Bat mitzva
| Native name | בַּר מִצְוָה בַּת מִצְוָה |
|---|---|
| Time | Boys (bar mitzvah): 13 years old Girls (bat mitzvah): 12 (Orthodox and Conservative), 13 (Reform) |
| Type | Coming-of-age ceremony |
| Theme | Reaching the age of bar or bat Mitzvah signifies becoming a full-fledged member of the Jewish community |
Bar Mitzvah (Hebrew: בַּר מִצְוָה) is a Jewish coming of age ritual for boys. Bat Mitzvah (Hebrew: בַּת מִצְוָה; Ashkenazi pronunciation: Bas Mitzvah) is a Jewish coming of age ritual for girls. The plural is B'nai Mitzvah for boys, and B'not Mitzvah (Ashkenazi pronunciation: B'nos Mitzvah) for girls.
According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys become 13 years old, they become accountable for their actions and become a bar mitzvah. A girl becomes a bat mitzvah at the age of 12 according to Orthodox and Conservative Jews, and at the age of 13 according to Reform Jews. Prior to reaching bar mitzvah age, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, the boys and girls bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. Traditionally, the father of the bar mitzvah gives thanks to God that he is no longer punished for the child's sins (Genesis Rabbah, Toledot 63). In addition to being considered accountable for their actions from a religious perspective, a thirteen-year-old may be counted towards a prayer quorum and may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community.
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