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bar mitzvah

For Jewish boys, a bar mitzvah is a traditional coming-of-age ritual. Most boys celebrate their bar mitzvah when they turn 13.

In addition to the spiritual significance of a bar mitzvah, which gives a boy new responsibilities and duties as a religious adult, it's also an opportunity for a big family celebration. After a ceremony that involves reading from the Torah and other rituals, modern bar mitzvahs often include large parties or banquets. The word bar mitzvah literally means "son of commandment" and was originally only used to describe the boy undergoing the ceremony.

Definitions of bar mitzvah
  1. noun
    (Judaism) an initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility
    “a bar mitzvah is an important social event”
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    type of:
    induction, initiation, installation
    a formal entry into an organization or position or office
  2. verb
    confirm in the bar mitzvah ceremony, of boys in the Jewish faith
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    type of:
    covenant
    enter into a covenant
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘bar mitzvah'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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