Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site orca.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!ariels From: ariels@orca.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Question about Bat-Mitzvah Message-ID: <640@orca.UUCP> Date: Sun, 26-Feb-84 15:03:21 EST Article-I.D.: orca.640 Posted: Sun Feb 26 15:03:21 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 28-Feb-84 08:25:00 EST References: <257@whuxle.UUCP> Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 30 The original difference is due to the fact that girls mature earlier than boys do. This is a medical fact. Look it up in any text that covers adolecence. I suspect the reason that in the US girls celebrate at 13, and not 12, is that 1) Girls who celebrate Batei Mitzvah are not Orthodox, but Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, or whatever, and it is possible that the individual congregations (not the rabbis, just the congregations) don't know the 12 vs 13 difference. 2) 12 year olds of either sex are not as likely as 13 year olds to take their studying and preparation seriously, so they wait. 3) The brothers would get upset if their sisters got a Bat Mitzvah when she was younger than he is when he gets his Bar Mitzvah, so it's all to keep family peace. Please remember that a girl is Bat Mitzah at 12, and a boy Bar Mitzvah at 13 no matter when OR WHETHER they have a celebration at the synagogue. Bat/Bar Mitzvah means that the child's parents are no longer responsible for the child's spiritual life (sins, observation, etc), but that the child becomes responsible for her/him self. Ariel (never had a celebration, but Bat Mitzvah anyway) Shattan ..!tektronix!orca!ariels