Bar Mitzvah Etiquette

Understanding Bar Mitzvah Etiquette

If you are preparing to attend the bar mitzvah of a young Jewish man but you are not Jewish, you need to review the basics of bar mitzvah etiquette before the event. The first thing you should know is the meaning of the bar mitzvah. The term itself means son of the commandment and marks the day that a young Jewish male becomes a man in the eyes of Judaism. It is an event that is very spiritual in nature yet is also a big celebration. There are several aspects that make up a bar mitzvah.

The first part of a bar mitzvah is the reading from the Torah which is done by the young man of honor. The Torah is the Jewish holy book which is equivalent to what the Bible is in Christianity. After the reading from the Torah the student will also recite the Haftarah, which is most usually taken from the writings of the prophets. These readings may be difficult for someone of a different faith to understand as they are usually done in Hebrew. The student may even lead the rest of the congregation in chanting or reading of Jewish scripture.

It is most often customary for those attending a bar mitzvah to wear the traditional head covering. For men, this is called the yamaka. Women often wear a lace head covering. Some Jewish synagogues also put on the prayershawl, or talit, but if you are not Jewish you would not do this during the service. After the religious service, the party begins. You will want to bring a bar mitzvah gift. There are many different ideas for bar mitzvah gifts.

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. For example, cash is sometimes given as a congratulatory bar mitzvah gift. When learning bar mitzvah etiquette, the most important thing is not the gift or even the service. The most important thing is to understand why the day is special to the young man who is celebrating and congratulate him accordingly. Becoming an adult in the eyes of the Jewish church is great honor, and a great responsibility.

Bar Mitzvah News:

Avi Levine, Congregation Shaare Emeth - St. Louis Jewish Light

Avi Levine, Congregation Shaare Emeth
St. Louis Jewish Light
"Avi's Bar Mitzvah Challenge" lasted for nine months prior to his bar mitzvah date. Son of Leiba and Ken Levine of St. Louis County, Avi's goal was to raise money and collect food for the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry as well as motivate those .

Family rents out Aspen's Hotel Jerome for bat mitzvah
ASPEN EUR” All 94 rooms of the Hotel Jerome, as well as its restaurant and popular first-floor drinking spots the J-Bar and the Library, will be closed to the public from Thursday through..

Inside Newts Sad Primary Party
Lloyd Grove reports from Gingrichs sparsely attended election-night bash in a huge Manchester ballroom...

FreeBarMitzvah.com Is Now Offering Free Bar And Bat Mitzvah Parties To The Tri-State Area
Celebrate Your Sons Coming of Age with FreeBarMitzvah.com With party setup, music, photography, even a beautiful prayer book and a stunning Star of David necklace, as well as a learning partner to help prepare the young ones for the bar or bat mitzvah, all at no cost.Rockland County, NY (PRWEB) December 31, 2011 The recession hit the country hard, and has affected every part of our lives ...

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