Religious Education: an Example Student Project on Jewish Bar Mitzvah Traditions
Sam created this decoration as a depiction of what happens in a Bar Mitzvah celebration.
What's a Bar Mitzvah? The words literally mean "son of the commandment". Upon reaching
their thirteenth birthday, boys automatically become Bar Mitzvah, and from then on
they're expected to begin actively protecting and teaching the Torah.
In this ArtHouse decoration, Sam has shown several generations of family. On the
far right, he's shown his beloved "Bubby". Bubby is a common title of affection for
the matriarch of a Jewish familiy. He's also shown a pair of proud parents.
During the Bar Mitzvah celebration, two interesting and symbolic events happen. One,
the Torah scrolls are physically passed down from generation to generation. Two,
the Torah scrolls are carefully carried down the aisles of the synagogue. Members of the
congregation reach out with their prayer books and gently touch the precious scrolls.
Sam seems to have shown both of these traditions in one storyboard.
There are a couple other interesting things to note about the prayer books used in
Reform synagogues. For one thing, they're treated with a tremendous amount of respect.
At Sam's synagogue they're kept in beautiful wooden bookcases. They're brought out from
and returned to the bookcases at the beginning and end of services. While they're out
of the bookcase, they're handled very respectfully. For example, you would never see one
set on the floor.
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