What goes on at a bar mitzvah?

Answer 1

At a bar mitzvah (and for many Reform and Conservative Jews, at a bat mitzvah) the boy (or girl) leads the Saturday morning service and/or reads from the Torah or at least recites some blessings before and after the reading of the Torah.

Answer 2

When a Jewish boy is 13 he is called to read a Torah-portion, which is in Hebrew. Only an adults are called to read the Torah in public; but since the boy is 13 he is now considered a man (adult). Afterwards, the boy receives a blessing from the father. This blessing means that the father is now not responsible for the boy's sins. Afterwards the parents have a celebration to rejoice that their 13 year old son is a man! People invited will give a gift to him.

Answer 3

At the age of thirteen, which is when the Bar Mitzva ceremony is held, the young man enters Jewish adulthood and becomes a full member of the adult congregation.
He reads a portion of the Torah*, or a Haftarah from the Prophets, with the traditional trope (chant) and blessings. He will have been taught how to do this, as well as some basics about the Torah and mitzvot* (Jewish observances). A celebratory meal is customary, and does not have to be in the same place or the same day.

The importance of the Bar Mitzva is that it is a major Jewish life-event and hopefully it will impress upon the young man the value and desirability of exploring and experiencing his heritage.
In this age of generation-gaps, rebelliousness and personal upheavals, many people and families could benefit from the wisdom of their ancient forebears. Today, the major Torah-texts and commentaries are available in translation; and there are outreach organizations and beginner yeshivas which serve to make the full breadth of Torah understandable to whoever is interested. In many instances it is the Bar Mitzva ceremony which sparks the beginning of a youngster's becoming a circumspect, courteous, knowledgeable and respectable peer in his Jewish community.

*See also the Related Links.

Link: More about the Torah

Link: More about the Commands

Answer 4

Bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs usually take place on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath -- Saturday) morning in synagogue. Bar mitzvah boys stand on the bimah (prayer altar) and recite Maftir and Haftorah (a section of the Torah, the Jewish book of law and a section of the Prophets) in Hebrew.
Members of the boy's family are also called to the bimah to say a prayer. Once the bar mitzvah boy has finished, the congregation sing 'Mazeltov and Simantov', which is a popular Hebrew celebratory song, and ladies in the congregation will throw sweets onto the bimah. It's a very emotional and joyous time for all involved.
Bat mitzvah and bat chayil girls are not called to read the Torah, but instead write and tell a story about a famous woman of The Bible, relating it to her personal development.
Bat mitzvahs are held before or after the main Shabbat service whilst bat chayils are held on a Sunday. Both boys and girls often have a large party on the Sunday evening to celebrate - normally a dinner and dance for friends and family.

Answer 5

The Bar Mitzvah and its particularities are dependent on the Movement of Judaism to which the family of the Bar Mitzvah subscribes and whether or not the service chosen is a Friday-Night Service (Kabalat Shabbat), a Saturday-Morning Service (Shacharit shel Shabbat), or a Weekday (Shacharit Shevoua). Reform Synagogues tend to do a Friday-Night Service whereas Conservative and Orthodox Synagogues tend to do a Saturday-Morning Service. Weekday Services are usually from Conservative Synagogues that have too many Bar Mitzvot in a given year and need to spread them out. Check the Synagogue in question to see the length of these services, the prayers they contain, general movements and customs, and the Hebrew to English ratio.

The Normal Service (of the equivalent type) changes in a few noticeable ways during a Bar Mitzvah. Most noticeably, on Saturdays or Weekdays, the Bar Mitzvah (the thirteen-year-old boy) is required to read a few lines from the Torah Scroll with the proper cantilation technique. (Normally this would be done by a Ba'al Koreh or a Congregant.) On Saturdays, the Bar Mitzvah is also typically tasked with reading the Haftarah, a section of the remainder of the Bible which has a message parallel to the Torah reading for that day. (This would also normally be done by a Congregant.) Finally, the Bar Mitzvah always gives a Dvar Torah, or a sermon on the lessons to be gained from the Torah or Haftorah Portion.
Usually the young man will read a portion from the Torah or the prophets. A celebratory meal is also held.
At a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a 13 years old boy or 12 years old girl reads from the Torah in front of the congregation for the first time. A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is when the boy or girl formally takes on the religious responsibilities of an adult. Most people have a huge party once Shabbat is over.

Bar or Bat Mitzvahs are usually on Friday nights or Saturday mornings, during Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath. Sometimes you have your Bar or Bat Mitzvah with a partner.
the boy reads from the Torah and final becomes adult

Answer 6

A bar mitzvah is a rite of passage for Jewish men. Once a Jewish male reaches the age of 13, he is invited to read from the Torah to mark his transition to "adulthood." Sometimes, he is invited to give commentary on the Torah portion but it's not always required. His first act as an adult in the community is to say the blessings before and after reading from the actual Torah. Traditions other than this vary from community to community.

Answer 7

Well, the bar(boy) or Bat(girl) Mitzvah gets up in front of the congregationand reads from the Torah(Old Testament) and recites a haftorah. then, they teach the congregation about their Torah portion. Sometimes, there is a big party afterwards.

Answer 8

At a Bar Mitzvah, a boy (13 years old) reads from the Torah for the first time in front of people. He usually gives a speech. This ceremony symbolizes his coming of age in the Jewish tradition.

Answer 9

Bar Mitzvah ceremonies symbolize Jewish boys becoming men. It happens after they turn 13. Girls' ceremonies are called Bat Mitzvahs, and can happen when a girl turns 12. Depending on the denomination of Judaism and the congregation, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs will have different traditions. At my congregation, the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child will lead the Shabbat morning service, read parts of the Torah portion, and chant the Haftarah. There are a bunch of speeches made by the parents, rabbi, teachers, etc. After the service, there is usually a party where lunch is served. Hope this helps!

Answer 10

At the age of thirteen, which is when the Bar Mitzva ceremony is held, the young man enters Jewish adulthood and becomes a full member of the adult congregation.
He reads a portion of the Torah*, or a Haftarah from the Prophets, with the traditional trope (chant) and blessings. He will have been taught how to do this, as well as some basics about the Torah and mitzvot* (Jewish observances). A celebratory meal is customary, and does not have to be in the same place or the same day.

The importance of the Bar Mitzva is that it is a major Jewish life-event and hopefully it will impress upon the young man the value and desirability of exploring and experiencing his heritage.
In this age of generation-gaps, rebelliousness and personal upheavals, many people and families could benefit from the wisdom of their ancient forebears. Today, the major Torah-texts and commentaries are available in translation; and there are outreach organizations and beginner yeshivas which serve to make the full breadth of Torah understandable to whoever is interested. In many instances it is the Bar Mitzva ceremony which sparks the beginning of a youngster's becoming a circumspect, courteous, knowledgeable and respectable peer in his Jewish community.

*See also the Related Links.

Link: More about the Torah

Link: More about the Commands