Bar Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah
When A Jewish boy turns 13, it is more than just another birthday. The boy attains his religious maturity and becomes responsible to accept the spiritual side of Judaism and fulfill all 613 Torah mitzvoth – commandments. One of the many new responsibilities for a boy, beginning from his Bar-Mitzvah day and onward is to wrap Tefillin every day of the week besides Shabbat and certain holidays. Under Jewish law, children are not required to observe the commandments, though they are certainly encouraged and taught to do so. But upon turning 13, a boy is considered an adult under the law and is expected to obey all the commandments from then on. He has become a Bar Mitzvah, or ‘‘Son of the Commandments.
At 13 a Boy becomes Bar Mitzvah automatically on one‘s thirteenth birthday, with or without a party! Of course this occasion is a cause for great celebration and gratitude to G-d, and hence we celebrate after the Bar Mitzvah ritual in the synagogue. Indeed one becomes Bar Mitzvah automatically on one‘s thirteenth birthday, with or without a party!
At the Bar Mitzvah Shabbat the boy is invited up to read aloud a portion of the Torah reflecting his new status as adult participant in the prayers. Traditionally, the boy also chants the Haftarah on the Shabbat after he becomes Bar Mitzvah.
This is a day to bestow the boy with meaningful gifts that will accompany him throughout his future life.
Bar Mitzvah Celebration
The celebrations of a Bar Mitzvah begin in earnest on the morning of a boy’s thirteenth Hebrew birthday, when the bar Mitzvah boy puts on Tefillin for the first time. Than on the Shabbat following his 13th birthday, the Bar Mitzvah boy who just becomes a young man is called up to the Torah when the weekly Portion is recited.Starting on Rosh Hashanah, each Shabbat the Torah is read publicly. To enable a cycle of the whole Torah in one year the Torah is divided into 54 portions with one portion read each week in synagogue. The weekly portion is than divided into seven sub sections and read at the Shabbat morning ceremony, each by one male adult that is called up and honored to do the blessing before and after the reading of each section and sometimes even reading the Torah text himself.
The blessing over the Torah is called Aliyah, ascent, or in Yiddish auf ruf. The Bar Mitzvah boy is called up for the first time to recite the blessings before and after the Torah reading as a symbol to show that the boy acqured his responsibilities in Jewish life.
It is traditional for the Bar Mitzvah boy to read the final portion, called the maftir yet some children may request to read more, up to and including the entire Torah portion.
After the reading theTorah is completed it is customary that the child chants the Haftarah, the weekly prophetic portion, that is thematically associated with the Torah portion read during the specific Shabbat. Sometimes the boy may may even lead one or more parts of the service.
Than, when the Torah reading by the Bar Mitzvah boy and the Bar Mitzvah boy’s work is done, there is a custom for the women to throw sweets at him in congratulation and thus to shower him with sweet things. The younger crowd in synagogue awaits this part of the celebration and sit more quite in their expectation.
After the ceremony is finished a Kiddush luncheon in honor of the Bar Mitzvah boy and the guests are served in synagogue with light refreshments as gefilte fish, salads, and cakes. Families celebrating Bar Mitzvahs will often sponsor and host a much more extravagant Kiddush. The Sabbath Kiddush is a traditional opportunity to mark joyous events and life cycle events within the community. The reciting of the blessing over wine and bread at the start of the Kiddush can be conducted by the Rabbi, The Bar Mitzvah boy, or his parents same as with Birkat Hamazon, grace after meals. To see some Kiddush serving ideas please go to the link.
see Kiddush ideas
Bar Mitzvah Gifts
Every time you are invited for a Bar Mitzvah you find yourself asking: Should one give gifts for a Bar Mitzvah? If your answer is yes what kind of gift is appropriate for a Bar Mitzvah kid?So now you find yourself looking for Bar Mitzvah Gift ideas.
Gans provides a large collection of meaningful Bar Mitzvah gifts
from Israel that will enchant every Bar Mitzvah boy.
We at Gans have a great variety of gifts and recommend bringing a Judaic Bar Mitzvah gift such as Kiddush cup, Torah pointed, Grogger, Chanukah Menorah, or Tallit bag.
Another beautiful Bar Mitzvah gift idea is giving the boy his special portion Facsimile from a Torah scroll that was rescued from the holocaust. To see a torah Portion please click the link.
A Bar Mitzvah plaque with all the details of The Bar Mitzvah ceremony like: name, date, Torah Portion, and Synagogue is a perfect gift that will make the Bar Mitzvah boy remember this happy day.
An Ancient map replica of Israel will make him curious and maybe be a start of a collection later in life.
The Tefilin Micro Calligraphy art print or other ideas connected to the Bar Mitzvah boy Name will make him know you thought about him.
If you are looking for a gift and are still undecided please drop us a note with the details like the name, the Torah Portion, and your budget through the contact us link and we will give you some more specific ideas.
All the Bar Mitzvah Gifts from Gans are by Israeli artist and come to you from Israel
And last but not least how about giving the Bar Mitzvah celebrant a gift Certificate from Gans Jerusalem that will enable him to choose something he likes from our vast collection.
Please remember: Bar Mitzvah Gifts should not be brought to the synagogue service. It is best to give the gift at the party or deliver it to the child‘s home.
see torah portion
Bar Mitzvah gift registry
Every Bar Mitzvah boy would love to get gifts on his happy event and all want to give him the perfect gift. This is made so easy with the Bar Mitzvah gift registry at Gans! Even though the people who love you want to get you a really great gift for your Bar Mitzvah they most probably have absolutely no clue as to what you want.
Instead of dropping not so subtle hints as to the gifts the Bar Mitzvah boy likes to get create a Bar Mitzvah Gift registry and do them a favor, by creating a gift registry.
The Bar Mitzvah gift registry provides an easy way for friends and family to share and shower the Bar Mitzvah boy with gifts on this important lifecycle event.
The Bar Mitzvah gift registry allows every one to choose the item that fits the budget set and be sure this is something really wanted.
By creating an online Bar Mitzvah gift registry at Gans Jerusalem gifts & Judaica you make sure the Bar Mitzvah celebrant gets exactly what he wishes for. Whenever a gift will be purchased the bar mitzvah boy will be notified and a note will be placed that this gift was already purchased so no gift will be bought more than once and the hassle of exchange will be eliminated.
From a door sign for the boy‘s room to a beautiful Tallit, from memo pads for the desk to the actual torah portion as well as Torah pointers, Tzdakah boxes and Menorahs, everything can be found in the extensive Bar Mitzvah gift registry that you can create on line by clicking the link and than on the add your own registry on top of the registries page.
And a word of advise: Include a link to the Bar Mitzvah gift registry on your invitation and personal website, if you have one, making it easy for guests to purchase gifts. Everyone will love how convenient you have made the gift-giving process for them!
see gift registries
