David Arquette celebrates Bar Mitzva in Jerusalem
US actor celebrates ceremony at Western Wall while visiting Israel to film travel series
When American actor David Arquette arrived in Israel to film an episode of a popular tourism series, he never imagined he would end up have a Bar Mitzva ceremony of his own at the Western Wall.
Arquette, 41, ex-husband of actress Courtney Cox, arrived in Israel on Friday to shoot "Trippin," a 12-episode travel show that spans across the US, Morocco, Thailand and several others countires. The actor and crew visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Masada over the course of three days of filming.
While attending a Bar Mitzva held for a local boy in Jerusalem, the hosts suggested Arquette should have his own coming of age ceremony, traditionally celebrated at the age of 13. "Better late than never," they told him.
Arquette, whose mother was Jewish, liked the idea and soon made arrangements to ascend the synagogue platform to read from the Torah and put on the phylacteries – a Jewish prayer ritual – for the first time.
(Photo: Amit Shabi)
During his visit to Jerusalem, Arquette was also learned how to cook Old Testament foods with Chef Moshe Basson from the Eucalyptus Restaurant, as well as go on a shopping spree at the Mahane Yehuda market.
His itinerary for Tel Aviv included fishing in Jaffa and serving as a guest of a DJ at local night club.
