Masada drew Bat Mitzvah Lilly Kossoff

When Lilly Kossoff ’s parents, Ilona and Steve Kossoff of Largo, went to Israel on a Federationmission trip two years ago and climbed Masada, they knew undoubtedly that was where they would have their daughter’s Bat Mitzvah.

Last September, the Kossoffs and 14 friends and family members took a 10-day trip to Israel to do just that.

“We wanted our friends and family to see the country, make a connection to Judaism and Israel and understand their history and why Israel is so important,” Steve said. With a travel agent who specializes in trips to Israel, the Kossoffs say planning was made easy.

They were put in touch with a young rabbi from Chicago who officiates at Bat/Bar Mitzvah ceremonies at Masada. Lilly prepped for her Torah portion and the service with instructors at Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg.

Atop the ancient mountain fortress in the desert, there was a covered area set up where the ceremony was performed in front of friends and family.

There were 23 people on the trip including nine children 13 years of age or younger (all former Pinellas County Jewish Day School students). At left, Lilly wearing tefillin. Above, the boys of the group blow shofars as a welcome to the grandparents’ group, which took the cable car up Masada. “It was storybook material. Amazing,” Steve said.

From there, the group retreated down Masada for a luncheon in Lilly’s honor at their hotel, then went to swim in the Dead Sea. The celebratory day came to a close after the group rode camels in the desert and were served dinner in a Bedouin tent by people in costume.

“For us, it was much more meaningful to go to Israel and make that connection rather than to have a big party locally,” Steve said. “What made it so special was to see the kids’ faces when they were climbing Masada, or swimming in the Dead Sea and understanding Israel’s history.”

Lilly was also at Bat Mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Israel on Jan. 22. The Kossoffs held a luncheon for about 100 guests in the synagogue social hall following the service.

“We wanted to have something for all of Lilly’s family and friends that couldn’t make the trip to Israel, too. We spent the weekend with family centered around our home,” Steve said.