Bar mitzvah

• At the age of 13 a boy becomes bar mitzvah or "son of the commandments". It is from now that a boy is considered an adult and responsible for his own actions and faith
• It is expected that he is old enough now to keep the commandments
• From this time on he will be able to form part of the minyan, to wear tefillin, and read as part of the service
• Bar mitzvah marks the deepening of the young person's faith
• Bar Mitzvah ceremony is usually at the synagogue on the Shabbat where the boy is called up to the bimah to recite a blessing on the Torah and read part of the Torah in Hebrew
• A rabbi teaches him about religious duties and the importance of prayer