Bar Mitzvah: From Boy to Man

In Judaism, a boy takes on the responsibilities of an adult in the Jewish community at the age of thirteen. As an observance of this occasion, a ceremony is held often followed by a celebration. Now days, this ceremony and celebration are often mistakenly referred to as a Bar Mitzvah. The Bar Mitzvah is not the event but the boy the event is being held in honor of. The word 'bar' is Hebrew for son and 'mitzvah' is the word for commandment. Thus, at thirteen, a boy becomes Bar Mitzvah, or Son of the Commandment.

Before the age of thirteen, the parents have full responsibility for the boy's actions in regard to Jewish law and tradition. Once a boy is thirteen, he becomes fully accountable for his own actions, whether good or bad, in keeping the laws and traditions of his community. He is also now privileged to participate fully as an adult, as well. He can be called to read from the Torah (the five books of Moses) and Haftarah (the books of the Prophets), and be part of a Minyan or prayer quorum.

Tallit

Jewish boys look forward to becoming Bar Mitzvah with much anticipation. Marking the occasion with ceremony and celebration is only part of it. There is a lot of preparation that goes into the ritual aspect of the commemoration. It often begins long before the age of thirteen. Getting ready to lead the prayer service on the day of Bar mitzvah takes time. There is much to learn. The young man will not only recite the blessings for the Torah reading, and read from the Torah and Haftarah, he will most likely give a d'var Torah (discussion on the Torah portion for that week), as well. When the time comes and the young man is called up to do these things, it is called aliyah, which is Hebrew for 'going up'.

Usually, the parents present the young man with his first tallit, which he will wear during this service. He will wear one now every Shabbat (Sabbath), and often, every time he prays. On this occasion, too, it is traditional for the young man's grandfather to give him his first set of tefilin. These are black boxes with straps that are worn during prayers except on Shabbat and Holy Days. The boxes contain written portions of the Bible. They are a sign of the relationship between G-d and the Jew. Now that the young man has entered adulthood, his relationship with G-d will grow closer as he follows the laws and traditions he was taught throughout childhood.

After the ceremonial service, a celebration is certainly in order. But it should not be the focal point of the day. That being said, the enjoyment of good food, good music and dancing are to be much looked forward to. It is a good time for friends and family to congratulate the new Bar Mitzvah. It is a joyful time, indeed!

Bar Mitzvah: From Boy to Man

Find Bar Mitzvah Invitations at http://www.dependableprinting.com/bar-mitzvah-invitations.htm

Bar Mitzvah Gifts, Gift Ideas, and Suggestions

Gifts are commonly given at nearly all Bar or Bat Mitzvah parties. Any gifts should be given at the reception party, and not the service. Looking the perfect gift or gifts for a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah is not a difficult task. While the style and nature of gift giving varies by society - there are a estimate of items that are quite primary to give on this extra occasion.

1. Money! (Every boy and girl's beloved present of all)

Tallit

-It is tasteless to present money to the Bar or Bat Mitzvah in multiples of . The estimate 18 is thought about to be convenient in the Jewish tradition (the numbers 10 and 8 in Hebrew spell chai, which means life). Cash or savings bonds are the most commonplace present to give, so if you are Ok with this, you need not read any further. For those who prefer to be more unique or just don't agree with giving money...I will propose a merge different ideas.

2. Books

-With the introduction of beloved E-readers, this custom might not continue on much longer. However, educational books or books relating to notable Jews or Judaism are primary in some communities.

3. Religious Items

-Unless you are Jewish, its best to not try and buy the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah any religious items as gifts. Many young men and women will also receive their first tallit from their parents to be used for this milestone. Tallit, kippot, tefillin, kiddush cup, candlesticks, tzedekah box - they are all gifts of importance to begin a new life as a Jewish adult.

4. Bat Mitzvah definite Gifts

-Jewelry is a very tasteless gifts for girls at a Bat Mitzvah. Necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets - they all make great gifts for any Bat Mitzvah. Shabbat candlesticks are also commonplace Bat Mitzvah presents. It is a woman's honor and duty to light the candles and lead the blessing.

