Who is involved in a bat mitzvah?

Answer 1

A bat mitzvah is the time where a girl celebrates accepting all the Jewish comandments. It is the Hebrew day of her twelfth birthday. A bat mizvah only involves the girl turning twelve.

Answer 2

In Jewish tradition, a girl becomes bat mitzvah at age 12, whether or not anyone celebrates the fact. Becoming bat mitzvah just means reaching the age of being obligated to obey the 613 commandments (mitzvot) found in the Torah. Since the mid 20th century, growing numbers of girls have celebrated becoming bat mitzvah in much the way boys have celebrated it for the past 1000 years, by participating in a religious service as an adult for the first time, and sometimes leading all or most of that service. Typically, a rabbi is present to guide the new service leader (but the rabbi is not required), and typically, representatives of the congregation will give speeches welcoming their new adult member (but again, this is not required). Usually, the family of the new young adult will host a kiddush meal after the service and sometimes throw a party afterwards.