I’ve always understood Israel as a multi-sensual experience.  In addition to the powerful emotions of being in the Jewish Homeland, there are wonders to see, antiquities to touch, voices to hear, delicacies to taste and finally unique aromas to breathe.  One such time is Pesach.  You might be thinking about your grandma’s chicken soup right about now.    Me too, but I had something else in mind.

As my son Benjamin and I left our home to meet our congregation to burn our leftover Chametz (the last step of ridding one’s home of leavened bread per tradition) I thought I smelled perhaps a wild fire.   I soon realized it was the scent of countless mini-campfires throughout our town that people had made to burn their Chametz.  The scent was ever-present throughout the city.  It is one of those experiences that can only be had in Israel.   One I hope you have some day too.

On behalf of the Joel, Lori, Molly and Benjamin Abramson, we wish you a Passover filled with happiness, wholeness and health.

Joel Abramson specializes in Bar/Bat Mitzvah and wedding family tours in Israel and Musical Entertainent

What does this mean to you?  It means that if you are having a “family celebration,”  we have to put the right DJ/MC or band leader at the helm.   A leader that knows how to play  music and facilitate activities appropriate for  kids, but music choices and volume that are suitable and engaging for the adults in the room too.    It takes a very special DJ/Band Leader  to pull it off.

When you choose your Bar/Bat Mitzvah entertainment,  be sure that your DJ/MC/Band Leader has the  sophistication and maturity to provide just the right balance for your guest list.

Joel Abramson Entertainment & Productions has been providing DJs, live music and variety entertainment for Bay Area Bar & Bat Mitzvah celebrations in Northern California since 1994.

Just click on the links below or on the categories on the blog page to read about your favorite topics!

First of all,  we wish everyone of you a happy New Year!  It should be filled with warmth, love, wholeness, plenty and let’s emphasize health!  As my grandparents used to say, if you have your health,  you have it all.  As the years march on,  I’m in more agreement.  How about you?

We would also like to take this opportunity to present our brand new website.  It has everything you would expect, complete with social media, video galleries and more!  Moreover, we’ve entered the world of blogging.   Our goal is to provide you with useful information in the key areas of Bar/Bat Mitzvah entertainment,  Jewish weddings,  touring in Israel and something close to my heart, discussion on Jewish music.  Please feel free to read,  comment and share as our goal is to be a general resource for you, your family, friends and community.   I hope to meet you on the blog,  Facebook or Twitter.

Happy New Year,

Joel Abramson

This is really the second generation of Hula Lake.  The first one was drained in the 1950s to create additional agricultural land for an infant country in need of food for its numerous new refugees and to dry up a potential source of malaria.     However, in time, Israel came to learn that “It is not nice to fool with Mother Nature” as we say.     The altered use of the land disrupted drainage patterns and the ecological balance of the local habitat.   That’s all “water under the bridge” at this point.  In the ‘90s the Jewish National Fund returned to the Hula Valley and restored a smaller and managed version of the lake and created an exquisite balance of natural and man-made resources.   In time, the Hula Valley has become a unique ornithological spot in the world.  According to the JNF official flyer, “Over this area twice a year, no less than 500 million birds migrate-waterfowl, birds of prey and song birds from 390 different species.”

People of all ages can visit and tour the park on foot, bike, golf carts and the Safari Wagon.  That’s what we took.  My mom is here from California and at 80; the Safari Wagon with its own shade was the right choice.  As an avid bike rider, I really wanted something more active but of course, my mom’s comfort trumps all.  The personnel at the park assured us this was a good choice because it travels in an area of the park that the other trails don’t lead.  “Yea sure, what a line I thought to myself.”  Is this going to be like the whale watching tour we went on in which we finally saw two whales at the end of three hours?  As we started slowly on the bumpy trail, towed by farm tractor, I flashed on the maiden tour of the investigating scientists in the movie Jurassic park. After much boredom, they escaped from their confining, tracked tour cars and encountered a flock of Brontosaurus type dinosaurs.

The camera flashed to their jaws opened wide in awe and disbelief. This tour was indeed different though.  OK, we didn’t see any dinosaurs, but our jaws dropped in awe as well.  Within just a few short minutes we came around a bend and found ourselves in a sea 40,000 or more Cranes! It was truly a magnificent, breathtaking display of nature.  I thought to myself, this is like Jurassic Park-only safer!

For more information on Hula Lake (Agamon Hula) go to http://www.agamon-hula.co.il/index.

Joel Abramson operates the Israel Connection,  tour consulting and organizing Bar/Bat Mitzvah and wedding family tours.

Joel Abramson Entertainment & Productions would like to thank all of those who voted us the
#1 DJ company and Klezmer Band in the South Bay and Peninsula.
We always strive to be the #1 in everything we do.  We’ve always believed that the success of an event is more than the music.  In our coming posts, we will indeed be discussing the various aspects of successful events to help you actualize your vision.

The original winners of the
Best Band of the Jewish Bay Area 2005 & 2006

along with Award Winning DJs

Being an “international performer,” I can’t help but notice the difference between American and Israeli (Jewish) wedding celebrations.   The differences are clearly visible.  To our good fortune, we (my wife Lori and I) have been invited to many Israeli weddings.  Moreover, I have performed for many Israeli families in the States as well.   So how do the two different cultures celebrate?  Among several things that stand out, one big difference is the nature of planning, or absence thereof.

In America, we plan.  Actually, I enjoy that.  When we sit with our clients, we go through a thorough process whereby we review all of the physical logistics and then we choreograph how the event will proceed.  (Ceremony music, cocktail hour, Hora, toasts, first dance, bouquet toss, music, etc.)  Not that we are rigid or inflexible rather, we always want to have a plan going in so we feel prepared.  You’ve heard the definition of life:  Life is what happens to you while you are planning! Moreover, most of our clients prefer it that way.  However, we always maintain entertainer veto power as spontaneity is a beautiful thing at a celebration.  In fact, we count on that.   All celebrations eventually take on a life of their own and in the end, that’s what defines the success of the event.    However, to reduce stress for our clients and our entertainers, planning is the professional way to go.  Our events reflect good planning and are therefore successful.

Now how does that relate to Israeli celebrations? Well, planning is the last on the priority list.  Israelis seem to plan for and rely on spontaneity.    I recall for one Israeli couple for which I was their DJ, I suggested to get together to plan their wedding celebration.  They basically refused.     So we “compromised.”  I came in an hour earlier than I normally would have to talk with the caterer before their wedding celebration.   Everybody was OK with that!    The event indeed was  spontaneous, interwoven with twists and turns that made for a most memorable and enjoyable evening.

So what do we conclude from this?   To plan or not to plan?     Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of too much planning or not enough planning? You decide and we’ll accommodate.   We just want you to be happy!

Joel Abramson Entertainment & Productions has been providing live music and DJs for Bay Area Jewish Weddings in Northern California since 1994.

Everything you wanted to know about the world of Jewish Music. There’s a lot!