Bar and Bat Mitzvah

Bar And Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah (Hebrew: בר מצוה‎) and Bat Mitzvah (Hebrew: בת מצוה‎) are Jewish coming of age rituals. Bar "בר" is a Jewish Babylonian Aramaic word literally meaning son, in Hebrew it's Ben "בן". Bat "בת" is Hebrew for girl, and Mitzvah "מצוה" is a commandment and a law. While this literally translates to "son of the law" or "daughter of the law", the rabbinical phrase "bar" means here "under the category of" or "subject to", making "Bar Mitzvah" translate to "an who is subject to the law". According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys become 13, they become accountable for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah (plural: B'nai Mitzvah). A Bat Mitzvah occurs when Jewish girls become 12, and it means the same as it does for boys- a rite of passage from being considered unable to properly understand the Torah to being considered old enough to begin to understand and thus for boys and girls alike to be treated more like adults. In addition to being considered accountable for their actions from a religious perspective, B'nai mitzvah may be counted towards a minyan (prayer quorum) and may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community. The age of B'nai Mitzvah was selected because it roughly coincides with physical puberty. Prior to a child reaching Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, children bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life.