Understanding Bar Mitzvah

The literal translation of Bar Mitzvah is “Son of Commandment”. In Aramaic, which is a very common dialect of the Jewish people and in the Middle East from about 500 B.C.E. until 400 C.E., “son” is the meaning of the word “bar”. And “mitzvah” also mean “commandment” in Hebrew. Meanwhile, the terminus “bar mitzvah” could mean two things:

The first meaning of “bar mitzvah” is of a Jewish boy getting into the age of 13 years old. At this age, by Jewish traditions, it means that the boy now has the rights as that of a full-grown man. When a boy turns into a Bar Mitzvah, he becomes responsible both morally and ethically for every decision and action he makes.

Bar mitzvah can also refer to the religious ritual being performed when the Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah. Furthermore, it is also used to refer to the celebratory party that usually follows after the religious ritual.

It should be noted that a Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah, when he reaches 13 years old, with or without the performance of either or both the religious ceremony and the celebratory party. How both the ceremony and party are performed and celebrated depends on which movement the family belongs to, whether Reform, Orthodox, Conservatory, etc. However, the following are the common things that happen during a bar mitzvah:

The ceremony may not be a necessity for a boy to become a bar mitzvah, however, through the centuries; it has been performed with greater emphasis as a right of passage. The very first thing that a boy can do to mark this point in his life is to be called on for his first aliyah, where he would recite the Torah reading blessings during the first Torah right after he reaches 13 years old. In modern times, there are several things that the boy will have to participate and prepare for the event, together with a Rabbi or a Cantor that could take months to years. Usually, the boy would have to lead specific prayers or even the entire service for a Shabbat service or a weekday religious service. The boy would also have to read the weekly Torah and the Haftarah part of the Shabbat service or the weekday religious service, as well as learning and using the traditional reading chant. He would also have to give a speech on either or both the Torah and the Haftarah readings. Furthermore, he would also have to complete a charity project, also known as tzedakah, of his choice to raise money or donations leading to the event. During the event, the bar mitzvah’s family is oftentimes recognized and honored with an aliyah or several aliyahs. It is also a tradition for several synagogues that the Torah is being passed from the grandfather to the father, and then to the Bar Mitzvah signifying the passing down of obligations in the participation of the study of both Torah and Judaism.

The party that follows the ceremony has actually only been performed lately. Although, it is also not necessary that a party would have to be performed, it is understandable that one is being held, for it is one of a person’s major life events. Unique Bar Mitzvah gifts and presents that are suitable for a 13-year-old boy are oftentimes given to the Bar Mitzvah. Cash gifts are also common and sometimes, portions of it are being given for the charity that the Bar Mitzvah has chosen, and the rest goes to the boy’s college fund or for any further religious education he has or wants to take up.