View source for Adult bar and bat mitzvah

{{Short description|Jewish tradition}}
An '''adult bar/bat mitzvah''' is a [[bar and bat mitzvah|bar or bat mitzvah]] of a person older than the customary age. Traditionally, a bar or bat mitzvah occurs at age 13 for boys and 12 for girls. Many adult Jews who have never had a bar or bat mitzvah, however, may choose to have one later in life, and many who have had one at the traditional age choose to have a second.<ref name="google">{{cite book |title=The Jewish Life Cycle: rites of passage from biblical to modern times |author=Marcus, I.G. |date=2013 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=9780295803920|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sCFk8wNDfuMC |page=121 |access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref> An adult bar or bat mitzvah can be held at any age after adulthood is reached and can be performed in a variety of ways.<ref name="chabad">{{cite web |url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2201498/jewish/Bar-Mitzvah-for-an-Adult.htm |title=Bar Mitzvah for an Adult? – Bar Mitzvah |publisher=chabad.org |access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>
The adult and child bar/bat mitzvot differ in that the former is planned by the person becoming b' mitzvah and the latter by the child's community, caregiver, and/or parent. Due to it taking place at an advanced stage of life, many relatives who were present at a child's bar/bat mitzvah are often deceased, and the person is often married and/or has children and sometimes grandchildren. Many men have second b'nei mitzah at age 83; representing 70 years since their first.<ref name=reasons>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Events/BarBat_Mitzvah/About_BarBat_Mitzvah/Adult_BarBat_Mitzvah.shtml|title=Adult Bar Bat Mitzvah|work=My Jewish Learning |access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>
== Reasons ==
There are many reasons adult Jews choose to have a bar or bat mitzvah:
* Many adult men and women did not have a bat mitzvah as children due to lack of popularity and/or restrictive gender norms.
* Individuals with learning disabilities that made the process of preparing for their bar or bat mitzvah too difficult during childhood.
* Adults who have converted to Judaism may want a bar or bat mitzvah.
* Many non-religious Jews who had little or no Jewish education as children.
* Those who have had a bar or bat mitzvah as children decide to undergo renewal.
* Many Holocaust survivors didn't have the opportunity to have a bar or bat mitzvah.
== History ==
Rabbi Albert Axelrad of [[Brandeis University]] officiated the first adult bar and bat mitzvahs in the early 1970s. He encouraged the practice in all denominations of Judaism.<ref name="myjewishlearning">{{cite web |url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Events/BarBat_Mitzvah/History/History_Adult_Bar_Mitzvah.shtml |title=History of Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah – My Jewish Learning|publisher=My Jewish Learning |access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>
Between 1995 and 2001, [[Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America|Hadassah]] held group adult Bat Mitzvah ceremonies for 180 women.<ref name=globe>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2006/07/30/finding_my_religion/?page=full|title=Finding My Religion |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>
In 2001, the [[Union for Reform Judaism]] created a guide on adult bar and bat mitzvah programs which was adopted by 900 congregations. In 2002, the Conservative Movement adopted this guide as well.<ref name=globe/>
== Process ==
The process of becoming a bar or bat mitzvah for adults involves studying for a year or longer. It consists of Hebrew language, Jewish rituals, Torah readings, and Haftorah readings. Many synagogues provide classes for adults.