5. The Same Gifts as any other 12 or 13 Year Old!

-If all else fails...purchase the same item or something similar as you would for any other non-Jewish child's birthday! Video games, clothing, and more are all perfectly inexpensive Bat & Bar Mitzvah gifts - don't over think it!

6. Charity ( Tzedakah )

-It can be a good idea to make a donation to the child's beloved charity in his or her name. It doesn't have to be a large estimate (remember the multiples of 18).

You don't have to spend a fortune on a Bar Mitzvah gift - give what you can afford. Anything you give, make it from the heart. Even if you are presenting money, make sure that the note card is personal and meaningful. Remember, if you are of course stuck - and none of these options interest you, just ask the child's friends, family, or Anything else he or she is close with. Anything your gift is, it will of course be appreciated and help lead to one of the most important days in any young man or woman's life.

Bar Mitzvah Gifts, Gift Ideas, and Suggestions

Bar Mitzvah Invitations - What Kind of Invitations Should I Send Out For a Bar Mitzvah?

A Bar Mitzvah is a ceremonial event that happens at age 13 in the life of a male Jewish boy. 'Bar' means son in Aramaic, and 'Mitzvah' means 'of the commandment'. The celebration is called a Bar Mitzvah, and the boy himself is also called a Bar Mitzvah. This event is the boy's entry into manhood, and reading from the Torah in front of his friends and family marks the transition time in his life. Judaism now holds the boy accountable for his actions, and concomitant responsibilities, privileges, and respect follow him from then on. This is also a relieving day for parents because they're no longer responsible for making sure the boy follows the laws of the Torah. They're off the hook.

So, what kind of invitations do you send out for such a special event? What should Bar Mitzvah Invitations look like? What wording, what ornamentation, what presentation, etc. should be used? Far different from a birthday, this coming-of-age transition marks the spiritual and moral evolution in a Jewish boy's life. The invitations should be special to match the extraordinary nature of the event itself. Parents are responsible for choosing the cards because the boy has still not entered manhood, in the Judaic tradition. Therefore, this article is for parents! Follow these tips to get the best Bar Mitzvah invitations:

Tallit

1. Choose scenes from traditional Judaic history and stories. The Torah, Jewish Stars, Lions of Judah, Tallit, Yarmulke, Chai, or Hamesh Hand all point to the dedication and devoutness of the family. Friends, relatives, and colleagues will take this as a sign that you're putting a lot of importance into your son's Bar Mitzvah, and that you think it is a special event. There are secular Bar Mitzvahs too. In the latter, the boy reads a story from Jewish history or researches and reads about a topic he wrote on the Jewish people. This is in contrast to reading from the Torah. Symbols are safe for both because most of them are part of confirmed history, according to archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians. Plus, if you have non-Jewish friends, it will inform them a little of the nature of the event and explain that is one of many Jewish celebrations.

2. Select and match styles, scripts, themes, presentation formats, printing techniques, paper types, and colors wisely. Even though your son is not picking it out, choose something he will like because the invitation will be a keepsake when he's well into his adult years. For example, blue, silver, gold, pastels, purple, prismatic, and green are the most popular colors of Bar Mitzvah invitations so choose a color that suits his tastes.

3. The most important thing to remember when considering invitations it the kind of message you want to convey. Let the invitation's design and wording reflect your reflective significance of the event. If you feel it is a somber, sublime, and honorable thing, then choose solid dark colors and stark Jewish symbols. Use a professional calligrapher and emboss the script.

Bar Mitzvahs are a time of pride, wonder, and new beginnings. Let the cards reflect the spirit of the event.

Bar Mitzvah Invitations - What Kind of Invitations Should I Send Out For a Bar Mitzvah?

Jeff Fain
Dependable Printing
770.271.1415
http://www.dependableprinting.com/