A Woman's Role
A batmitzvah ceremony is often held on or around the time of a girl’s 12th Hebrew birthday. As the celebrations have only become widespread in recent years, girls have a fair amount of leeway when it comes to deciding how to mark the occasion.
They may choose to prepare and give a dvar Torah (speech on a Torah idea) in shul. Depending on the custom of the synagogue, this might take place during a Shabbat morning kiddush, following the Shabbat afternoon mincha service or later in the evening, on motsei Shabbat.
Alternatively, girls might decide to deliver their discourse at a special batmitzvah reception in their own home, or to a smaller, more private gathering.
Batmitzvah girls also have the option of partaking in a joint bat chayil ceremony with several synagogue contemporaries. Groups of girls in their 13th year undergo a course of study together and celebrate its conclusion with a synagogue service at the end of Shabbat or on a Sunday afternoon.
By the time the bat chayil or batmitzvah milestone is reached, girls who have taken part in a special coming of age course will have studied topics pertaining to their role as Jewish women in some depth. They may have produced creative projects on appropriate themes, such as the Jewish home, kashrut or the festivals.
Many batmitzvah courses also focus on the special woman’s mitzvah of separating challah – taking a small, olive-sized piece of dough from a larger batch and burning or disposing of it. One reason for this commandment is that bread represents the physical, earthly side of life. By setting aside a small piece of dough, we bring God back into the equation and remind ourselves of the spiritual aspect of our nature.
Because women are largely responsible for the act of bringing new life into the world, they are given precedence in this mitzvah.
One other beautiful custom is for girls to study for their batmitzvah alongside their mums, emphasising the continuity of Jewish heritage passing from mother to daughter. Many women may not have had the same opportunities to study Judaism as teenagers as today’s younger generation – now is their chance.
And finally - the tradition that many Jewish young ladies will consider to be most important. Several halachic authorities state that it is a good idea for batmitzvah girls to receive new outfits to be worn on the big day itself.
But exciting as the chance for a shopping spree always is, when putting on her new clothes, a girl should take care to bear in mind the special significance of this particular occasion.
One way of doing this is by making the shehechiyanu blessing, where she can thank God for having brought her to this day and conferring a new, important status on her. From this day onwards, she too is responsible for the future success and survival of the Jewish people.
