|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
What is a bar/bat mitzvah?
 Someone
who is a bar or bat mitzvah is an adult Jew who is obligated
to perform the commandments. Therefore, the ceremony at
which a twelve year old girl or a thirteen year old boy
first becomes an adult member of the Jewish community
is called a bar or bat mitzvah. Bar and Bat mitzvahs usually
take place on Saturday mornings, although they can take
place during any services where the Torah might be read:
Thursday, Monday, or Saturday mornings, Saturday afternoons,
on Jewish holidays, and on rosh hodesh, the first day
of each Jewish month. In many congregations and Orthodox
synagogues, bat mitzvahs take place on Friday evening
or another context. What actually makes someone a bar
or bat mitzvah is the aliyah -- the honor of being called
up to the Torah and read the blessing before and after
a section of the Torah is read. However, for many years
it has become customary to symbolize this additionally
by reading from the Torah and another liturgical reading
called the haftorah. It is traditional for a guest to
bring a gift for the bar or bat mitzvah. Often, they write
a check in the traditional good luck amount of any multiple
of 18, the numerical value of the word Chai, the Hebrew
word for life. |
|
|
