special service | Significance

special service | Significance

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Jewish communities began marking bat mitzvahs for girls. This was a change from tradition, which had prohibited women from participating directly in religious services. Rabbi Franklin Muller of Congregation Rodef Sholom has worked with Zoe, Savannah and Karsyn Berk, triplet daughters of Brigitt and Rob Berk, on the Shabbat service they will conduct today at the temple. The girls also will give speeches on what becoming bat mitzvah means to them.

Bat mitzvah: The words literally mean “daughter of commandment.” Bat is daughter in Aramaic, the language of the Jewish people from 500 B.C. (Before the Common Era) to 400 Common Era. Mitzvah is Hebrew for commandment.

Bar mitzvah: The words mean “son of the commandment.”

Significance: It is a milestone life event for Jewish girls and boys that marks embracing responsibilities of Judaism on an adult level. Becoming a bat mitzvah indicates a girl is morally and ethically responsible for her actions.

Preparation: Both becoming a bat mitzvah and bar mitzvah involve a lengthy preparation of study including learning Hebrew to read the Torah and Haftarah.