practices: bar mitzvah & bat chayil

Question 1

what happens when a jewish boy or girl hits puberty? (4)

Answer 1

will become responsible for living by the jewish law = torah
will have to accept the law and its obligations in full
take part in synagogue services
set a good example

Question 2

bar mitzvah: what is it?

Answer 2

male rite of passage

Question 3

bar mitzvah: when will the boy become a bar mitzvah?

Answer 3

on the sabbath nearest to his 13th birthday, they will become bar mitzvah meaning son of the commandment

Question 4

bar mitzvah: what will the boy do during the sabbath service?

Answer 4

the boy will stand at the bimah and read aloud part of the torah

Question 5

bar mitzvah: what would have the boy prepared before the sabbath service?

Answer 5

will have studied for many months to learn Hebrew and the section of the torah

Question 6

bar mitzvah: what will the boy wear for the first time?

Answer 6

tefillin - black leather boxes containing an extract of the torah

Question 7

bar mitzvah: what will the rabbi address?

Answer 7

address part of his talk to the boy and the boy could give a talk to the rest of assembly

Question 8

bar mitzvah: what will the boy’s father recite?

Answer 8

recite a prayer of thanks for his sons coming of age

Question 9

bar mitzvah: what happens after the service?

Answer 9

there will usually be a party to celebrate the bar mitzvah

Question 10

bar mitzvah: what is the boy considered as now?

Answer 10

part of the minyan and may lead part of the synagogue services
according to the jewish law, he is now eligible to own property and get married however this is unusual in modern society

Question 11

bat mitzvah: what is it?

Answer 11

female reform rite of passage

Question 12

bat mitzvah: when will the girl prepare?

Answer 12

around the time of her 12th birthday

Question 13

bat mitzvah: what happens during the ceremony?

Answer 13

the girl will not wear a tefillin
may lead prayers and read from the torah scroll

Question 14

bar mitzvah: what does it demonstrates?

Answer 14

that she is taking on these additional privileges and responsibilities

Question 15

bat mitzvah: some reform jews may ask the girl to do what?

Answer 15

to read a section from the tank from one of the female figures

Question 16

bat mitzvah: what may she be asked to prepare?

Answer 16

to prepare a speech based on the reading or talk about aa ‘mitzvah project’
may choose 1 or 2 of the mitzvot to focus on such as kosher cooking, a day dedicated to prayer or some form of charity work

Question 17

bat mitzvah: what do jews believe about the bat mitzvah?

Answer 17

do not accept it
do not allow girls to count as part of the minyan or to lead services

Question 18

bat chayil: what is it?

Answer 18

female orthodox rite of passage

Question 19

bat chayil: what does it mean?

Answer 19

daughter of valour

Question 20

what does valour mean?

Answer 20

great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle.

Question 21

bat chayil: when does it take place?

Answer 21

in orthodox synagogues at a date close to the girl’s 12th birthday

Question 22

bat chayil: what happens during the ceremony?

Answer 22

will give a talk on a jewish topic but not during the sabbath service

Question 23

bat chayil: why do orthodox see the role of women and men as different?

Answer 23

they believe that women do not take an active part in the synagogue services but have a very important role to play in the home

Question 24

bat chayil: what does this allow the girl to take up to? why?

Answer 24

take up her adult role in the community
has to observe jewish laws that pertain to women and learn how to keep a good jewish home
apply the kosher (one of the lessons they will have to learn)