What Non-Jews Should Know About a Bar/Bat Mitzvah

An appendix from the book “Putting God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of Your Child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah,” this 3 page article is written as a model for an explanation of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah that can be sent to non-Jewish guests with their invitations. The author, Reform Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin, emphasizes some of the similarities between Judaism and Christianity, explains the spiritual significance behind the Shabbat synagogue service and the Torah, and concludes with a comparison of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ritual to other religious coming-of-age ceremonies, such as baptism and confirmation.