A boy retains his religious maturity and becomes responsible to fulfill all Torah commandments at the age of 13. A girl becomes equally responsible one full year earlier, at the age of 12, corresponding to her earlier maturation.

Bar-Mitzvah literally means "Son of Mitzvah," which describes the young man now responsible to do all Mitzvot (commandments). Bat-Mitzvah literally means "Daughter of Mitzvah," or the young woman now responsible to observe all of her Mitzvot.

This occasion is cause for great celebration and gratitude to G-d, and hence the Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ceremony. Note: One becomes Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah automatically on one's twelfth or thirteenth birthday, with or without a party!

For a boy, among his many new responsibilities, beginning from his Bar-Mitzvah day and onward he must wrap Tefillin every day of the week besides Shabbat and certain holidays. (It is preferable that the young man practice wrapping Tefillin for about two months before his Bar Mitzvah.)

Traditionally boys are called up to the Torah on the day of their Bar-Mitzvah (or the Sabbath afterward), reflecting their new status as adult participants in the prayers. In some communities, the boy reads from the Torah and/or chants the Haftorah on the Shabbat after he becomes Bar-Mitzvah.

Note: The Torah reading is not an obligation and does not replace the much more important Mitzvot ushered in on the Bar-Mitzvah day! In fact, some consider the time needed to train a 12 year-old too precious and opt to use the preparation time to teach the young man about many of his upcoming responsibilities and their meaning.

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