.  At my services, my students read from the Torah and lead a complete service, in this incredibly holy space, at the secular side of The Western Wall

Destination Bar Mitzvah in Israel
Cantor Debbi Ballard leading Destination Bar Mitzvah service in Israel

The Secret Sauce

Now, so far, you are thinking – “Ok, what makes this trip SO special?”

Well – I believe my secret sauce is that on any trip, you have a wonderful tour guide and 8 jam packed nights, but on this trip, it is my essence – the presence of “My Personal Cantor” with my guitar and the music and spirituality that I am able to infuse on this journey that makes it so special.

Moments of holiness, with music, camaraderie, hopes and dreams and poignant memories make this trip the life-changing experience that so many people have raved about.  I’m so proud to bring my families on this Epic Adventure

Destination Bar Mitzvah Stop #2

Off to the North – The Sea of Galilee

After the most amazing 4 days and nights of Israel’s sights and sounds, we will head up on a long bus ride to our next stop – The Sea of Galilee.  We stay at a lovely Kibbutz-Hotel called Nof Ginosar, right on the edge of the water.

Here in the north, we will do amazing things like see the Golan Heights, and go on a really fun Jeep Tour, along with the overlook of Syria, The Lebanon Border, Safed, Rosh Hanikra and more.

girl jumping for joy overlooking the Sea of Galilee on our Destination Bar Mitzvah trip
Maya jumping for joy overlooking the Sea of Galilee

One of our most loved events is rafting on the Jordan River, where the kids get a special treat of zip lining into the Jordan!  But – HOLD ON TO YOUR BOTTOMS! You land right in the water, and the WOOSH might just woosh off your bottoms if you’re not careful!

Zipline in Jordan River on Destination Bar Mitzvah in Israel
Zipline into the Jordan River on Cantor Debbi’s Israel Bar Mitzvah trip

(Yup.  It happened to me.)

Destination Bar Mitzvah Last Stop – Tel Aviv

As we begin to head in to our trip conclusion, our last stop on our Destination Bar Mitzvah trip to Israel will be Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv is the more secular (non-religious) side of Israel, with nightlife and excitement, and is right on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

Here in Tel Aviv, we will hit our favorite spots – the Ayalon Institute, Jaffa, and Independence Hall.

We don’t want to say goodbye

Soon it will be time to say goodbye.  But I cherish our last day, as it is a totally FREE day. I love sitting at the pool at the hotel and soaking in the delicious Israel sun. (Bring Sunscreen!)

Our last day is a lazy day.  We walk to the train station for a nice dinner on our own, and get ready in our rooms.   (Thank goodness we still have our rooms to shower and prepare for the long journey home.)

I’d love to take you to Israel

There is just NO WAY I can even come close to summarizing this trip in a blog.  Call me today, and I will tell you all about how you can have the most amazing time in Israel, even if you still want to have a local service at home. I can help you accomplish it all.

Contact Cantor Debbi to discuss your Destination Bar Mitzvah in Israel! Our next trip is still open!  We depart on June 11th, 2020! Fill out our form to get more information on our upcoming trip:  

    Not quite ready to travel to Israel?  No problem!  Cantor Debbi will perform your child’s Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah anywhere you choose!  Contact her today to plan your Bar Mitzvah in the city of your choice.

    Filed Under: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures, Destination Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Tagged With: Destination Bar Mitzvah, Family trip to Israel, Israel, Israel Bar Mitzvah, Israel Bat Mitzvah

    Blog Highlight: A Destination Bat Mitzvah in South Florida with Cantor Debbi

    February 9, 2018 by Debbi Ballard 1 Comment

    Welcome!  I’m so excited to share details of the newest trend in Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah – the Destination Bat Mitzvah in South Florida! It is becoming commonplace for Jewish families to take the B-Mitzvah experience into their own hands!
    By making it meaningful and relevant to the family – the Bat Mitzvah experience is transformed. It excites me that people are making the experience less of a blow out party and more of a meaningful family journey. It is my honor and pleasure to officiate a Bat Mitzvah for any family in the destination of their choice! [Read more…]

    Filed Under: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures Tagged With: Bat Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah in Florida, private Bat Mitzvah

    What’s New at the Zoo? Eli’s Bar Mitzvah!!

    December 4, 2017 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

    I love working with young people.  Helping to prepare them for their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah service is one of my greatest joys.  The opportunity to share what I know and teach not only the history of our religion, but also how this history affects them and their families, is special.  Every once in a while I work with someone whose story is so unique that even I am surprised.

    Eli and Cantor Debbi Ballard posing by the cutout at Eli's Bar Mitzvah celebration at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, Florida
    Eli and I posing by the cutout of him as a young child — so much fun!

    With that as a backdrop, meet Eli.

    The Importance of History

    Eli’s family history is incredibly interesting.  First, his father Alex is Jewish and from Russia – but he never became a Bar Mitzvah.  Alex’s father, Eli’s grandfather, also never became a Bar Mitzvah.  Seems strange, right?  Well, consider this:  Eli’s great grandfather grew up in Russia; he had to worship secretly.  Because of this, their religion was not openly shared, simply quietly respected.

    Eli’s mother is Pam, and she is not Jewish.  In fact, before   she met Alex she had never even met a Jewish person.  Pam, however, was completely supportive of Eli becoming a Bar Mitzvah.  She respected her husband’s heritage and recognized the significance of this day for their entire family; Eli would be the first person in three generations to become a Bar Mitzvah.