== Notable adult bar and bat mitzvahs ==
* [[Paula Abdul]] had an adult bat mitzvah in [[Safed]] on November 2, 2013, aged 51. She had originally planned to hold it at the [[Western Wall]] in [[Jerusalem]] but changed her plans due to [[jet lag]] and the media circus that would follow.<ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/paula-abdul-bat-mitzvah-video-israel_n_4226165.html|title=Paula Abdul Celebrates Bat Mitzvah In Safed, Israel Known For Kabbalah (VIDEO)|date=6 November 2013|publisher=HuffPost|access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref><ref name="jta">{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2013/11/07/arts-entertainment/no-kotel-bat-mitzvah-for-paula-abdul-after-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109235802/http://www.jta.org/2013/11/07/arts-entertainment/no-kotel-bat-mitzvah-for-paula-abdul-after-all |archive-date=2013-11-09 |url-status=dead |title=No Western Wall bat mitzvah for Paula Abdul after all &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency |access-date=2015-02-13 }}</ref>
* [[Armand Hammer]] died on December 11, 1990, on the evening before his planned bar mitzvah, aged 92.<ref name="jta2">{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/1990/12/12/archive/armand-hammer-dead-at-92-on-eve-of-his-bar-mitzvah|title=Armand Hammer Dead at 92 on Eve of His Bar Mitzvah &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=12 December 1990|publisher=jta.org|access-date=2015-02-13}}</ref>
* In June 2012, actor [[David Arquette]] celebrated his bar mitzvah aged 40 at the [[Western Wall|Kotel]]. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Kaitlin |title=Stars Who've Had Bar and Bat Mitzvahs: Mason Disick, Drake, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-whove-had-bar-and-bat-mitzvahs-mason-disick-drake-more/ |website=Us Weekly |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>
* [[Yisrael Kristal]] held his bar mitzvah at 113. He was the world's oldest living man at the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37375629|title=World's oldest man, Yisrael Kristal, 113, to hold bar mitzvah|date=2016-09-15|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/worlds-oldest-man-marks-bar-mitzvah-100-years-late/|title=World's oldest man marks bar mitzvah, 100 years late|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-US}}</ref>
* In December 2019, comedian [[Tiffany Haddish]] celebrated her bat mitzvah aged 40.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/culture/435945/susan-silverman-tiffany-haddish-black-mitzvah-q-and-a-sarah-silverman/|title=She's Sarah Silverman's Sister — and Just Officiated Tiffany Haddish's Bat Mitzvah|date=5 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Kaitlin |title=Stars Who've Had Bar and Bat Mitzvahs: Mason Disick, Drake, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-whove-had-bar-and-bat-mitzvahs-mason-disick-drake-more/ |website=Us Weekly |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>
*[[Drake (musician)|Drake]] had a star-studded re-bar mitzvah for his 31st birthday after his previous bar mitzvah at 13<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Armstrong |first1=Megan |title=Drake Holds a Star-Studded 'Re-Bar Mitzvah' For His 31st Birthday |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-re-bar-mitzvah-31st-birthday-dicaprio-8013974/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=25 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bandler |first1=JTA and Aaron |title=Rapper Drake Throws a Re-Bar Mitzvah Party on His 31st Birthday |url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/special_sections/celebrations_simchas/227226/rapper-drake-throws-a-re-bar-mitzvah-party-on-his-31st-birthday/ |website=Jewish Journal |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=9 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Kaitlin |title=Stars Who've Had Bar and Bat Mitzvahs: Mason Disick, Drake, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-whove-had-bar-and-bat-mitzvahs-mason-disick-drake-more/ |website=Us Weekly |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>
*[[James Franco]] had a star-studded charity event for his bar mitzvah in October 2015 at the age of 37 <ref>{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Kaitlin |title=Stars Who've Had Bar and Bat Mitzvahs: Mason Disick, Drake, More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/stars-whove-had-bar-and-bat-mitzvahs-mason-disick-drake-more/ |website=Us Weekly |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>
*Former TV host [[Don Francisco (television host)|Mario Kreutzberger]], Don Francisco, had a second bar mitzvah in February 2024 at the age of 83<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cierra |first=Gerardo |date=February 2, 2024 |title=Don Francisco celebra segundo Bar Mitzvah rodeado de familia y amigos |url=https://www.wfla.com/tampa-hoy/entretenimiento/don-francisco-celebra-segundo-bar-mitzvah-rodeado-de-familia-y-amigos/ |access-date=2024-08-11}}</ref>
In popular culture, there have been depictions of adult bar mitzvahs on TV shows:
* An episode during the last season of ''[[The Dick Van Dyke Show]]'' depicts Buddy having his bar mitzvah, having been too poor to have one as a boy.
* The ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Today I Am a Clown]]" depicts [[Krusty the Klown]] having a bar mitzvah.
* On an episode of [[Touched by an Angel (season 6)|Touched by an Angel]], [[Kirk Douglas]] played a man who (like Douglas himself) has a second bar mitzvah at the age of 83.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/motivations-for-adult-barbat-mitzvah/ My Jewish Learning - The Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah]
{{Jewish life}}
[[Category:Jewish law and rituals]]
[[Category:Judaism and women]]
[[Category:Bar and bat mitzvah]]