What is the difference between bnai mitzvah and bar mitzvah

For example, the coming-of-age ritual was originally and still is today in Orthodox communities only for boys. The Bat Mitzvah ceremony for girls only became popular in the US in the s! Most branches of Judaism continue to grow and adapt in order to meet the needs of contemporary Jewish communities.

There is a growing need for a gender-inclusive version of this ceremony, which is not surprising considering Judaism has a tradition of discussing gender diversity stretching back thousands of years!

Perhaps the most challenging obstacle in creating a gender-neutral or gender-inclusive ceremony is the gendered nature of the Hebrew language. While gender-neutral Hebrew is still very much in development, below are some current best-practices for inclusive Hebrew. Note: This guide uses B-Mitzvah as a general term for the ceremony, but the child should choose the name that work best for them.

B an Mitzvah is another option, creating a new word from the combination of the Hebrew word for boy ben and girl bat. Esther from the house of Sarah and Moses. Neutral words like ruler, sovereign, parent, and creator can replace gendered terms like king and father. In English and Hebrew, one can also alternate masculine and feminine God language.

When speaking or writing about the ceremony in English, one can use words like child, kid , or descendant rather than son or daughter. Similarly, the word adult can be used in place of man or woman. In written materials like invitations or printed program booklets , consider including a note about language and identities. Having this written down will provide guests some information and hopefully will save the child and their family from answering the same questions over and over.

We have made adaptations to this ceremony to use non-gendered language in both English and Hebrew, and rather than a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, this will be a gender-neutral B-Mitzvah. These may seem like lofty visions and aspirations. At NVHC, we encourage lifelong learning. Through learning in our Kehilat Limmud and Tamid programs, getting ready for Bar and Bat Mitzvah in Torah Corps, in our youth groups and activities to engage in the community, our children are challenged to make their Jewish identity take flight!

This continues through participation in our amazing Confirmation program in 10 th and beyond. Search for:. Why have a Photo Booth at your Barmitzvah or Batmitzvah?

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