Bar and Bat Mitzvah Starter QFL: Can I define ‘Bar Mitzvah?’ Can I describe what happens during a Bar Mitzvah ceremony? Homework SAM learning – KS3 Religious Education – Why is Bar/Bat Mitzvah important? Due Next lesson Starter Describe a day which was very special in your life. What was it that made it so special?

Key Term Meaning Torah Rabbi Shabbat Synagogue Tefillin Hebrew Kosher Shema Tallit

Which is the correct definition for each key term? Two small leather boxes wound by straps around the forehead & arm. They contain 4 passages from the Torah. Teacher or master. Food which Jews are allowed. Ceremony which marks the coming of age of a Jewish boy at 13 years of age. Jewish holy day of rest. Language in which Jewish scriptures are written. Jewish place of worship. Jewish scriptures. Jewish prayer shawl

At what age do you think a person becomes an ‘adult?’ What makes a person an ‘adult?’ and not a child anymore? In the Jewish there are two answers to ‘when does a person become an adult?’ A girl is recognised by the Jewish community as an adult when she reaches her twelfth birthday. A boy has to wait a year longer before the Jewish community accepts that he has become an adult.

When a boy reaches his thirteenth birthday, he is considered old enough to take personal responsibility for living out the commandments of the Torah in his own life. Until now his father has taken on the responsibility for his son’s spiritual welfare. But from now on he carries that responsibility himself.

From a very early age each Jewish boy is taught about he history of his religion, his religious faith and the Hebrew language. He is taught both at home by his father and in the synagogue by the rabbi.

The ceremony His Bar Mitzvah is a great and important day in the life of every Jewish boy. There are several parts to the celebrations:

A ‘calling up’ to the front during the synagogue service A ‘calling up’ to the front during the synagogue service. It is always a great honour for a Jewish man to take part in a synagogue service. A boy is given this honour on his Bar Mitzvah. He can be invited to read from the Torah in public for the first time or to lead prayers.

The father’s blessing. The father gives thanks to God that his son has reached adulthood. Until now the father has accepted responsibility for his son’s spiritual welfare. Now the son must take that responsibility on himself. “Blessed is the One who has freed me from the responsibility for this child’s conduct.” What do you think the word ‘blessed’ means? Who is the ‘One’ referred to here? What has the father been responsible for? Who takes the responsibility from now onwards?

A gathering. Friends and relations coming together for a boy’s Bar Mitzvah. During the party after the service the boy makes a short speech. He thanks his parents and teachers for their influence on him.

Why do you think this is the greatest day in the life of From this time onwards a boy will wear two important objects which show that he is accepted as an adult member of the Jewish community. They are his tefillin and tallit. Why do you think this is the greatest day in the life of this boy so far?

Watch the clip on a boy’s Bar Mitzvah. Make sure you jot down what you see/learn – you will need this in your written task at the end.

Imagine you are a Jewish boy. You have had your Bar Mitzvah Imagine you are a Jewish boy. You have had your Bar Mitzvah. Write a diary entry describing your day. Make sure you use your key terms that you wrote down earlier. Include what you would be looking forward to most of all and what changes might happen in his life from this time onwards.