How do Jews prepare for a bar mitzvah?

Answer 1

What happens, is they learn some prayers. This is either the bar or bat mitzvah prayer. They also learn the shema. You do not have to be able to read Hebrew, but it is advisable. They also have to learn part or all of the haphtorah or parachat, and prepare and say a speech on it.

Preparation for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, apart from the Jewish education the child has already been receiving usually begins 6 to 8 months prior to the day of the event. It can include teaching on various subjects related to Judiasm, Jewish life, Israel and ethics. Around 6 months prior to the date of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah the boy or girl will start to meet weekly with a tutor or teacher to start learning the prayers that are recited at the begining and end of Torah readings and the prayers that are recited at the begining and end of the Haftorah readings. Then they will go on to learn their portion of the Torah reading for that morning as well as the entire Haftorah portion that is assigned to that Torah portion. The student may also go on to learn to recite different portions of the services that are performed on Saturday mornings. This includes Shacharit, the Torah Service and Musaf. The student is also expected to give a Devar Torah or an elucidation or explaination of the Torah portion that has been read.

Often Bar or Bat Mitzvah kids particpate in Mizvah projects which involves doing some sort of social action volunteering.

Answer 2

A Bar Mitzvah (or Bat Mitzvah for girls, a term that has arisen in the last half century) is the marker signifying the Jewish boy's transition from boyhood to adulthood at age 13 (or Jewish girl's at age 12). Bar/Bat Mitzvah means Son/Daught of the commandments and as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the Jewish child is declared ready to take on the responsibilities of and adult, most notably being able to be called on to read and study the Torah, the scroll containing Jewish Law. In modern days, most B'nei Mitzvot (pl) give a sermon during the Saturday Morning service as soon as possible after his or her Hebrew birthday. It has also because standard to throw a large party at the conclusion of the service.

Answer 3

A Jewish child usually starts studying 1 year before the bar (or bat) mitzvah. The study involves learning the prayers of the Shabbat morning service, as well as a portion of the Torah and/or Haftarah (a reading from the book of Prophets).

Adults (particularly older women who weren't permitted a bat mitzvah in their childhood) may also have a bar/bat mitzvah, and usually study in a similar fashion.

Answer 4

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). He will have been taught how to do this, as well as some basics about the Torah and mitzvot (Jewish observances).
The importance of this 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.

Answer 5

The bar mitzvah boy or bat mitzvah girl reads from the Torah during the regular prayer service. After the service there's a luncheon and/or party.

Answer 6

typically a boy is called up in shul to read the Torah portion and the father says a blessing over him releasing him from his care.