14 DAY TRIAL // Paula Abdul, well known singer, dancer, choreographer and TV personality, is taking up a new label, that of religious pilgrim. While exploring Israel and reconnecting with her Jewish roots, Paula found herself more spiritual than ever and decided on experiencing the traditional Jewish Bat Mitzvah.
On her first trip to Israel, Paula has been an official guest of Israel's ministry of tourism. The award-winning singer has been touring the country, visiting and enjoying museums, holy sites and markets in Jerusalem like a “regular tourist.”
Even though she visited the world touring, Abdul says she never got the chance to see much of the places she went to, describing her current visit as “the most magnificent trip I've ever taken… magical and emotional.”
The magic and emotion of the trip also come from a more spiritual part that Paula got to experience.
"Beyond being Jewish, I've always found myself to be very much in tune with spirituality. I feel very grateful coming to Israel now, where as a woman I know who I am a lot more than even 10 years ago," the former “American Idol” judge says, according to TVGuide.
Encouraged by Israeli President Shimon Peres, Paula is now planning on celebrating her Bat Mitzvah, a traditional Jewish ceremony that marks recognition as an adult.
Similar to the male celebration of Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah celebrates the coming of age of young girls, and involves traditional prayers and chants, reading portions of the Torah, giving a speech and completing a charity project.
Vising Israel didn't stop Paula from taking a shot at Miley Cyrus and her recent twerking habits.
“I think when girls dance, they should be girls. I don't find it the most attractive kind of dance,” Abdul says, according to The Wrap. “My Chihuahua can twerk and stick her tongue out at the same time, too.”