BAR MITZVAH, BAT MITZVAH
The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be
by Bert Metter & illustrated by Joan Reilly
The Jewish life-cycle event is explored in a simple, dry format addressing the history, ceremonial aspects, the inclusion of a girl’s Bat Mitzvah in the early part of the 20th century and the significance of celebration, as well as how the level of extravagance has evolved in modern times. The author discusses symbolic and spiritual aspects of the traditional bar/bat mitzvah with basic explanations for its importance and the responsibility it conveys to live by the teachings of the Torah. Several Jewish actors and famous personalities are highlighted with their unique experiences, indicating how Jews move through this rite of passage, some with difficulty, such as Jami Gertz with a fever of 103, and others with surprising outcomes. Black-and-white sketches accompany this quick, short, easy-to-read introduction. (Nonfiction. 10-13)