bat mitzvah
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.
Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah Gift Guide
Tips for picking the right present for this Jewish rite of passage.
Jewish Women and Suburbanization
A close look at the role of women and girls in the early American suburbs.
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.
Today’s Lavish Feasts Derive from Meals with Sacred Status
Although the bar/bat mitzvah meal is traditionally a seudat mitzvah--a meal with sacred status--extravagance has been rife for hundreds of years.
The D’var Torah as Religious Struggle
The struggle to find personal meaning in words of Torah and to share that message with the community is the essence of Jewish spiritual maturation.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah 101
An overview of this Jewish rite of passage for 12- and 13-year-olds.