Commitment
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
Judaism teaches that at puberty (13 years old for a boy and 12 years old for a girl) a Jewish boy or girl becomes responsible for living by the Jewish LawRules for living contained in Exodus and Leviticus, the second and third books in the Torah.. The belief is that she or he has to accept the law and its obligations in full, take part in synagogueBuilding for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly. services and set a good example.
According to Jewish law, he or she is also now eligible to own property and to get married.
The boy is now counted as part of the minyanIn Judaism, a minimum number (quorum) of ten men required for a service. In progressive communities this may include ten adults of either sex. and may lead part of the services.
Before his 13th birthday, a Jewish boy may attend lessons, usually at the synagogue, in HebrewThe ancient language of the Jewish people. The language of the Torah, the Temple and the modern state of Israel. and in how to read the TorahLaw; teaching. The word Torah can be used in a narrow sense to mean the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Five Books of Moses) and also in a wider sense to include the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud. aloud.
Bar Mitzvah
A boy becomes Bar MitzvahLiterally: son of the commandment. A Jewish ceremony for a 13-year-old boy, which marks his becoming a full adult member of the Jewish community. on the SabbathThe seventh day of the week and a day of rest for Jews (Shabbat is Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). Sunday is the day of rest for Christians. nearest to his 13th birthday. During the Sabbath service, the boy will read aloud part of the Torah or a section of the Prophets. He will wear the tefillinSmall leather boxes containing passages from the Torah. Jewish men strap these to their forehead and arm for morning prayers on weekdays. for the first time.
The rabbiA religious teacher and leader with authority to make decisions on issues of Jewish law. A rabbi is the chief religious official of a synagogue, who often (but not always) leads worship and conducts rites and rituals. will address part of his talk to the boy and the boy might give a talk to the rest of the assembly. The boy's father will then recite a prayer of thanks for his son's coming of age.
After the service there will usually be a party to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah.
Bat Mitzvah
A girl from a Liberal Jewish community will prepare for her Bat MitzvahLiterally: daughter of the commandment. Liberal Jewish coming of age ceremony for 12 year-old girls. in a similar way to a boy preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, but she will do this around the time of her 12th birthday. However, during the Bat Mitzvah ceremony itself, the girl will not wear the tefillin.
Orthodox JewA Jew who lives by the Torah and rabbinic law (halakhah) and who only accepts changes that can be supported by the Torah. do not accept Bat Mitzvah and do not allow girls to count as part of the minyan or to lead services.
Bat Chayil
Bat Chayil means 'daughter of valour' and is an Orthodox Jewish ceremony. It takes place in Orthodox synagogues at a date close to the girl's 12th birthday. The girl will give a talk on a Jewish topic, but not during the Sabbath service.
Orthodox Jews see the role of women and men as different. Women do not take an active part in the synagogue services, but have a very important role to play in the home.
Bat Chayil allows the girl to take up her adult role in the community. The girl has to observe those Jewish laws that pertain to women and learn how to keep a good Jewish home. How to apply the Jewish dietary laws is a good example of one of the lessons an Orthodox Jewish teenage girl has to learn.