Subject: what age does a boy become a man bibica |
Bible Note: Hi, Shlomoh... The bat mitzvah grew out of the Jewish Reformed movement. I'd posit, therefore, that it would have little bearing on our interpretation of Biblical truths. The bar mitzvah is an aliyah, confering the obligation of a child to obey the commandments. This occurs at 13 even if the ceremony does not take place. Consequently, it implies an age of accountability. What is more significant, though, is that Jews believe that parents are accountable for the sins of their children before the age of 13. That is why at the bar mitzvah, the father recites a "release from punishment" as part of that ceremony. Which raises an interesting question. If we are to embrace the idea of an age of accountability, are we also to embrace the notion that parents are held accountability for the sins of their children? In Him, Doc |