Bar Mitzvah Customs

A Brief Primer on Bar Mitzvah Customs

If you are preparing for your child's bar mitzvah, it is essential to understand bar mitzvah customs. Even if you are not planning a bar mitzvah but will be attending one, it helps to understand more about this event. If you're Jewish, you may already know a lot about this very special day. If you're not Jewish and you are planning to attend the bar mitzvah of a friend or relative, you may want to educate yourself on the meaning of a bar mitzvah and what it involves.

The words bar mitzvah are directly translated to mean son of the commandment. This is because bar means son and mitzvah means commandment. The bar mitzvah is held when a boy turns 13, which is the age designed by Judaism to be the beginning of adulthood. The boy is then a man in the eyes of the Jewish faith, which means he is spiritually and morally responsible for his own actions, thoughts and deeds. Before this age, a boy's actions are the moral and spiritual responsibility of his parents. You can see why this day is a celebration of spiritual significance for both the child and the parents involved.

A bar mitzvah involves reading from the Torah, which is the Jewish holy book. There is also a blessing by the parents and a speech recited by the man of honor. In addition to all these blessings, prayers and the obligatory Torah chanting in Hebrew, there is also a big party to celebrate the event. Most bar mitzvah parties feature live entertainment, lots of food, dancing, party favors, games and gifts. The party associated with this event is similar to that of a wedding reception in quite a few ways.

The equivalent of the bar mitzvah for females is the bat mitzvah. This event is basically the same thing. The only difference is that bat mitzvah means daughter of the commandment. Therefore, if you are familiar with bar mitzvah customs then you will know what to do at a bat mitzvah also. The most important thing to remember about these events is that they mark the entry into adulthood for a young Jewish boy or girl. There is much pride, honor and spiritual meaning associated with bar and bat mitzvahs. They are certainly occasions that the young Jewish men and women who experience them remember for a lifetime!

Bar Mitzvah News:

Understanding Bar Mitzvah Etiquette
Traditional bar mitzvah gifts include a donation to a Jewish charity in the name of the student and gift certificates to Jewish bookstores. Of course, some people bring gifts which are similar to those given as a birthday gift. ...

About Barbat Mitzvah Traditions bar mitzvah speeches
In recent years, Bar Mitzvahs (for a boy) or Bat Mitzvahs (for a girl) have become reason for a big celebration with family and friends that can be easily compared to anniversaries and weddings. The bar or bat mitzvah is a relatively ...

TO resident needs donations for project - Thousand Oaks Acorn

TO resident needs donations for project
Thousand Oaks Acorn
Local resident Evan Dorval is asking for assistance from the community to help him complete his bar mitzvah project. His bar mitzvah is scheduled to take .

What You Should Know About Bar Mitzvah Speeches for Parents
Bar mitzvah speeches for parents are an important part of any bar mitzvah celebration. The parents blessing is usually done right before the student reads from the Torah. The parents blessing is an important part of any bar mitzvah ...

Community Calendar
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High Holiday Food Drive Kicks Off Hunger Initiative - Jewish Exponent

High Holiday Food Drive Kicks Off Hunger Initiative
Jewish Exponent
Last year, 52 organizations participated in the High Holiday Food Drive and collected approximately 45000 pounds of canned food -- enough for the Mitzvah .

The dark soul of Solondz
The polarizing director of 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' and 'Happiness' recasts characters from the latter film to similarly unsettling effect in 'Life During Wartime.' Directors don't normally travel with theme music, but as Todd Solondz walks in the door, the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" comes over the house stereo. It's a fitting bit of serendipity, given that Solondz's films are ...

Choosing Bar Mitzvah Party Favors
Your local party shop should be able to hook you up with bar mitzvah favors. But what if they don't have a good selection? In that case, the Internet can be a great solution. You can find great deals on all kinds of merchandise, ...

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