Q: I am going to my neice's Bat Mitzvah so I would like to be informed about some rather mundane historical matters.What is the history of Bar mitzvah - and later Bat mitzvah? i.e. When (date) did the custom start? Where? Who started it and why did he? By this I mean what was the rationale to create this rite of passage? Some particular synagogue - or group of them - introduced the bat mitzvah ceremony relatively recently. Its certainly no more than fifty years old. Which synogogue and where was it located? And which Rabbi?

A: The notion of a Bar/Bat Mitzva dates back to the Talmudic period. The rabbis determined that a girl at age 12 and a boy at age 13 had reached an age where they were old enough to know right from wrong and should have enough self-discipline to choose to do what is right. Bar- son and daughter- bat mitzva- commandment- you are now legally responsible for fulfilling the commandments which are part of being a Jewish adult. One becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzva upon reaching the age of responsibility. One also gains certain privileges, such as being able to be counted in a prayer quorum- minyan, and being able to recite the blessings at the Torah reading- aliya.

Initially, the Bar Mitzva was publicly celebrated by doing this for the first time, perhaps giving a short talk with an explanation of the Torah reading, and one's parents providing juice and cookies following the service. It has only taken on a life of its own in relatively recent times.