Are Orthodox Jewish girls allowed to have a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 1

The phrase "bar mitzva" can mean two things. One is that the young adult is now responsible according to Judaism for the keeping of Jewish laws. This has always applied to boys and girls equally (boys from age 13 and girls from age 12).

The second meaning is the customary ceremony which marks the child's attainment of this age. At the time of the invention of the custom of having a bar mitzvah ceremony, only boys would have it. However, since approximately the 1920's, bat mitzvahs, the female counterpart of the bar mitzvah ceremony, were in existence. As of the twenty-first century, bat mitzvahs are completely mainstream in Jewish society.

Answer 2

Yes, but, they do not allow her to read from the Torah. Also, they always celebrate the Bat Mitzvah when she turns 12, whereas other Jewish sects may opt to let her celebrate when she turns 13 years.

Answer 3

It depends on the Orthodox Jewish congregation.

Most congregations see it as sacrilege for a girl to read out of the Torah scroll itself, so there are other methods devised to show a mastery of Jewish concepts. Sometimes a girl will give a speech on the Torah portion (a Dvar Torah - דבר תורה) that discusses the deeper meaning of the text. Other times, she may produce an artwork or design that demonstrates complex understanding of Jewish concepts. For those Orthodox congregations that allow girls to have a Bat Mitzvah, this will occur at the age of 12, since, according to Jewish Law, a girl becomes a woman at age 12. (Reform and Conservative congregations will often push the Bat Mitzvah back to age 13, so as to be comparable with the boys' Bar Mitzvah.)

Of course, there are Orthodox congregations that ban the practice altogether and see it as offensive.

Answer 4

It depends on the Orthodox Jewish congregation.

Most congregations see it as sacrilege for a girl to read out of the Torah scroll itself, so there are other methods devised to show a mastery of Jewish concepts. Sometimes a girl will give a speech on the Torah portion (a Dvar Torah - דבר תורה) that discusses the deeper meaning of the text. Other times, she may produce an artwork or design that demonstrates complex understanding of Jewish concepts.

Of course, there are congregations that ban the practice altogether and see it as offensive.

Answer 5

An orthodox girl could potentially have a Bat Mitzvah, but they might not be able to have it at the orthodox synagogue. They would have to go to another synagogue for it.

Answer 6

Yes.