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AULA ABDUL, the American Idol and X Factor judge, chose EL AL Israel Airlines for a first time visit to the Holy Land in October. She wanted to connect to her Jewish roots. So at age 51 she resolved to finally realize a dream of celebrating her bat mitzvah in Israel. Naturally she stayed at the ultra-luxurious King David Hotel, the residence of choice for the world’s glitterati.

Traditionally, Jewish kids come of religious legal age at 13 when they can proudly proclaim, "Today I am a man!" Next day they’re sent back to school to learn to become a mensch. Girls, being smarter and wiser of the two genders, can declare their maturity at age 12. (So let them run the world!)

It was generally thought Paula would mark her bat mitzvah at the Western Wall. But she wanted to avoid a high profile ceremony, so she changed her plans. She spent a weekend in the northern city of Safed (Tzfat), a center of Jewish mysticism, where her private coming-of-age ritual was held at the Tzfat Kabbalah Center under the direction of Rabbi Eyal Riess.

President Shimon Peres welcomed the dancer singer, songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress, television personality (originally head of the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleading squad) after which she toured the Galilee and Tel Aviv.

Paula and her guests had a private dinner with Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau in the King David Hotel where he presented her with a personalized Bible and a certificate naming her an Honorary Ambassador to Israel.

Paula Julie Abdul was born June 19, 1962, in San Fernando, Calif. Her father, Harry Abdul, is a Jew born in Aleppo, Syria, and raised in Brazil. He moved to Southern California where he ran a sand and gravel business. Paula’s mother, the concert pianist Lorraine M. (née Rykiss) Abdul, grew up in one of two Jewish families in Minnedosa, a small town in Manitoba, Canada. Her ancestors came from Russia and Ukraine.

Mazal Tov, Paula!!