"Bar Mitzvah" literally means "son of the commandment." "Bar" is "son" in Aramaic, and "Mitzvah" means "commandment" in both Hebrew and Aramaic. Under Jewish Law, children do not need to observe the commandments, but are encouraged to do so to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The Bar Mitzvah ceremony formally marks the crossing over from childhood to adulthood. At this age, they have right to take part in leading religious services, to count as a member of the synagogue, to form binding contracts, to testify before religious courts and to marry.