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

Originally bar mitzvah meant simply "coming of age." The ceremony developed much later.

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

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

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

The initial impetus for adult bar/bat mitzvah came from men who, having missed the ceremony as adolescents, felt somehow incomplete as Jews.

Parents, educators, rabbis and student must work as a team to adjust the ceremony to the student's learning style and capabilities.

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

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

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