Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah

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Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah

• Learning objectives
• What happens at a Bar/Bat Mitzvah service and why
• The symbolism behind wearing Tefillin and Tallit.
• the importance to family and community of Bar/Bat
  Mitzvah
• the differences between Bat Mitzvah services of
  boys and girls

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Key words
definition

• Key word

Bar Mitzvah
son of the commandment
Orthodox Jews
followers of a traditional branch of Judaism
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What is Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah?

• Move from being a child to being an adult.
• Judaism says a boy is a "bar mitzvah" when he
  turns 13 and a girl becomes "bat mitzvah" when
  she turns 12.
• The child is now responsible for what they do.
  If they do anything wrong, it is their fault and
  not their parents.

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• The children must now make sure that they follow
  the Jewish laws.
• No ceremony is needed to celebrate this but many
  people choose to have a special party.

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What happens in the service?

• On the shabbat following his thirteenth birthday
  a Jewish boy is called up in front of the
  congregation (the people) in the synagogue to
  read a passage from the Torah in Hebrew (quite a
  long one sometimes!).
• He also usually makes a speech, which
  traditionally begins with the phrase "today I am
  a man."

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• His father traditionally says a blessing thanking
  God that he is not responsible for his son's sins
  any more (because his son is old enough to be
  held responsible for himself).
• These days, the religious service is followed by
  a party that is often as fancy as a wedding
  reception.

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There are three main reasons why the Bar Mitzvah
is so important for every Jewish male
1.The boy who has come of age is given the full
religious responsibilities of the adult male. He
is allowed to wear the ritual clothes the Tallit
and the Tefillin, he can make up the minimum 10
males who must be present for a service to take
place (the minyan), and he can take part fully in
the worship in the synagogue. Tallit T
efillin
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2.At any time in the future he can be called
upon to read from the Torah. All Jews consider
this to be a great privilege. 3.In many
synagogues this is seen as a serious statement of
faith by the young adult. They acknowledge their
faith and acknowledge that the responsibility for
their spiritual life now passes from their
parents to them.
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Bat Mitzvah

• In some parts of the Jewish church, women are not
  allowed to join in religious services, so a bat
  mitzvah, if celebrated at all, is usually little
  more than a party.
• In other parts of Judaism, the girls do exactly
  the same thing as the boys.

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Activities In groups discuss the following
questions and write the answers in your RE
exercise books 1.How is a boy prepared to be
Bar Mitzvah and why is this important in Jewish
communities? 2.When does a Jewish man wear his
Tallit, Tefillin and why? 3.What are the
differences between Bat Mitzvah services of boys
and girls?
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Sample question

• How is a boy prepared to be Bar Mitzvah and why
  is this important in Jewish communities?

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Sample answer.
Topic sentence
Preparation to be Bar Mitzvah starts when a boy
is 13 years old. I think it is important because
it marks the start of adulthood
.
In my opinion a boy becomes responsible for his
own actions and behaviour at this age.
My opinion
He has to learn to read Hebrew, to pray and wear
clothes that show his religion.
Example
He must also study Judaism and Jewish history so
he fully understands the religion.
Example