Why does bar or bat mitzvah take place?

Answer 1

The purpose of a Bar Mitzvah is to welcome a boy into the Jewish world of adulthood. The version of a bar mitzvah for a female is a Bat Mitzvah.

AnswerThis question is based on a common misconception as to what a Bar Mitzvah is. Many people think that a Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony, however, that isn't what it actually is. A Bar Mitzvah is actually when a Jewish boy turns 13 years old and he becomes a bar mitzvah (son of the commandments) whether or not there is a ceremony to celebrate this event in his life. When a boy becomes a bar mitzvah, according to halacha (Jewish law), he is now considered old enough to take on the religious responsibilities of a Jewish adult.

Answer 2

The bar mitzva ceremony is a custom that goes back many hundreds of years, if not more. It contributes to the young man's awareness of his Jewishness and sense of community, and hopefully is accompanied by some Torah-knowledge too.

Answer 3

The Bar mitzvah commemorates a 13 year old Jewish male's responsibilities to observe the Torah and it's Mitzvos(all laws encapsulated within the five books of moses following the tradition of the written and oral Torah teachings) whereby he is accountable for his own actions as a Jew and is deserving of merit according to his growth as a lifetime commitment towards leaning more about his faith, culture, and purpose .

Answer 4

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies have been celebrated in some form for thousands of years. Bar Mitzvah in biblical and Talmudic times simply meant "coming of age". The meaning has since become the literal "(son) of the commandments". Originally, a Jewish man was considered to be an adult at the age of 20, when he was eligible to be taxed and join in the military. However, during Talmudic times (around 2000 B.C.E.), the age was decreased to 13 years old. The ceremony was simply a blessing at first and included the child's first aliyah; it did not include any celebrations. The Bar Mitzvah was largely symbolic in the religious sense however, as minors were allowed to participate if they were deemed mentally fit and chose to do so. During the late middle ages this practice became more literal, as minors were no longer allowed to be "called to the Torah" until reaching Bar Mitzvah age.

It wasn't until approximately 200 years ago that Jewish families started celebrating a Bat Mitzvah for girls that reach the age of 12 or 13. The practice was thought to have started in Europe. However, the Bat Mitzvah ceremony is attributed to the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, Mordecai Kaplan.

Traditional responsibilities for becoming a Bar Mitzvah include:

• Moral responsibility and accountability for ones own actions
• Able to be called to read from the Torah
• May possess personal property
• May be married
• Must follow 613 mitzvot (guidelines) of the Torah

Answer 5

Because 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.

Answer 6

Celebrating a bar mitzva is an ancient custom whose purpose is to indicate the importance of adulthood in Judaism. It hopefully impresses upon the young man that he should be aware of his responsibilities.

Answer 7

what is importance of bar mitzvah for jews

Answer 8

It is when a Jewish boy takes on the religious responsibility of a man.

Answer 9

Jews celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvahs at 13. They Celebrate at that age because it is a tradition that they are becoming a young adult or Manhood / Womanhood.