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:

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Question of the day: What's the greatest rivalry in sports? - Los Angeles Times (blog)

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Los Angeles Times (blog)
The only thing I remember about one friend's Bar Mitzvah is sneaking into the country club kitchen to watch overtime of one game. .

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