A bar mitzvah (masc.) or bat mitzvah (fem.) [a] is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age, they are said to "become" b'nai mitzvah, at which point they begin to be held accountable for their own ...

A bar mitzvah is a Jewish coming-of-age ceremony for boys at age 13, marking their transition to adulthood. It includes putting on tefillin and other religious practices.

Coming of age for a Jew, which happens automatically at age 13 for a boy and 12 for a girl, is termed bar and bat mitzvah, that is, obligated to perform the Jewish mitzvot (commandments). A ceremony marking the first performance of mitzvot such as being called up to the Torah to say the blessings (known as “getting an aliyah “) began to ...

In its earliest and most basic form, a bar mitzvah is the celebrant's first aliyah. During Shabbat services on a Saturday shortly after the child's 13th birthday, or even the Monday or Thursday weekday services immediately after the child's 13th birthday, the celebrant is called up to the Torah to recite a blessing over the weekly reading.

The bar mitzvah ceremony celebrates a Jewish boy’s 13th birthday (on the Hebrew calendar) and his elevation to adult status in Judaism. This celebration can take many forms. Here is what you might expect at a bar mitzvah celebration, but bear in mind that many elements of …

Bar mitzvah, Jewish religious ritual and family celebration commemorating the religious adulthood of a boy on his 13th birthday. The boy may henceforth don phylacteries during the weekday morning prayers and may be counted as an adult whenever 10 male adults are needed to form a quorum for public prayers.

BAR MITZVAH, BAT MITZVAH (Heb. masc. בַּר מִצְוָה, fem. בַּת מִצְוָה; lit. "son/daughter of the commandment," i.e., a person under obligation, responsible), term denoting both the attainment of religious and legal maturity as well as the occasion at which this status is formally assumed for boys at the age of 13 plus one ...

The term “bar mitzvah” literally means “son of the mitzvah,” or one who is obligated in mitzvah observance. The obligation is automatic, whether or not a celebration or special ceremony is held. But since becoming a bar mitzvah is such an important milestone and joyous occasion, we make a point of celebrating together with family and ...

The bar bat mitzvah ceremony is a public affirmation of a young Jew entering the Covenant of the Jewish People of Israel through Torah that began at Mount Sinai. Conducting such ceremonies without the presence and participation of the Jewish community-at-large reduces this public rite to a private family affair.

Perhaps the most significant rite of passage for a young Jewish person is the moment they become responsible for the performance of the commandments in the eyes of tradition, popularly referred to as the day they become a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah.