![]() Studies have shown that the Bar Mitzvah ritual existed as early as the sixth century in Palestine. The ceremony – which involves the boy being called to read from the Torah for the first time – is merely a public recognition of that which has already come to pass – the boy has reached an age where he may participate fully in the religious life of the community. It should be noted that a boy becomes Bar Mitzvah at 13 years of age (that is, his 13th birthday according to the Hebrew calendar) irrespective of whether or not he has a ceremony or party to celebrate the event. The other is the first act of binding of tefillin (phylacteries) on the head and round the arm during the morning prayers. First and foremost is the privilege of being called to the Torah for the first time, accompanied by the congregation and reciting the prayer of thanking God. Two commandments have become associated with Bar Mitzvah. Casual dress is typical of Israelis even for events such as a Bar Mitzvah. Note that the participants are wearing tefillin which indicates that this is a weekday procession. ![]() A procession in the Old City of Jerusalem escorting a Bar Mitzvah boy with singing to the Kotel (Western Wall) where he will be called to read from the Torah for the first time. Before Bar Mitzvah age, the boy was not considered accountable for any religious short-comings on his part (rather, his father was considered to be responsible for his conduct), but from Bar Mitzvah onwards the boy is considered accountable for his own actions. As a man responsible for himself, he is now permitted to attend synagogue on his own and form part of a minyan, the group of ten or more men required to conduct a service. On a designated day following his 13th birthday he is called upon to read a section of the Torah for the first time. It is a coming of age that has its roots in the sixth century, and remains one of the great milestones in Jewish life.Ī Jewish boy fulfils the obligations of bar mitzvah at the age of 13. The bar mitzvah is a momentous occasion in the life of every Jewish boy. ![]() It refers to the time from which a Jewish male is obliged to fulfil all the commandments prescribed to Jews and accept his religious responsibilities as an adult. Bar Mitzvah is the Hebrew term for ‘son of the commandment’.
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