23 votes
Accepted

Revoking bar mitzvah

Obviously, this is just a joke. A bar mitzvah can't be revoked. Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation A Jewish boy automatically becomes a bar mitzvah upon reaching the age of 13 years, and ...
sabbahillel's user avatar
  • 43.1k
10 votes

Bat mitzvah - I'm female aged 50. Never been taught or had a bat mitzvah

Welcome and congratulations on your search and efforts! First and foremost you should approach the rabbi in a local synagogue or Chabad house. Beyond that, there is a wonderful organization called ...
mbloch's user avatar
  • 51.6k
9 votes

Bat mitzvah - I'm female aged 50. Never been taught or had a bat mitzvah

Absolutely. I have no idea where you live, but you might try the nearest branch of Chabad or Aish.
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
8 votes

Revoking bar mitzvah

As stated above, the Bar Mitzvah, itself, is automatic, and it doesn't need any rabbinical intervention whatsoever. However, I see that you said specifically, Bar Mitvah "honor". Depending on what ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
7 votes

What do Orthodox communities do for profoundly-disabled 13-year-olds (bar mitzvah or similar)?

I am a charadi yid living in NYC. I can describe what I did for my severely disabled (non verbal, non mobile, blind) son. [He had a stroke as a result of side effect to a medication at 2.5 years]. On ...
ELI's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes

Why are huge challot displayed on the wedding couple / Bar Mitzvah's table?

The earliest source for having a large Challah at a wedding is the Maasas Binyomin (d. 1620) There is a wide spread custom to distribute slices of the large challa to the friends of the Chosson and ...
chortkov2's user avatar
  • 9,142
6 votes

About coming back to Jewish practice

A Bar Mitzvah ceremony or celebration is a just a custom - a nice way of signifying the occasion of one's becoming obligated in the commandments, but it is not a prerequisite and does not actually ...
Jay's user avatar
  • 6,497
5 votes
Accepted

What do Orthodox communities do for profoundly-disabled 13-year-olds (bar mitzvah or similar)?

You've asked an interesting question. I've seen several Bar Mitzvah affairs done on Shabbat for cerebral palsy kids and those with all kinds of disabilities. I have a close friend who has an autistic ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
5 votes

Is one obligated to do Bar Mitzvah if one's father didn't do it for him?

R. Moshe Feinstein wrote the following in a responsum: Igrot Moshe O.C. 1:104 ואי איישר חילי הייתי מבטל במדינתנו גם סדר הבר מצוה של הבנים שכידוע לא הביא זה שום איש לקרבו לתורה ולמצות ואף לא את ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 49.2k
4 votes

who makes brocha by bar mitzva if no dad?

The source for this minhag is from the Medrash (Bereishis Rabba Toldos 63:10) and Achronim also bring it from the Maharil (SA OC 225:2, the Rema there and others). The Magen Avrohom (Sif Katan 5 ...
Tzuriel's user avatar
  • 332
4 votes
Accepted

Dancing at Bar Mitzvah Celebration during Sefira

Seder Pesach K'hilchoso - Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Grossman says that if it is Bo Bayom of the Bar Mitzva boy or if there is a Siyum at the beginning of the celebration dancing is permitted. I have heard ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
4 votes
Accepted

Appropriate bat mitzvah gift from non-jew

In the circles in which I travel (American, generally modern/centrist Orthodox), there aren't any particular restrictions on acceptable gifts for a Bat/Bar Mitzva. The types of gifts I've seen most ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
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4 votes
Accepted

Does a father recite Baruch Shepetarani for an adopted son

The Rema in OC 225:2 indeed writes a father should say the blessing for his son and such is the Ashkenazi custom. But note this is not a blessing with a source in the Talmud (rather it comes from the ...
mbloch's user avatar
  • 51.6k
3 votes
Accepted

Why do we say bar mitzvah instead of ben mitzvah?

