Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
“Bar Mitzvah” literally means “son of the commandment.” “Bar” is “son” in Aramaic, which used to be the vernacular of the Jewish People. “Mitzvah” is “commandment” in both Hebrew and Aramaic. “Bat” is daughter in Hebrew and Aramaic. Technically, the term refers to the child who is coming of age, and it is strictly correct to refer to someone as “becoming a bar (or bat) mitzvah.” However, the term is more commonly used to refer to the coming of age ceremony itself, and you are more likely to hear that someone is “having a bar mitzvah” or “invited to a bar mitzvah.”
So what does it mean to become a bar mitzvah? Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have as adults. At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments. The bar mitzvah ceremony formally, publicly marks the assumption of that obligation.
Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs are beautiful events with lots of tradition, family and celebration. I love to photograph these events.
Less is more when photographing a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Traditional is good, but I would rather use my camera to tell the story of that special day rather than try to tell the clients what to do, I would rather they have lots of fun and let me record the wonderful memories they just created.
Rafael
