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The Bar Mitzvah, which is also known in Hebrew as the ?? ?????, is the Jewish Coming of age ritual for boys. The word originates from Jewish Aramaic and can very loosely be translated into “a son who is subject to the law” in English. Jewish Law According to Jewish rabbinical (religious) law, when a male child who is part of the Jewish faith turns 13 he then becomes accountable for his actions and is seen as Bar Mitzvah. This now means that the boy is old enough to be subject to all Jewish law because he is old enough to understand the Jewish Torah. This effectively means that in the eyes of the Jewish religious laws he is seen as an adult and from this point onwards he is seen as accountable for his religious actions. This directly translates (in a physical and spiritual sense) into the boy being able to be counted towards a prayer quorum and enables him to be able to lead prayers and other religious services within the family or Jewish community unit. Did you know? The age of 13 was selected for boys because it is usually the age at which physical puberty occurs. Up until a Jewish boy has gone through a Bar Mitzvah his parents are still responsible for his actions. What is expected of the Pre-Bar Mitzvah Most modern day Jewish congregations require all pre-bar mitzvah boys to attend a pre-designated number of Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) prayer services. They are also expected to study at a Hebrew School and take on a number of community service projects. Through the use of designated Bar Mitzvah teachers they will also need to study the Torah cantillation and basic Jewish religious concepts. All of this must be done before they can enjoy being viewed as an adult. Bar Mitzvah Parties The B'nai Mitzvah festivities that are so typical of what is shown in Hollywood are in complete contrast to the religious reasons behind the actual celebration. This celebration is in actuality a seudat mitzvah or celebratory meal that takes place with friends, family and important members of the Jewish community. However, it has become popular to take the bar mitzvah on a special trip to Israel or to throw a celebration in the form of a special event in the celebrant's honor. The idea behind this festivity is to show the great happiness involved in being commanded to do mitzvah, because it will earn the boy great rewards in the next life. The author is a tent designer with a well known Bar Mitzvah tent supplier in Israel. He is the author of a number of articles about traditional and modern tents used in the Middle East and how they are used as international events tents.
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Bar Mitzvah, Bar Mitzvah Parties, Jewish Law, Jewish Ritual,
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