    The Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

    As a Cantor serving the Interfaith and unaffiliated Jewish community in South Florida, I have officiated countless Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies uniting and including people of all faiths.  That said, I do not ever remember developing a ceremony quite like this.  Nobody in Eli’s “congregation” at the Bar Mitzvah knew any Hebrew; not even the most common of prayers.  It was something I had never experienced.  Even when working with interfaith families there are usually a few people familiar with the service in attendance.

    While familiarity with the ceremony may not have been present; something so much more important was:  a level of interest, respect and love that was so strong it was almost tangible.  Eli’s family, who were unfamiliar with this process, were so supportive.  And so the service began….

    It was in English, almost all in English, and different than any other service, Eli and I together shared the story of his journey and what becoming a Bar Mitzvah entailed and meant.  It was a celebration of all that Eli had learned and a life lesson to those who were there to share this special day.  I could have incorporated more Hebrew and held a more traditional service; but really, to what end?

    The opportunity to share our heritage in a manner that everyone could understand and appreciate was an important one to seize.  A traditional service incorporating a significant amount of Hebrew was expected; but would it be appropriate? Would it be valuable?  Wasn’t it more important for Eli to be able to share all he learned, his religion and traditions, in a manner that could be understood and appreciated by those closest to him?  It was,  and he did.

    The Celebration of Eli’s Bar Mitzvah at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach

    While the Bar Mitzvah service may have been unique; the celebration was even more so.  Uncommon, incredibly special and so much fun!  The entire Bar Mitzvah (service and celebration) was held at, now get this, The Palm Beach Zoo, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (http://www.palmbeachzoo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.main).

    Palm Beach zoo logo, Eli's Bar Mitzvah celebration with Cantor Debbi BallardFifty  family members  and friends gathered in a private room for the service; and once it was complete there was the most creative celebration:  a zoo scavenger hunt.

    In groups, guests traveled through the zoo and collected/identified everything on their scavenger hunt list.  How much fun is that?  Once they completed this challenging and fun task, everyone gathered for a lovely luncheon; featuring the most beautiful Bar Mitzvah cake I have ever seen.  (check out the picture).

    Jewish cake with lettering Mazel Tov Eli at Eli's Bar Mitzvah celebration at the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm Beach, Florida
    Beautiful and delicious!

    Pam has a friend,  a very talented pastry artist (as a hobby), and she agreed to create Eli’s cake.  It was a masterpiece complete with a replica of his talis and kippah.  It was so personal, so beautiful,  and obviously made with love.

    Every chance I have to work with a young person and ultimately officiate at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah  is a lesson for me.  I always learn  something new.  This time, I learned that a service that to an outsider may have seemed “less Jewish” was actually more. After all, there is no greater mitzvah than sharing and teaching your beliefs with others in a manner that is comfortable easy to understand. Eli learned so much throughout our time together, but truly I think he (and I) learned the most that morning.  It was a day I will always remember and an experience I will treasure for a lifetime.  I am so grateful to have this family in my life.  This experience had a profound effect on me and I know it will influence my work in the future.

    Want to create your own Bar Mitzvah “dream come true”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams. I would love to learn about your family and share how I can work with you.

    Filed Under: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures Tagged With: Bar Mitzvah, ceremony, Interfaith, Jewish ceremony, south florida

    The greatest gift … Ben’s Bar Mitzvah in South Florida

    November 12, 2014 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

    When it comes to families who enroll in my Jewish community program, I’m pretty blessed.  It seems that as with the Law of Attraction, what we put out into the universe, we also attract.  Throughout my 10 year cantor career journey,  I’ve encountered Jewish families who I simply adore – who approach the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah process because they want it to mean something.  Our values align, a friendship forms, and the relationship blossoms and grows into a beautiful flower.

    This weekend, I harvested the beautiful blooms of a five year friendship.  A relationship that started with one child in Hebrew School, and grew into two Bar Mitzvahs, a funeral, a wedding and a baby naming, aside from many holiday and celebration meals.  Mara, the Mom, is a magnificent person – inside and out.  She exudes grace and kindness.  She is fierce about doing the best she can for her husband and family, and everything she does is with love – and is driven by a passion for quality. And that’s the way I approach my business.  I try to go above and beyond for my Jewish families, knowing that when you put a good, quality product out there, people want to buy it- and share it.  And wow, did Mara share!

    Today, I can honestly say that a large number of the Jewish families in my Jewish community program can be traced back to a connection to Mara.  Ronnie, her husband, is the quintessential businessman, whose values and ethics I not only respect, but try to model in everything I do.  And so after 5 years of growing and celebrating together, this past weekend was the second (and last) Bar Mitzvah I will perform for this side of the Selinger family.

    The weekend was so beautiful.  Beginning with a Friday night Shabbat dinner in their home, Mara and Ronnie make sure I am there next to them to lead the candle blessing, Hamotzi and Kiddush.  Along with their very best friends and family, they also make sure that I blocked the entire weekend to celebrate with them – all the way through Sunday brunch.  No, I don’t get to do this very often, but when you establish a relationship like I have with this family -it really makes you want to celebrate those moments with such special people.

    A very special Shabbat dinner with a very special family before Ben's Bar Mitzvah in South Florida
    A very special Shabbat dinner before Ben’s Bar Mitzvah in South Florida.

    I’m filled with love and sweet memories of a time I will always cherish.  I thank Mara and Ronnie for all of their love and support, and look forward, cheerfully, to the days Ben and Coby walk down an aisle – so I can be there again in celebration!  Love you, Selinger family!

    Want to create your own Bar Mitzvah “dream come true”?  Contact Cantor Debbi today to see how you can co-create the event of your dreams.

    Filed Under: Bar/Bat Mitzvah Adventures, Featured Content Tagged With: Bar Mitzvah

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