Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies have been celebrated in some form for thousands of years. Bar Mitzvah in biblical and Talmudic times simply meant “coming of age”. The meaning has since become the literal “(son) of the commandments”. Originally, a Jewish man was considered to be an adult at the age of 20, when he was eligible to be taxed and join in the military. However, during Talmudic times (around 2000 B.C.E.), the age was decreased to 13 years old. The ceremony was simply a blessing at first and included the child’s first aliyah; it did not include any celebrations. The Bar Mitzvah was largely symbolic in the religious sense however, as minors were allowed to participate if they were deemed mentally fit and chose to do so. During the late middle ages this practice became more literal, as minors were no longer allowed to be “called to the Torah” until reaching Bar Mitzvah age.

It wasn’t until approximately 200 years ago that Jewish families started celebrating a Bat Mitzvah for girls that reach the age of 12 or 13. The practice was thought to have started in Europe. However, the Bat Mitzvah ceremony is attributed to the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, Mordecai Kaplan.

Traditional responsibilities for becoming a Bar Mitzvah include:

• Moral responsibility and accountability for ones own actions
• Able to be called to read from the Torah
• May possess personal property
• May be married
• Must follow 613 laws of the Torah


Ceremony:
In modern times, the Bar Mitzvah ceremony has become largely based on the interpretations, customs, and beliefs of the synagogue or temple that the family attends. Jewish populations around the world also celebrate this special occasion slightly to very differently. The Sephardim and the Ashkenazim customs differ greatly. In America, Bar Mitzvah ceremonies are usually accompanied by large parties and fancy gifts.

Common practices include:

• Learning prayers/theology, customs, holidays, history, and recently, the language (Originally taught by the father, it has now become a practice to learn in Religious or Hebrew School)

• Reading of the Torah (entire, maftir, haftarah, or combination)

• Some form of commentary (commonly on the meaning of becoming a Bar Mitzvah or recent Torah readings)

• A feast or celebration



Bar Mitzvah Ceremony in the Modern Age:
In modern America, Bar Mitzvahs have become elaborate celebrations, similar to a wedding. Reform movements tried to do away with Bar Mitzvah celebrations, stating that a child does not become an adult at the age of 13. This practice was to be replaced with a confirmation at the age of 16 or 18. Due to the popularity of Bar Mitzvah ceremonies, the practice has since been revived. Gifts, games, food, themes, speeches, favors, decorations, Hora, cakes: these are all elements commonly found at a modern Bar Mitzvah party. It has become common practice to give gifts, usually money, in multiples of 18. This is due to the fact that the number 18 is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word for “life”. Many Bar and Bat Mitzvah also receive their first tallit from their parents to be used for the occasion.


Coming of Age:
Although the Bar Mitzvah in its common form is a relatively new ceremony, the concept of coming of age ceremonies predates the Torah. Peoples and cultures all over the world have some sort of coming of age ceremony. Christians receive confirmation, Hindus undergo Upanayana, and even Shintoism and Confucianism have distinct coming of age ceremonies. In fact the rites of passage for a young man/woman can be traced back to prehistoric times.


Second Bar Mitzvah:
Among some Jewish communities, a man who has reached age 83 will celebrate a second Bar Mitzvah. This is due to the fact that a normal lifespan is considered 70 years. Reaching 83 would signify a “second 13”.


Due to the numerous different practices involving Bar Mitzvah ceremonies it is hard to pinpoint an exact definition. These are simply the most common or well-known instances of rituals, history, and customs involved in a Bar Mitzvah ceremony.

1st Communion Invitations Ideas & Samples

First Holy Communion is a major milestone in any young Catholic boy’s or girl’s life. Receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist is indeed an occasion worth celebrating. The First Holy Communion party should make a good 1st impression to your guests with personalized Communion invitations. Depending on your family, church, and personal preferences, there are many different forms that your Communion cards may take.


Sophisticated: For a simple, classy party, sophisticated invitations are the perfect way to go. Traditional colors like white and minimal design elements will create elegant 1st Communion invitations. Layered, deckled, or lace cards are a great way to accent a sophisticated card.


Modern: Modern cards are becoming an increasingly popular way to invite friends and family to Holy Communion celebrations. Colors like kiwi, blue, and pink, are some of the most common sights. Photographs of your child may even be included for a truly modern twist on Communion invites.


Unique: Unique invitations are a great way to put personality into your Communion cards. This event will be remembered for your child’s entire life, so why not have fun with it and make your invitations a reflection of your son or daughter’s personality? Unique invitations come in all shapes and sizes, they can be classified as anything that doesn’t fit into any of these other categories.


Classic: Classic invitations are the most popular way to invite guests to a First Communion party. Familiar design elements including crosses, doves, rosary beads, and neutral colors are all very religious and classic. You can never go wrong with elegantly designed, classic First Communion invitations.


Blend of Tradition and Modern: This is my favorite type. I feel that it is important to incorporate classic ideas and traditions and blend them with a more modern outlook. Crosses and rosary beads paired with trendy colors can be a subtle way of showing off the modern and traditional aspects of your life.


You may also want to purchase matching thank you notes and response cards to complete any invitation set. Save the date cards are also available, but not necessary. Photo keepsakes are a great idea to commemorate and cherish your child’s 1st Communion. Lace-cut bookmarks with your son or daughter’s photo and personalized text can make great keepsakes.


Picking the perfect First Communion invitations can take time and patience. As long as you try to put your own style and personality into your 1st Holy Communion invitations, you can never go wrong.

Giftskins.com Re-Design Press Release

Daytona Beach, Florida based company, Giftskins.com, has recently completed a drastic website redesign. The company specializes in personalized wrapping paper for all occasions.

The redesign of Giftskins.com will make it easier for consumers to design and create their own custom gift wrap. The changes are jam packed with Web 2.0 features and appealing design elements. New categories have been introduced, arranging wrapping paper by holidays and special occasions. Visitors can also sort designs based on visual characteristics and themes, including: masculine/feminine, stripes, patterns, by recipient, and more. They have also added a brand new line of personalized corporate wrapping paper for businesses looking for promotional items, marketing tactics, and branded gift wrapping services.

In conjunction with a new website, Giftskins.com is also offering the chance to win personalized wrapping paper for every major gift giving occasion for a whole year. Details can be found on their website.

Artist and developer Jenna Hampton explains the reasoning and goals behind the new site design. “We wanted to provide a completely seamless experience for all of our customers. The new design makes finding the perfect roll of custom gift wrap infinitely easier. It looks better too!”

Giftskins.com is also offering a new design service for customers who would like to create their own wrapping paper from scratch. Aimed at small businesses and marketing campaigns, for a small set-up fee, customers can have their own original designs turned into gift wrap.

Giftskins.com is a part of the Expressionables.com suite of boutiques that provide personalized products for all life’s special occasions and celebrations.


*Note For Craft Ideas Related to Personalized Gift Wrap...check out AllCrafts.net