One of the most important times in a young Jewish person’s life is their Bat or Bar Mitzvah. On the United Synagogue Accessibility page you’ll also find suggestions that help to create a meaningful and welcoming simcha for people with varying abilities and challenges.
The point at which a young person becomes responsible for observing the mitzvot (God’s commandments) is called Bar Mitzvah (son of commandment) for males and Bat Mitzvah (daughter of commandment) for females. A boy becomes Bar Mitzvah at age 13, while a girl comes of age at 12. The transition from ‘child’ to ‘adult’ in Judaism happens over a person’s Hebrew birthday. The Hebrew birthday by the date and time of birth – please contact Rabbi Hackenbroch who will be able to assist you with this. On a girl’s 12th (Hebrew) birthday, and a boy’s 13th, they automatically become Bat or Bar Mitzvah through no action or event. There are no set laws on how either a Bar or Bat Mitzvah should be celebrated
The normative option for a Bar Mitzvah boy is to be called up to reading of the Torah and saying the berachot (blessings) on the first Shabbat morning after his 13th Hebrew birthday. Alternatively, you could do this at another service where the Torah is read, such as Shabbat afternoons, Yom Tov, Monday and Thursday mornings, Rosh Chodesh, Chol Hamoed, Purim and Chanukah.
It is popular for the Bat Mitzvah girl to celebrate this occasion by delivering a Dvar Torah in shul on a Shabbat morning on the weekly Torah reading, her Hebrew Name, the next festival, or a significant mitzvah or value. Some may prefer holding this ceremony at home or in a more private group, rather than for the whole synagogue community.
Both parents are able to join the Rabbi downstairs in front of the ark and bless their daughter / son with the traditional priestly blessing (which is customary for parents to do on Friday nights)
For more information, please click here to go to the Bar Bat Mitzvah page on the United Synagogue website
Please email the shul office admin@woodsidepark.org.uk or phone on 020 8445 4236 to discuss how we can help plan your Bar Bat Mitzvah.