Bat and Bar Mitzvah

A Humanistic Bat and Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

The essence of the Bat and Bar Mitzvah celebration

Noga leading her Bat mitzvah tour
Following David & Goliath's story

A person does not change significantly before or after his or hers Bat and Bar  Mitzvah. It is also clear that they do not reach full maturity. However, in Jewish culture we have an arbitrary date in a person's life from which he or she are becoming legally responsible for their own actions. In ancient times, puberty happened much earlier. In modern society, the stage in life known in psychology as the "moratorium" (postponement or suspension of identity formation) is much longer.

Why celebrate the Brit (covenant) of Mitzvah?

If the date is arbitrary, the question can be asked why celebrate it at all? The lack of understanding has created an industry of consumerist and ostentatious celebrations, a kind of extended and pompous birthday party, lacking in depth and meaning. The most that has been done in this area is to memorize the reading of the passage in the Torah portion with The cantillation (te'amim) from a sound file sent by the teacher, and the ascent (Aliyah) to the Torah that leaves bruises on the scalp from hard toffee candies thrown...

Yotam's sermon

The meaning of the Bat/Bar Mitzvah for Humanistic Jews

For Humanistic Jews, it is not enough to memorize and repeat because someone has commanded. All that we commemorate has to have a meaning. A Bar Mitzvah boy or girl declare to themselves, their family, friends and community that they are beginning their long road to maturity. They enter into a covenant with Jewish culture, the Jewish people, its heritage and origins, to take responsibility for their own identity. and want to do this together with their family, friends and the immediate community.

Taking responsibility for one's own identity

As a part of the celebration, the boy or girl can take on a meaningful task that demonstrates responsibility and maturity, this can be in various ways:

• A sermon containing a Torah passage and a personal lesson based on the weekly Torah portion (parsha).
• Leading a family tour/study trip following a biblical story or based on the heritage of Jewish culture
• Work/film/meeting with a role model who influenced culture
• Preparing a family history family tree
• Understanding and studying issues related to pluralistic Judaism - streams in Judaism, groups in Israeli society

• 

  Noa's Egalitarian ceremony at the western wall

  Community work and volunteering.
• Any idea or thought that you can think about.

Bat and Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall

A ceremony with gender equality, in which we have a reading of the Torah portion at the Western Wall, can be held for girls and boys without separating men and women in the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, in front of the Western or Southern Wall. (Entrance to the Archaeological Park requires a small entrance fee).

Nadav's portion and sermon
in front of the western wall

The ceremony can consist of a Torah portion reading, family members, blessings, a sermon and a Torah talk prepared by the Bar Mitzvah bride or groom, a Midrash Shem, and more. In addition, as I am a Ministry of Tourism certified tour guide, the ceremony can be accompanied by a preliminary tour of the Old City, the Archaeological Park, the City of David and then end with a festive meal at one of the many nearby restaurants in the area of the old city or greater Jerusalem.

There are options and alternatives for Bat and Bar Mitzvah boys and girls that are not fluent in Hebrew and the scriptures.

If you would like me to assist you in planning and designing a commemorative, meaningful event, ceremony and celebration, contact me me on: +972-52-4738983 or fill out the form below