Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Bar and Bat Mitzvah 101
An overview of this Jewish rite of passage for 12- and 13-year-olds.
What a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Guest Needs to Know
What to expect and how to behave at a bar/bat mitzvah service.
Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah Gift Guide
Tips for picking the right present for this Jewish rite of passage.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning Issues for Interfaith Families
Interfaith families should ask the rabbi about synagogue policies and honestly examine both parents' attachments to Judaism.
How to Plan a Gender-Neutral B’nai Mitzvah Celebration
Creating a gender-inclusive coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish teens.
What To Expect At Synagogue Services on Saturday Morning
A guide for bar/bat mitzvah guests and other newcomers to Sabbath worship.
Alternative Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies
How to have a meaningful ceremony even if you don't belong to a synagogue.
The Surprising History of Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
The bar mitzvah (and even more so the bat mitzvah) is a relatively new phenomena.
The One Thing We Need to Stop Saying to Our Kids at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah
Celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah is a unique and special time in the life of a child, family and community. ...
The Parents’ Role in a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Service
Traditionally, the father recited one blessing during the service, but today, parents are often much more involved.
What Is the Haftarah, and Why Do We Read It?
Each Torah portion is paired with a passage from the Prophets.
History of Bat Mitzvah
The bat mitzvah ceremony is of relatively recent vintage, with the first American observance in 1922.
How to Choose a Mitzvah Project for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Suggestions for adding social action to this rite of passage.
How the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Child Participates in the Service
The defining moment of the ceremony is the child's first aliyah, but children may also play additional roles in the service.