Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar and Bat Mitzvah 101

An overview of this Jewish rite of passage for 12- and 13-year-olds.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

What a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guest Needs to Know

What to expect and how to behave at a bar/bat mitzvah service.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah Gift Guide

Tips for picking the right present for this Jewish rite of passage.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Quiz

How much do you know about this coming-of-age ceremony?

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning Issues for Interfaith Families

Interfaith families should ask the rabbi about synagogue policies and honestly examine both parents' attachments to Judaism.

How to Plan a Gender-Neutral B’nai Mitzvah Celebration

Creating a gender-inclusive coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish teens.

What To Expect At Synagogue Services on Saturday Morning

A guide for bar/bat mitzvah guests and other newcomers to Sabbath worship.

Alternative Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies

How to have a meaningful ceremony even if you don't belong to a synagogue.

The Surprising History of Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation

The bar mitzvah (and even more so the bat mitzvah) is a relatively new phenomena.

The One Thing We Need to Stop Saying to Our Kids at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah is a unique and special time in the life of a child, family and community. ...

The Parents’ Role in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Service

Traditionally, the father recited one blessing during the service, but today, parents are often much more involved.

What Is the Haftarah, and Why Do We Read It?

Each Torah portion is paired with a passage from the Prophets.

History of Bat Mitzvah

The bat mitzvah ceremony is of relatively recent vintage, with the first American observance in 1922.

How to Choose a Mitzvah Project for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Suggestions for adding social action to this rite of passage.

How the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Child Participates in the Service

The defining moment of the ceremony is the child's first aliyah, but children may also play additional roles in the service.