Saturday, February 1, 2014

ENTRY into Jewish adulthood

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Entry into Jewish adulthood--a neighbor's bar mitzvah ceremony.
At the synagogue in the moshav/village where I used to live, in the Jerusalem Hills.

City Daily Photo bloggers' Theme Day today is about "entry."
See what entries others posted at the group's website.

Wikipedia explains:

According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys become 13 years old, they become accountable for their actions and become a bar mitzvah. A girl becomes a bat mitzvah at the age of 12. Most non-Orthodox Jews celebrate a girl's bat mitzvah in the same way as a boy's bar mitzvah.
 Prior to reaching bar or bat mitzvah, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, the boys and girls bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. Traditionally, the father of the bar mitzvah gives thanks to God that he is no longer punished for the child's sins (Genesis Rabba, Toldot 23:11).
In addition to being considered accountable for their actions from a religious perspective, b'nai mitzvah may be counted towards a minyan (prayer quorum) and may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community.
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14 comments:

  1. Interesting post for this theme day, Dina, it's a unique and fine interpretation of the theme, thanks for the explanation, I learned something new today.

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  2. Fine interpretation of the theme.

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  3. I am assuming the bar mitzvah boy is standing next to one of his grandfathers, not his father. That is because the link between generations is so important, especially since the war. In my generation, nobody had a grandfather alive. But now the bar mitzvah boy is honouring his proud grandfather. Wonderful times!

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  4. Karl and Birdman, thanks, glad you like it.

    Hels, yes, it is his grandfather with his arm around the boy. Oi yes, your observation about the past is a sad one.

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  5. That is a wonderful interpretation of the theme. I think it'll be my favourite...

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  6. 13 and 12 years seems to me very let's say much too young to "entry"adulthood. What a responsibiliy !

    Claire

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  7. I really like your interpretation of today's theme!

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  8. An excellent interpretation of the theme, Dina, and a very good portrait!

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  9. This is a very interesting post, Dina. I love how after the mitzvah, parents don't have to take the blame for the child's actions. I hope we can take the credit though. We really enjoyed seeing the beautiful celebrations of your children when we were in Chicago.

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  10. Theme Days offer plenty under the heading of 'interpretation'. Love yours!

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  11. A very thoughtful contribution to the theme (as we expect from your blog), beautiful picture, too.

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  12. Wonderful entry and interesting post!

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  13. Nice and interesting posting. I learned something new. (I thought this was a thing just for boys, but now I know it is also for girls.)

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