Category — Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

(image credit: n0nick)

What could be better than a Bar Mitzvah surrounded by family, friends and an enlightening d’var Torah? A Bar Mitzvah surrounded by family, friends, an enlightening d’var Torah and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games! One lucky boy, Isaac Shapiro, got the privilege to travel all the way to China to watch the Olympic Games and celebrate his step into adulthood.

Although his voice was a bit raspy due to cheering at the events, he chanted the maftir and haftarah in a confident voice at the Chabad shul. His d’var Torah reviewed the Ten Commandments and used many humorous sports references. In addition to having his family celebrate this achievement, the shul was also full of complete stranger that made their own way out to Beijing, a great majority from Israel and the United States.

“So many people we have met during our trip to China have told us that what we’re doing is really special,” said Marjie about her family’s idea to plan the celebration during the Olympics.
“Other tourists, especially Jews, were really blown away when we told them about the bar mitzvah. Lots of people said it was the best story they’d heard yet in Beijing.”

Even with all the sports excitement of the Olympic Games, Isaac’s bar mitzvah was truly the highlight of the Shapiro family’s trip.

While many people have heard of destination weddings, there is a new phenomenon approaching: the destination Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah in Israel!

Many people come to Israel to have their Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall:

What is a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah?

For those of you that don’t already know, here is the different between a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah:

A boy attains his religious maturity and becomes responsible to fulfill all Torah commandments at the age of 13. A girl becomes equally responsible one full year earlier, at the age of 12, corresponding to her earlier maturation.

(source: Chabad.org)

Tips for After a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah

Here are some ways for the new Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah to “give back” to the community:

1. Participate in a charitable project.

We are very much concerned that the Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah process reflects the ethical and communal responsibility incumbent on a Jewish adult. To this end, we require each Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah student to design and complete a Tzedakah project during the Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah year. The Rabbi will discuss this project with the student at the initial meeting one year in advance of the ceremony and at intervals over the course of the year.

(Source: Beth Shalom of San Francisco)

2. Reject materialism

Sources such as the Washington Post have described how elaborate and expensive a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah celebration can be here in the States. A trip to Israel for this major family event for some families could actually be scaling down the trip!

3. Continue to participate. The religious journey of a Jew doesn’t end at Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah age! In fact, it should serve as a springboard to further mitzvot (religious observance).