Messianic Judaism Quest

Jewish texts from the time of the codification of the Mishnah (circa 200 CE) convey the idea that along with puberty comes responsibility for one’s own actions. This responsibility for personal actions and more importantly adherence and fidelity to the covenant of Torah is generally applicable to girls at age twelve and boys at thirteen.

Over the centuries, the marking of this passage into personal responsibility has developed significantly as a joyous celebration.

In most non-Orthodox communities, both Bar and Bat Mitzvahs (literally son or daughter of the commandment are marked by the individual’s first time to read/chant a section from the weekly Torah portion (i.e. the Maftir) and its associated passage in the Haftarah in Hebrew.

Many communities also require the individual to lead a section of the service and present a brief commentary on the text they have read and studied.

In traditional communities Bar Mitzvah is also counted as part of the minyan (quorum) required for the public reading of the Torah from that day forward. In more traditional communities, the manner in which a young woman marks her Bat Mitzvah is more limited than in non-Orthodox communities and the young woman is not counted as part of the minyan in accordance with Halachah.

While individual responsibility traditionally begins at 12 (for girls) and 13 (for boys) years of age, the ceremony itself may be observed at a later time. This practice has increased in recent years as older individuals not having celebrated their Bar or Bat Mitzvah’s earlier in life desire to mark their solidarity to the greater Jewish community and tradition.

Progressive yet traditionally minded Messianic synagogues,should offer any individual the opportunity to participate in the joys of Jewish life and celebration. A Messianic Jewish community should offer the opportunity for a Bar or Bat mitzvah upon the successful completion of a customized curriculum which may include the study of Hebrew, Torah and Haftarah Cantillation, Bible (including the Tanakh (i.e. Hebrew Scriptures) and Torat Shlichim (i.e. the apostolic writings), Jewish history, and a basic knowledge of Jewish prayer, and Halakhah for Shabbat.

While our community opens its program to all who are interested (both children and adults), Bar and Bat mitzvahs should only be undertaken by individuals that understand the significance of commitment to Jewish life to which such a ceremony marks.

Bar and Bat mitzvahs represent the individual’s participation in a synagogue community as adults contributing to the spiritual and general well-being of the community. With such a goal in mind, synagogue membership should be expected in most cases.

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