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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