Becoming a Bar Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah means "son of the commandments” (Bat Mitzvah means “daughter of the commandments”).  In Judaism, a 13-year-old boy doesn’t have a Bar Mitzvah, rather he becomes a Bar Mitzvah.  It represents him becoming an adult in the eyes of the religion and signifies that he is now obligated to observe the commandments that apply to Jewish adults.  He will now be responsible for his own actions and moral behavior.  He will count in a minyan (the minimum number of people needed to perform certain parts of Jewish religious services), and he can now form binding contracts and testify before religious courts.

Before the congregation, family, and friends, he will accept the privilege of receiving an Aliyah (ascent or "going up" to the bimah for a Torah reading) for the first time.  He will lead Shacharit (morning prayers, which include Hebrew blessings expressing gratitude for the new day and Shabbat) and other parts of the traditional Shabbat morning service.  He will give a D'var Torah (sermon), a brief interpretation of what the weekly Torah portion means to him.  He will also read from the Torah (Five Books of Moses) and chant the weekly Haftarah (a selection from the Book of Prophets).

It is important to note that becoming a Bar Mitzvah is not the goal of a Jewish education, nor is it a graduation ceremony marking the end of a person's Jewish education. We are obligated to study Torah throughout our lives.  Becoming a Bar Mitzvah marks a new stage in a Jewish individual's participation in prayer and the community.