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A simple, literal translation of the term Bar
Mitzvah would mean "son of the
commandment".
The Aramaic word Bar means "son", and the word
Mitzvah means "commandment" in both Hebrew and
Aramaic. But as in other similarly combined terms,
the expression as a whole carries a meaning
slightly different than the literal addition of
its words. For example, the term Bar Onshin does
not simply mean "son of punishment", but "person
liable for punishment". Similarly, the term
Bar Mitzvah actually means "[Jewish, male,
major] person obligated to the Commandments". The
term already carries this meaning in its earliest
recorded use, in the Babylonian Talmud (Baba
Metsi'a, page 96A).
Accordingly, under Jewish Law, the term Bar
Mitzvah refers to an adult Jew
obligated to observe the Commandments, an
obligation not binding children.
Though not an outright requirement, the
Bar Mitzvah Ceremony formally marks the
assumption of adult religious obligations, along
with the corresponding rights to lead religious
services, to be reckoned in counting the quorum
for a minyan (the minimum number of people needed
to perform certain parts of religious services),
to enter into some contracts, but not to sell land
or to marry.
The public ceremony notifies the whole community
of the youngster's new status, obligations and
rights included.
In other words: a Bar Mitzvah is fully responsible
for behaving morally and carrying out religious
duties, and is eligible for becoming a fully
fledged member of the Jewish community. Bat
Mitsvah is the feminine form of Bar Mitsvah, and
refers to a "[Jewish, female, major] person
obligated to the Commandments."
A Jewish boy automatically becomes a Bar
Mitzvah on the day after he reaches the age of
13 years; a girl automatically becomes a Bat
Mitzvah on the day after the age of 12 years.
See also:
- Celebration
of Bar & Bat Mitzvah
- The
Right Age for Bat & Bar Mitzvah
- Sources
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