But it didn’t take place in a tent in the desert. Rather, the traditional service when a Jewish girl turns 12 (for a boy, a Bar Mitzvah is at 13) -- was held at the only synagogue on the Caribbean island of St. Thomas, the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas, founded in 1796. The sand floors aren’t just for effect; they’re part of a Sephardic (Spanish/ Portuguese) tradition dating back 500 years to the Spanish Inquisition, when Jews were forced to pray secretly in basements, and used sand to muffle the sounds.

While planning her daughter's Bat Mitzvah, Donna, a single mom from Massachusetts, opted for a unique kind of celebration that would take it "to a different level of special." Donna contacted Ellen Paderson of Smiles & Miles Travel, a 15-year veteran of the travel business who has been arranging destination Bar/Bat Mitzvahs for over three years. Using her deep expertise in planning destination weddings and honeymoons, Ellen has developed the unique Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacations niche, and says referrals have helped the business to grow steadily every year.

"I told Ellen I wanted a family event for 18 people, ages 12 (Bat Mitzvah girl Hannah) to 76 (Donna’s dad). It had to be close to Hannah’s birthday (mid-winter) and in a warm place," says Donna. "We wanted to focus on family rather than a big affair. We liked the idea of celebrating for a week in a relaxed atmosphere, while maintaining the religious significance. Ellen was easy to work with at every step."

Ellen Paderson works closely with each client to clarify their requirements and create a relaxed, memorable vacation. She sees several advantages to this unique Bar/Bat Mitzvah model: "A traditional celebration closer to home might require attention to multiple vendors, and would be over in a day," she says. "This option is a simpler, hassle-free event that can bring families closer."

A Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration can be a family Caribbean cruise or an on-island experience with accommodation ranging from an affordable all-inclusive resort to a luxury 5-star hotel or villa. In addition to St. Thomas, Ellen has contacts for Bar/Bat Mitzvah destination events in Aruba, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, and is open to researching new destinations for clients. She has extensive networks on all the islands and works closely with major cruise lines. Cruise-ship Bar/Bat Mitzvahs can include a land-based synagogue ceremony, or a service onboard ship with Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vacations' own cantor. Ellen can arrange your family adventure for any size group on any type of trip. She has booked scores of destination weddings and honeymoons. Adult Bat Mitzvah Cruises is Ellen's exciting new offering for women,their families and friends.

Ellen Paderson with Rabbi Moch at the beautiful Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Ellen arranged everything for Hannah's once-in-a-lifetime Bat Mitzvah family adventure: travel, hotels, the synagogue and Rabbi, restaurants, and gift baskets. Working with local St. Thomas Rabbi Stephen ‘Shimon’ Moch, Ellen even helped the family choose a Mitzvah (community service) Project in which the family donated food, money and time to a St. Thomas food kitchen.

Ellen's client Donna sums it up:

"This was the opposite of using a company like Expedia. Ellen helped us end-to-end. It was awesome, there were no surprises, and we got so much more than we booked. I’ve already recommended this alternative to my friends who are planning family milestones, or just an old-fashioned vacation."