"Why Is Italy Such a Fit for Jewish Journeys?"

Asaf Peled doesn't just plan Jewish tours to Italy ,he creates milestone experiences that stay with families for life. As the founder and CEO of Shin Luxury Tours, he's become a go-to expert for designing once-in-a-lifetime Bar and Bat Mitzvah journeys in Italy and beyond. We caught up with him to hear how it all began, what makes Italy so special, and the common things families miss when planning such an important celebration.
Immersive Jewish heritage journeys in Italy offer families meaningful and personalized Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations. "Kids today are wired differently—they're growing up on smartphones, TikTok, and instant everything. Traveling is hands-on, it's exciting, and it meets them where they are. A well-designed multigenerational trip allows them to explore their identity in a way that feels personal and relevant" Peled says

Partnered with Shin Luxury Tours

Q: Why do you think parents struggle so much with Bar and Bat Mitzvah planning?
It's such a meaningful milestone, and it arrives at a pivotal moment in a teenager's life. Parents feel the weight of it—and rightfully so. How we choose to celebrate it can have a lasting impact on how the next generation connects to their Jewish identity. And the truth is, you only get one chance to mark this moment—you want to do it right.
Today's youth are living in a different reality—one shaped by smartphones, social media, and constant distractions. They won't connect through formality or tradition alone. They need something that's hands-on, fun, and deeply personal. The challenge for parents is figuring out how to make Judaism relevant—and that's where we come in. We design experiences that are not only meaningful, but allow the child to explore and shape their own relationship with Judaism in a way that feels real to them.

Q: Asaf, how did Shin Luxury Tours become the go-to for Bar and Bat Mitzvah trips to Italy?
It actually started with my grandfather, Murray. He was a proud Jew from Detroit—big heart, even bigger presence—and he had this fire in him for Italy. He'd go two, three times a year. But what struck me was how every visit, he connected more and more to his Jewish identity. It wasn't loud or performative. It was subtle, personal. He found traces of Jewish heritage in Rome's back alleys, in Venetian synagogues, in quiet conversations with locals. That stayed with me.
When I started Shin, I knew we weren't just planning high-end vacations. We were designing moments that connect generations.

Q: Why celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah with a multigenerational trip? A: Because kids today are wired differently—they're growing up on smartphones, TikTok, and instant everything. Sitting through a long ceremony or formal event isn't what grabs their attention anymore. Travel, on the other hand, is immersive. It's hands-on, it's exciting, and it meets them where they are.
A well-designed multigenerational trip allows them to explore their identity in a way that feels personal and relevant—light, but deeply meaningful. It becomes less about tradition being handed down, and more about them discovering what it means to be Jewish in a way that actually resonates.

Q: Why is Italy such a powerful setting for Jewish milestones?
Italy holds a deep and often overlooked place in Jewish history. After the destruction of the Second Temple, thousands of Jews were exiled to Rome, forced into slavery, and even helped build the Colosseum—paid for with treasures taken from the Temple. Over the centuries, Italy became one of the key centers of Jewish life in the Diaspora.
And what many people don't realize is that Italy also played a quiet but important role in shaping modern Jewish tradition—including being one of the first places where Bat Mitzvah celebrations for girls started to take form alongside Bar Mitzvahs.
So when families walk through the streets of Rome or step into a 16th-century synagogue in Florence, they're not just seeing beautiful architecture—they're connecting with a powerful story of resilience and reinvention that still shapes Jewish identity today.

Q: A lot of parents tell us they were too stressed to enjoy the moment—how do you make sure that doesn't happen?
Honestly, the biggest mistake is trying to do it all themselves. Families put so much heart into planning, but the one running the show—usually mom or dad—ends up in logistics mode instead of being present. They're juggling transportation, chasing down vendors, coordinating rabbis and restaurant bookings… it turns what should be a sacred, emotional experience into a stressful checklist.
And the rabbi? That's another place families often miss the mark. It's not about just having a rabbi—it's about having the right rabbi. Someone who can speak to a 13-year-old in a way that feels real and relatable, while also moving a grandparent to tears. We've spent years curating a small group of incredible rabbis who know how to make every generation in the room feel seen. That's the difference between a moment that's nice—and one they'll never forget.

Q: What are the right questions a parent should be asking when planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah trip?
We usually start with just two: Who's coming? And What do you want everyone to feel?
For smaller families—say, four to six people—it often makes sense to hold the ceremony at home and come to Italy for the celebration itself. It keeps things intimate, flexible, and full of meaningful moments without the logistics of a large group.
But when it's a multigenerational gathering—10, 15, even 20 people—we bring the full experience to Italy. Picture your child reading Torah in a centuries-old synagogue in Florence, followed by a celebration in a private Tuscan villa, surrounded by the people who matter most. That's not just a vacation. That's a legacy moment—a memory that becomes part of your family's story forever.

Q: What's something families don't expect to feel—but often do—by the end of the trip?
Families come expecting a celebration, a milestone, maybe even a vacation. But what they walk away with is something much deeper. There's something powerful about stepping out of the daily grind and being fully present together in a place as rich, beautiful, and emotionally layered as Italy.
The Bar or Bat Mitzvah is just the anchor. The real transformation happens in the moments in between—the quiet pride on a grandparent's face during the ceremony, the unfiltered joy of siblings laughing over late-night gelato in Rome, a child asking thoughtful questions about their roots while wandering through the Jewish Ghetto in Venice.
These trips spark something lasting. They reconnect families—not just to Judaism, but to each other. And that kind of connection? It doesn't end when the trip does. It becomes part of who they are.

Q: Planning something meaningful for A multi generation trip can feel impossible—how do these trips manage to bring everyone together?
Absolutely. In fact, it's one of the best formats for it. Everyone gets something out of it. The grandparents feel pride and emotion seeing this Jewish continuity. The parents finally breathe and enjoy without coordinating every detail. And the kids? They come away with a connection to their heritage that's personal and joyful—not something that was handed to them, but something they discovered on their own.

Partnered with Shin Luxury Tours