When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13 years, he celebrates what?

"Bar Mitzvah” literally means “son of the commandment.” “Bar” is “son” in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish people. “Mitzvah” is “commandment” in both Hebrew and Aramaic. “Bat” means daughter in Hebrew and Aramaic. A girl becomes a bat mitzvah at the age of 12 according to Orthodox and Conservative Jews, and at the age of 13 according to Reform Jews. Simply put, boys start observing the commandments after becoming a bar mitzvah. The same happens to girls.

Many people think these two terms mean events, but bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah mean persons. Children under the age of 13 are not obligated to observe the commandments in Jewish culture. Anyway, kids are encouraged to do as much as possible to learn more about the obligations they will have as grown-ups.

The bar mitzvah ceremony is known all over the world as one of the symbols of the Jewish culture. Anyway, it is not required, and the custom of having a big party varies from one community to another. So, to become a bar mitzvah, first of all, a boy needs to reach the age of 13. The party is optional.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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52 Comments

joan musicmasters

Point of interest: Tonight marks the saddest day on the Jewish calendar: Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. On this day, Jews around the world mourn every tragedy in the long history of the Jewish people through fasting, reading the Book of Lamentations, and crying out to God in prayer. Many horrible tragedies occurred on the ninth of Av: Both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. With the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE, the Jews of Israel were dispersed to "the four corners of the earth," beginning an exile whose ramifications are still felt today. Just thought you might like to know - and no, I am not Jewish.

Cheryl McMeekin

I new that bar mitzvah was about boys becoming men, but I'd never new that bat mitzvah was for young girls. Very interesting info.

Player

There is disappointment if there is not a big party.

Faiga

littledick, Mazal is the Hebrew pronunciation used in Israel. Both are accepted

Howard Richler

The real answer he celebrates ending therapy from having been circumcised almost 13 years prior.

Mike McEachern

joan musicmasters, I am not Jewish either but well said!

dlh

Hit the wrong spelling by mistake😳

Joanne Serin

Louis Nardone, no, that is performed at the Bris (Brit) Milah, the circumcision, when a boy is 8 days old.

Joanne Serin

Janice Lea Vanlandingham, they arent as popular as a Bar Mitzvah. Bat Mitzvah just started around the 1950s with Reform Jews.

Joanne Serin

Steven Zatkin, it doesn't. It is done at 8 days.

Joanne Serin

Janice Lea Vanlandingham, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is similar to a confessional, the day when you, along with the whole congregation, apologize to God for the bad things you've done in the past year. It is the last day of the High Holy Days that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in September. There are special prayers specifying the people one may have sinned against, such as parents, teachers, friends, and acts for which one wishes to be forgiven, such as, for lying.

Joanne Serin

Isabel Laing, they mean "son" (bar) /"daughter" (bat) of the commandment.

Joanne Serin

Hilary Sykes, you missed it.

Joanne Serin

littledick, both spellings, "Mazel" or "Mazal" tov are correct.

Joanne Serin

littledick, "Mazel tov" means "Congratulations," (though, literally, it means "good luck")what you would say to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, bride and groom, or anyone who deserves congratulating.