TORONTO-ISRAEL – Alison never expected either of her sons to ask for a Bar Mitzvah, but growing up in a predominantly Jewish area, where most of the boys’ friends ceremonially became men, it was only natural for Sam and Sabastien to want to experience the ritual.

When Sam turned 13, he wanted his turn. Wanting to fulfill her son’s request, Alison went in search of a synagogue that would help her, but after shopping around, she was very discouraged. However, she had a cousin who recommended she try the local Chabad of Midtown, where Rabbi Nechemia Deitsch welcomed her family with open arms. Rabbi Deitsch prepared Sam’s Torah portion with him, and the “amazing and fabulous” Bar Mitzvah celebration took place during the Sukkot holiday at the Chabad house.

Three years later, it was Sabastien’s turn. Unlike the last Bar Mitzvah, Alison’s family would not be able to attend from England, so she felt that throwing a party just wouldn’t be as meaningful to her son. Fortunately, she happened to reconnect with an old friend online – one whom she had met while backpacking through Europe and Israel – which sparked the idea of celebrating Sabastien’s Bar Mitzvah in Israel.

“My kids could really connect with what it means to be a Jew,” said Alison of her decision to celebrate in Israel.

After trying unsuccessfully to piece together a trip, she realized that she would have to find the money to pay for a Bar Mitzvah group trip she had found. A mom devoted to fulfilling her son’s Bar Mitzvah wish, Alison not only appealed to family members, but went so far as to take out a mortgage on her home to finance the trip.

And so Alison, Sam and Sabastien flew off to spend two weeks touring Israel with a few other Canadian and American families, including the highlight of the trip – a beautiful Bar Mitzvah ceremony atop Massada, a former Jewish stronghold against the Romans. But that’s not the end of the story.

My husband, Aaron, got a call one evening from Rabbi Deitsch.

“Aaron, I’m planning to fly to Israel for a Bar Mitzvah on Masada. Do you and your wife want to come along?”

There we were, with Rabbi Deitsch, in the lobby of the Dead Sea Isrotel, when the phone rang in Alison’s room.

“He had mentioned that he may be able to come, but when he was there we were all in shock,” Alison explained. The experience was truly enhanced by the rabbi’s dedication and support for the family, something Alison hadn’t found in Judaism beforehand.

“Mom I feel so special that Rabbi Deitsch is here; I’m the only one that had his own rabbi come here from Toronto,” Sabastien said.

The trip was truly a wonderful, worthwhile experience for the small family and helped Sam and Sabastien, who had never before truly grasped the meaning of being Jewish, feel connected to their ancient heritage.
 
Sam has already expressed interest in returning to Israel after he graduates from high school, while Sabastien gained a newfound desire to research his Jewish roots.