R. Yitshak Osterlits writes (1) that this is because בר also means 'outside' in Aramaic. The one becoming Bar Mitsvah, is still an outsider to the realm of mitsvot, since he is only now entering it. ...
mevaqesh's user avatar
  • 35.6k
3 votes

Will no one come to the batmizva on sfirat haomer

I recommend that you read this article to understand the source and gamut of opinions on the music subject during Sefira. I'll condense some of the main points presented: The biggest issue regarding ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
3 votes

When does an Eved Knani become bar mitzvah?

Yes of course. the Chiuv mitsvot (duty, legislative responsibility) follows the happening of the daat (faculty of judgment). And the daat is linked with maturity (a step in psycho-physiological ...
kouty's user avatar
  • 22.7k
3 votes
Accepted

who makes brocha by bar mitzva if no dad?

Shaare Chayim, a commentary by R. Chayim Tz'vi Ehrenreich on Shaare Efrayim, says (4:24, in my own, loose translation): I saw in… [???], writing in the name of Maase Ish responsum 14, that ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
3 votes

Tefillin under Bar Mitzvah

R. Yosef Messas has a responsum about this. He states that the actual halacha is that if a minor knows how to treat tefillin properly – not to sleep in them, not to pass gas in them, not to bring them ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 49.2k
3 votes
Accepted

Book suggestion for Bat Mitzva gift

If she is a thinker she may enjoy The Thinking Jewish Teenager's Guide to Life. Edit: Another idea: If she is already Shomer Negiah or dresses on the Tznius side she my appreciate understanding some ...
Aba's user avatar
  • 586
3 votes

What time does a bar mitzvah come into effect?

This is a matter of dispute among the acharonim. For example, in Shulchan Aruch O.C. 53:10, R. Moses Isserles writes that someone who will turn 13 on Shabbat should not lead the Friday night services ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 49.2k
3 votes

In Jeremiah 1:6-7 was Jeremiah actually a child?

Regarding the ability to carry out a mission, the term נַ֣עַר would usually not mean child (under bar mitzvah). For example, Avaraham took Eliezer and Yishmael with him to the Akodah and both of them ...
sabbahillel's user avatar
  • 43.1k
3 votes

Is it against custom to celebrate a bar mitzvah on rosh hodesh Av?

Nitei Gavriel Hilchos Bain HaMitzarim Volume 1 40:14 brings in the name of the Yad Efraim and Magen Avaraham that one may have meat and wine at a Bar Mitzva Seuda during the nine days. He goes on to ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
3 votes

Kriyat haTorah helper materials

The Simanin Tikkun (published by Feldheim) has many notes like this in a section they call Shitah Mekubetzet.
Joel K's user avatar
  • 43k
2 votes

Bar Mitzvah before Circumcision?

See also Melamed leHoil 2:79 from Rav Hoffman of Berlin who wrote that min hadin it's mutar, however, according to the circumstances it might be reasonable not to do so. The rabbis of the city have ...
Binyomin's user avatar
  • 1,149
2 votes

Saying Baruch Shepatrani for a girl

There are many poskim with answers to this question. Note that there are various opinions as to why we say this bracha in the first place, so not every posek uses the same assumptions in order to draw ...
Popular Isn't Right's user avatar
2 votes

What happens at an Orthodox Bat Mitzvah?

I attended a lovely bnot mitzvah this year at an Orthodox shul. There was a quiz game where the girls demonstrated their knowledge of halacha. I was impressed! There was jewelry making, singing, ...
Kharseet's user avatar
2 votes

Book suggestion for Bat Mitzva gift

I think one of the series by Rabbi Twersky such as "Living Each Day" ; "Learning Each Day", etc. are wonderful. It follows a calendar and each day it carries a few useful messages on how to behave and ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
2 votes

Do Conservative boys give a d'var Torah on or after their bar Mitzvah?

I am unaware of any "formal halacha" that requires this. As a matter of fact, halachically, absolutely no party whatsoever is required for a Bar Mitzvah. It has been a long-time custom to make some ...
DanF's user avatar
  • 70.4k
2 votes

About coming back to Jewish practice

One expression, bar mitsva has many significations. In halacha to be bar mitsva is to reach the majority according to the Jewish law. There is a custom to give to the young major man to take some ...
kouty's user avatar
  • 22.7k

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