What is a Bar Mitzvah?
You may have never attended a Bar or Bat Mitzvah and it can feel confusing when you don't know what is going on and why. We want everyone who attends Josh’s Bar Mitzvah to feel included, and given the chance to learn more about what a Bar Mitzvah is and what will be going on.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF BAR/BAT MITZVAH?
Bar and bat mitzvah mean, literally, "son and daughter of the commandment." Bat mitzvah is Hebrew, while bar mitzvah, historically a much earlier ceremony, is Aramaic. The word bar is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew ben (son of). While bar and bat mitzvah are often used to refer to the ceremony, the terms also refer to the child. Thus, a boy if referred to as a "bar mitzvah" and a girl as a "bat mitzvah."
Historically, first bar mitzvah and later bat mitzvah represented a ceremonial recognition that a young person had reached the age when he or she was no longer a minor according to Jewish law and thereby took on new religious privileges and responsibilities of an adult. For boys, this age was 13, for girls, 12.
WHAT DOES THE BAR/BAT MITZVAH DO IN THE SERVICE?
Depending on the congregation, boys and girls may conduct all or part of the service, read or chant the b'rachot over the Torah (an aliyah), read a section from the Torah portion for that week, read or chant the b'rachot for the haftarah, read a section from the haftarah, and deliver a sermon.
WHAT DOES ALIYAH MEAN?
The Hebrew word aliyah (literally, "going up") is used as a description of being "called up" to read from the Torah. Aliyah is also the word used to describe the act of immigration to Israel. In Jewish tradition, as far back as biblical times, going to Israel was always referred to as "going up." In reform congregations, a non-Jewish person can take part in this if they are accompanied by someone who is Jewish.
ADDITIONAL JEWISH TERMINOLOGY
Ark: a cabinet that houses the Torah. When the ark is opened the congregation is asked to stand out of respect.
Torah: a sacred scroll, handwritten in Hebrew on sheepskin parchment, that holds the Jewish laws, teachings, and stories. It teaches us how to live life. It contains the first five books of the Bible.
Mitzvah: a good deed done from religious duty; a commandment
B'nai Mitzvah: the coming of age ritual in Judaism. Becoming an adult in the eyes of G-d. A girl is called a Bat Mitzvah and a boy is a Bar Mitzvah.
Brachot: Literally, “blessing;” follows a set formula that praises G-d; unique blessings exist for many different occasions.
Yad: literally “hand”, a Torah pointer that is used to read the Torah because human hands cannot touch the Torah.
Tallis/Tallit: a traditional prayer shawl of a Jewish adult with ritually knotted tassels symbolizing the Torah’s 613 commandments.
Yarmulkes pronounced “yamaka” or a Kippah: a skullcap/head-covering often worn during prayer and study as a sign of respect for G-d (optional). Some people choose to wear a kippah all the time.
Siddur: a prayer book used during the service. Hebrew is read right to left and therefore the book begins with the right cover.
D’var Torah: “Word of Torah”; is a talk or essay based on the weekly Torah portion.
L'chaim: a toast meaning, "to life", often used today as "cheers"
Mazel Tov: Jewish phrase expressing congratulations
Kiddush: Jewish blessing recited or chanted over wine (or grape juice), emphasizing the holiness of Shabbat and festivals. Additionally, Kiddush can also mean a light meal or snacks after services.
Hamotzi: The blessing said over the challah (bread), considered breaking bread and done at the beginning of a meal.
Chai (pronounced with a soft h): Hebrew meaning is "life". It also refers to the number 18 and for that reason, Jews usually make donations and gifts in multiples of 18.
Hora: A traditional Israeli folk dance that is typically done at celebrations where the guest of honor is held up in the air in a chair and people dance around them in a circle.
Candle Lighting: This is done at the celebration and is done to honor family and friends who have played a role in the Bar Mitzvah's life journey.