Jewish Coming of Age Ceremonies (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What is a bar mitzvah?

• The term bar mitzvah literally means “Son of the Commandments”

• Bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies mark the transition into adulthood for young Jews

• At age 13, a boy becomes bar mitzvah, and at age 12, a girl becomes bat mitzvah

• After these ceremonies, Jewish boys or girls become responsible for living according to Jewish Law and obeying the mitzvot in the Torah

  • At this point, each young person has to accept the law and its obligations, participate fully in synagogue services and set a good example for others

  • After the ceremony, a Jewish boy can be counted as part of a minyan, and in Reform synagogues, girls who are bat mitzvah can also be counted

• Traditionally, a boy’s bar mitzvah takes place on Saturday (Shabbat), but many bar mitzvah services are also held on weekday mornings

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What happens during the bar mitzvah service?

• During the ceremony, the rabbi gives a talk, speaking to both the boy and his family and to the rest of the community:

  • The boy is called to the Torah (called an aliyah) for the first time

  • He reads a portion of the Torah and sometimes the Haftarah (a reading from the prophets), usually in Hebrew

  • In Orthodox Judaism, the boy begins to wear tefillin (small leather boxes with verses from the Torah) during weekday morning prayers

  • He recites the blessings before and after reading the Torah

  • The father recites a blessing thanking G-d for freeing him from responsibility for the child’s actions

  • The boy might also give a talk to the people gathered

  • It is traditional for the boy to receive gifts 

  • Usually, a boy’s bar mitzvah service is held at a synagogue, though some may choose to hold it in a private venue

• Following the bar mitzvah service, there is typically a celebration or reception

What is a bat mitzvah?

• Unlike the bar mitzvah, the Bat Mitzvah is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible

  • The ceremony of bar mitzvah dates back to the sixth century, but the observance of bat mitzvah was only introduced in 1922 in the United States

• The bat mitzvah is only practised by Reform and Liberal Jewish communities, not Orthodox

• Traditionally, within Judaism, males and females are not thought to have the same responsibilities:

  • As a result, in some Jewish communities, some rules (such as the requirement to read from the Torah) are less strict for girls than they are for boys

• The ceremony follows a similar pattern to the bar mitzvah and happens around a girl’s 12th birthday

• Although a bat mitzvah ceremony is not required by Jewish law, it is used to recognise a Jewish girl as a woman and to define her as such in her community

• Reform and Liberal Jews today consider the bat mitzvah in much the same light as the bar mitzvah

What happens at a bat mitzvah service?

• The bat mitzvah service varies depending on the Jewish tradition

  • In Reform and Liberal Judaism, the girl may lead parts of the service, read from the Torah or deliver a D’var Torah (speech explaining a Torah passage)

    • She may also lead prayers in Hebrew and English

• After the service, there is often a celebration or meal with family and friends

• As with a bar mitzvah, the bat mitzvah girl may give a speech reflecting on her role and responsibility as a Jewish woman

What is a bat chayil?

• Bat Chayil means “Daughter of Worth” in Hebrew

  • It is a coming-of-age celebration for Orthodox Jewish girls, often used instead of a bat mitzvah

  • It is celebrated when a girl reaches the age of 12

  • In Orthodox Judaism, girls usually do not lead synagogue services or read from the Torah publicly

• Bat Chayil offers a way to celebrate spiritual maturity in a way that fits Orthodox beliefs about modesty and gender roles

What happens at a Bat Chayil ceremony?

• The Bat Chayil ceremony is often held at home or in a school hall or community centre

  • The girl gives a speech on a Jewish topic or a woman from Jewish history

  • Family and friends attend, and it often includes songs, poems or presentations

• The ceremony marks the girl’s new responsibilities under Jewish law

  • The girl becomes responsible for mitzvot (commandments), such as lighting Shabbat candles, tzedakah (charity) and modest behaviour

  • She is now considered a spiritually mature member of the Jewish community