Bar/Bat-Mitzvah                          

The Bar Mitzvah (meaning, 'Son of a Commandment') is the stage in in a Jewish boy's life when he becomes a full member of the Jewish community. This stage is reached when the boy reaches the age of thirteen. A ceremony is sometimes carried out on the day of the Bar Mitzvah, but this is not compulsory. The ceremony consists of the boy reading from a portion of the Torah scroll during a service but in some cases, the boy will conduct the service as well as address the group. During this ceremony, Orthodox Jews will wear their Teffilin boxes.

A Bat Mitzvah (meaning, 'Daughter of a Commandment') is attained when a Jewish girl turns the age of twelve. As with boys, this is when they are officially a full member of the Jewish community. However, if a girl decides to hold a ceremony on the day of her Bat Mitzvah, she may not read from the Torah Scroll, and must read from portions of the Bible and prayer book instead. Bat Mitzvahs ceremonies are only performed by reformed Jews. In some cases, families will wish to hold the ceremony at the Western Wall.

Some Progressive synagogues carry out another ceremony when the girl or boy reaches the age of sixteen. This is called the Confirmation or Kabbalat Mitzvah, which means the 'acceptance of the commandment.

More information available on the ceremony of Bar Mitzvah.