Bar+Mitzvah


 * Bar/t Mitzvahs**

A Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony in which a Jewish teenager is accepted as an adult into their community. "Bar Mitzvah" literally translates to "a son of commandment," which is the passage to maturity. If the ceremony is being celebrated for a girl, it is called a Bat Mitzvah, and a Bar Mitzvah if the teen is male. A Bar Mitzvah typically takes place on the child's thirteenth birthday, and a party is weaved into the ceremony to celebrate the teen's birthday.
 * What is a Bar Mitzvah?**

Education is very highly valued, and begins early in life. At age five, the child begins learning about their traditions. It is believed that a high education leads to maturity. The early education that a child receives is on the Torah, the Talmud, and the Midrash.
 * What is done in preparation for the ceremony?**

During a Bar/t Mitzvah, a child reads from the Torah, and includes a song or a few religious blessings. Prior to the Bar Mitzvah, the teen must aquire a certain level of Hebrew to be able to read from the Torah. The ceremony then has song and dance with family and friends of the new adult.
 * What happens during the ceremony?**