Bar and Bat Mitzvah

In Judaism, a Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish boy, and a Bat Mitzvah a Jewish girl, who has turned 13 years old (or for a girl in the Orthodox movement, 12 years old). They go through a rite of passage which symbolizes the young person's responsibility for themselves. 

Before the bar mitzvah, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, the boys and girls bear their own responsibility, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. It marks their coming of age. The terms are also used for the ceremony celebrating this event. 

 Bar Mitzvah (pl. B'nai Mitzvah) comes from the Aramaic , "one (m.) to whom the commandments apply". (If it were Hebrew it would be  (ben) not  (bar).  is "son" in Aramaic, and  (ben) is son in Hebrew.).
 Bat Mitzvah (pl. B'not Mitzvah) is , "one (f.) to whom the commandments apply" (Ashkenazi: Bas Mitzvah).

According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of majority (generally thirteen years for boys and twelve for girls.) Then they become responsible for their actions, and "become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah". This is also the time when physical pubertyNiddah, 45b. normally begins. Before this the child's parents have the responsibility that the child follows Jewish law and tradition and, after this age, children have their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and have the right to take part in all areas of Jewish community life.Traditionally, the father of the Bar Mitzvah boy gives thanks to God that he is no longer punished for the child's sins. (Genesis Rabba, Toldot 23:11)

 References 

 Further reading 
Oppenheimer, Mark.  Thirteen and a Day: The Bar and Bat Mitzvah across America.  New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005.

 Other websites 
 Schauss, Hayyim. History of Bar Mitzvah 
 "Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation"
 The Official Israeli Ministry of Tourism Website with information about celebrating Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem 
 Secular Humanistic Bar/Bat Mitzvah 

Category:Jewish culture