bas mitzvah
Noun: 1. A Jewish coming-of-age ceremony for a girl: A religious ceremony and celebration that marks a Jewish girl's 12th birthday, signifying her transition into adulthood within the Jewish community and her new responsibility for observing Jewish commandments (mitzvot). 2. The girl who is undergoing this ceremony: The term can also refer to the girl herself who is celebrating her 12th birthday and participating in the ceremony.
The term is used specifically in the context of Judaism to denote a significant lifecycle event. It is often written with a capital letter. * As a ceremony: "The family is preparing for Sarah's bas mitzvah next month." * Referring to the girl: "At age 12, she became a bas mitzvah."
- "Her bas mitzvah service was held at the synagogue on Saturday morning."
- "After studying for a year, she was ready to become a bas mitzvah."
- "The bas mitzvah girl read from the Torah for the first time."
- The ceremony is also commonly spelled bat mitzvah (using the Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation). Both "bas mitzvah" and "bat mitzvah" are correct, with "bat mitzvah" being more frequently used in general English.
- The plural form is b'not mitzvah or bat mitzvahs/bas mitzvahs.
- Bat Mitzvah: The more common alternate spelling for the same ceremony.
- Bar Mitzvah: The equivalent ceremony for a Jewish boy, occurring at age 13.
- B'not Mitzvah: The plural form, which can refer to multiple girls or a group ceremony.
- Mitzvah: A commandment of Jewish law; a good deed.
- Coming-of-age ceremony (specific to Judaism)
- Initiation rite (in a religious context)
The term holds two closely related meanings: the event/ceremony itself and the status of the girl who has attained religious adulthood. The primary focus is on the assumption of religious obligations and privileges within the Jewish faith.
- (Judaism) an initiation ceremony marking the 12th birthday of a Jewish girl and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility