On Sunday, May 8, 2005 I was asked the following question:

Amanda Wolfe asks:

I am having my bat mitzvah next year. I had a question though. I understand that you have a bat mitzvah because you're becoming an adult. But you're really only a teenager.

Thank you.

This was my response:

Dear future Bat Mitzvah,

The purpose of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is for the youngster to begin to realize that he or she is now a member of the Jewish people with the responsibility of following our Torah. A "child" is not yet responsible for following many of the Commandments, but, at the age of 12 for a girl and 13 for a boy, the rabbis concluded that these ages were appropriate...12 and 13 is the beginning of the stage called adolescence. It is during this stage of life that the foundation for adult behavior is made lasting.

Mazel Tov,
Rabbi Dan

If you have questions about a personal matter, or jewish practices and customs, you can submit them to me by e-mail. I answer all queries directly, or through this column, when the question is informative to our community.

Thank you for your kind attention and this opportunity to share with you,
Rabbi Dan S. Wiko
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