In Judaism, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, and B'nai Mitzvah (pl.), are the terms to describe the coming of
age of a Jewish boy or girl.
According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of majority (generally thirteen years for
boys and twelve for girls) they become responsible for their actions, and "become a Bar or Bat
Mitzvah." In many Conservative and Reform synagogues, girls celebrate their Bat Mitzvahs at age 13,
along with boys. This also coincides with physical puberty.[1] Prior to this, the child's parents are
responsible for the child's adherence to Jewish law and tradition, and after this age, children bear their
own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and are privileged to participate in all areas
of Jewish community life.
In modern Jewish observance, the occasion of becoming a Bar Mitzvah or (in non-Orthodox
congregations) a Bat Mitzvah is usually associated with the young man or woman being called to read
the Torah and/or Haftarah portion at a Sabbath or other service, and may also involve them giving a d'var
Torah including a discussion of that week's Torah portion. Precisely what the Bar/Bat Mitzvah may do
during the service varies in Judaism's different denominations, and can also depend on the specific
practices of various congregations.
Regardless of the nature of the celebration, males become entirely culpable and responsible for
following Jewish law once they reach the age of 13, and females once they reach the age of 12. The
majority of Orthodox Jews reject the idea that a woman can publicly read from the Torah or lead prayer
services. However, the public celebration of a girl becoming Bat Mitzvah in other ways has made strong
inroads in Modern Orthodox Judaism and in some elements of Haredi Judaism. In these congregations
women do not read from the Torah or lead prayer services but occasionally they will lecture on a Jewish
topic to mark their coming of age, learn a book of Tanakh, recite the verses from other texts (such as
the Book of Esther or the Book of Psalms) or prayers from the siddur.
As with weddings, it is common to give the Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebrant a gift to commemorate the
occasion. Traditionally, common gifts included books with religious or educational value, religious
items, writing implements, savings bonds (to be used for the child's college education) or gift
certificates [5] [6]. Gifts of cash are commonplace in recent times. As with charity and all other gifts it
has become common to give in multiples of 18: the gematria, or numerical equivalence of the Hebrew
word for "life", ("chai") is the number 18. Monetary gifts in multiples of 18 are considered to be
particularly auspicious and have become very common for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Many Bar/Bat Mitzvah
also receive their first tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) from their parents to be used for the occasion.
age of a Jewish boy or girl.
According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of majority (generally thirteen years for
boys and twelve for girls) they become responsible for their actions, and "become a Bar or Bat
Mitzvah." In many Conservative and Reform synagogues, girls celebrate their Bat Mitzvahs at age 13,
along with boys. This also coincides with physical puberty.[1] Prior to this, the child's parents are
responsible for the child's adherence to Jewish law and tradition, and after this age, children bear their
own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and are privileged to participate in all areas
of Jewish community life.
In modern Jewish observance, the occasion of becoming a Bar Mitzvah or (in non-Orthodox
congregations) a Bat Mitzvah is usually associated with the young man or woman being called to read
the Torah and/or Haftarah portion at a Sabbath or other service, and may also involve them giving a d'var
Torah including a discussion of that week's Torah portion. Precisely what the Bar/Bat Mitzvah may do
during the service varies in Judaism's different denominations, and can also depend on the specific
practices of various congregations.
Regardless of the nature of the celebration, males become entirely culpable and responsible for
following Jewish law once they reach the age of 13, and females once they reach the age of 12. The
majority of Orthodox Jews reject the idea that a woman can publicly read from the Torah or lead prayer
services. However, the public celebration of a girl becoming Bat Mitzvah in other ways has made strong
inroads in Modern Orthodox Judaism and in some elements of Haredi Judaism. In these congregations
women do not read from the Torah or lead prayer services but occasionally they will lecture on a Jewish
topic to mark their coming of age, learn a book of Tanakh, recite the verses from other texts (such as
the Book of Esther or the Book of Psalms) or prayers from the siddur.
As with weddings, it is common to give the Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebrant a gift to commemorate the
occasion. Traditionally, common gifts included books with religious or educational value, religious
items, writing implements, savings bonds (to be used for the child's college education) or gift
certificates [5] [6]. Gifts of cash are commonplace in recent times. As with charity and all other gifts it
has become common to give in multiples of 18: the gematria, or numerical equivalence of the Hebrew
word for "life", ("chai") is the number 18. Monetary gifts in multiples of 18 are considered to be
particularly auspicious and have become very common for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Many Bar/Bat Mitzvah
also receive their first tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) from their parents to be used for the occasion.
Jewish Gifts
Jewish Jewelry
Challah Boards
Challah Covers
Yair Emanuel
Hamsa Hand
Hamsa Jewelry
Women's Tallit
Contemporary judaica
Bar / Bat Mitzvah
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