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Bar/Bat Mitzvah

What is a Bat Mitzvah?

What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer: Bat Mitzvah literally translates to "daughter of commandment" and implies "responsible female."

According to Jewish Law, every Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah at age 12 - a year earlier than a Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah due to the fact that girls mature earlier than boys. As a bat mitzvah, she becomes obligated by God's commandments - as prescribed in the Torah and as interpreted by Moses, the Prophets, the Sages and the Rabbis.

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Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah Gifts

Should one give gifts for a bar or bat mitzvah? If so, what kind of gift is appropriate for a bar or bat mitzvah?

Answer: Gifts are generally given to the child who is celebrating the bar or bat mitzvah. Gifts should not be brought to the synagogue service. It is best to give the gift at the party or deliver it to the child's home.  The same type of gift that is appropriate for a 13 year old birthday is also approriate for a bar/bat mitzvah. Generally close family gives Judaic gifts (such as kiddish cup, tallis bag, tefillin), so friends tend to give more neutral gifts. I find asking the parents what the child wants is the best bar/bat mitzvah gift-giving strategy.

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Bar Mitzvah

Bar (Bat) Mitzvah literally translates to "son (daughter) of commandment" and implies that a child has matured to the age where he/she is now a responsible and obligated part of the Jewish community.

According to Jewish Law, every Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah at age 13. As a bar mitzvah, he becomes obligated by God's commandments - as prescribed in the Torah and as interpreted by Moses, the Prophets, the Sages and the Rabbis. The bar mitzvah boy also becomes eligible to count in a prayer quorum (minyan), lead prayer services, testify before a religious court, .....

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The Torah

There are two parts to the Torah:
1. Written Torah
2. Oral Torah

Written Torah

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Haftara

Jews read Torah out loud each week in synagogue in an effort to become more learned about their Jewish heritage.

There were many periods in Jewish history when the powers ruling over the Jews sought to destroy Jewish religion and culture by banning Torah reading.

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