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Who is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
What kind of question is that? "What is a Bar Mitzvah?" sounds better. No? No!
Bar and Bat Mitzvah are individual Jews who have achieved the age of adulthood, in Torah Times that was thirteen. While a Bar or Bat Mitzvah doesn't achieve legal adult status in civil society today, he or she does in the Temple or Synagogue. Adult status confers upon the Bat or Bar Mitzvah the right to read aloud from the Torah to the community; to be part of a minion; to wear a Tallit in Temple, etc. Ritually and terms of the Jewish Community this is a Big Deal!
Why Must We as a Community rely on each Bar and Bat Mitzvah for Tikkun Olam?
The Bar and Bat Mitzvahs may appear to be just kids, but because of the long lives that they have in front of them their attitudes and actions, beliefs and desires are what the older generations must rely on to heal the world. Each thirteen year old who parctices Tikkun Olam has the time to make a difference. Our community has often led the way to social responsibility, often at great personal cost. Our Bar and Bat Mitzvahs will lead again.
We will honor each of these Young people by planting two trees in their name. One in Israel and One in America. These trees will be a reminder that only their actions and desirs can healthe world. One day we hope that they will get sit beneath their trees with grandchildren and tell them the tale and duty of Tikkun Olam.
Why Celebrate Something as Inevitable as Turning Thirteen?
In truth the Bar Mitzvah Celebration is not the family party held after the religious service, which can itself be quite spectacular. It is a celebration of the child's efforts to acquire the knowledge to exercise the right to read from the Torah before the community which is celebrated. That celebration is fulfilled when he or she is invited by the Rabbi to read aloud and in Hebrew from the Torah Scroll.
Most of the children who undertake this spiritual journey will tell you that by the time of the culminating event they have definitely grown up. They have learned an ancient language; they have learned the traditions of a people who have been creating traditions for thousands of years; they have learned to address an assembly of educated adults on their level; they have learned how to practice tzadaka, or how to give to the community not for reward but because it is right. It is a huge undertaking that takes years of preparation. The result is becoming a Jewish adult and that result is worth celebrating.
So Why the Party if the Real Event is Already Complete?
The Bar or Bat Mitzvah Celebration after the first reading from Torah is a reward for the community as well as the Bar or Bat Mitzvah and his or her family. Mom and/or Dad took the child to approximately 250 religious school classes and to a year or more of Hebrew instruction. Mom and Dad as well as the older brothers and sisters helped with the Hebrew homework. The whole family helped the Bar or Bat Mitzvah with his or her Tzadaka project which in many cases means many hours of community service, letter writing, etc. The Rabbi and the Cantor have also worked with the student for months, or longer. Members of the community have given the Bar or Bat Mitzvah moral support and encouragement. The event is therefore a celebration for a community which's future is ensured in the success of the young person's study and growth.
The Bar Mitzvah Party is a celebration of the first day of the young Jewish adult's life. It is only right that such a person be celebrated, that such a family celebrate and that their community celebrate them.
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