Bar Mitzvah Vacations took part in a unique Destination Bat Mitzvah when a group of 24 gathered in Rhodes, Greece, to celebrate the bat mitzvah of Rachel Devorah.

Rabbi Barbara Aiello, our partner in celebrating Destination Mitzvahs in Italy, hosted the Rachel and the group for an unforgettable experience at Kahal Shalom synagogue on the island of Rhodes, ancestral home of Sephardic Jews who had fled to Greece to escape the Spanish Inquisition. 

Rachel’s maternal great-grandparents married at  in October 1919, prior to immigrating to the U.S. The family was thrilled to return to their historic home to celebrate another generation’s coming of age.

“My bat mitzvah was cool because I got to be in the same synagogue that my great-grandparents were married in, to see and understand where they were from,” Rachel said. “It made me feel very connected to my family history.”

Whether your family has connections to Greece, Italy or other European sites, you can experience the deeply moving spiritual Bnai Mitzvah ceremonies at this beautiful location, then embark on a beach vacation in Rhodes, travel to Athens, see Delphi and the Parthenon, or enjoy the beauty and culture of Greece’s many islands.

We will work with you to choose a rich and fulfilling itinerary for your group of family and friends — they will never forget this trip!

Ellen Paderson and her knowledgeable team of travel counselors are ready to help you plan this exciting Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacation!