Bar and Bat Mitzvah the commandments . . ." The Talmud gives 13 as the age at which a boy's vows are legally binding, and states that this is a result of his being a "man", as required in . The term "bar mitzvah", in the sense it is now used, cannot be clearly traced earlier than the 14th century, the older rabbinical term being "gadol" (adult) or "bar 'onshin" (legally responsible for own misdoings). Many sources indicate that the ceremonial observation of a bar mitzvah developed in the Middle Ages, however, there are extensive earlier references to thirteen as the age of majority
Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Darwin Day, and periodic Shabbat services. Services use language that is consistent with the nontheistic philosophy of Humanistic Judaism. Machar’s Sunday school integrates Jewish history, culture, values, and practice into a developmentally appropriate curriculum at each grade level, from preschool-aged children through the B’Nei Mitzvah year. Post-mitzvah teens can assist in Jewish Cultural School classrooms and help to organize community service activities on behalf of the congregation. Machar offers programming for adults concurrently with Sunday school. Topics include themes of Judaism, Humanism, and other social, humanitarian, or personal issues. Machar, The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism Machar is