Bar and Bat Mitzvah "son" (), while "bat" () means "daughter" in Hebrew, and "mitzvah" () means "commandment" or "law" (plural: "mitzvot"). Thus "bar mitzvah" and "bat mitzvah" literally translate to "son of commandment" and "daughter of commandment". However, in rabbinical usage, the word "bar" means "under the category of" or "subject to". "Bar mitzvah" therefore translates to "an [agent] who is subject to the law". Although the term is commonly used to refer to the ritual itself, in fact the phrase originally refers to the person. The modern method of celebrating becoming a bar mitzvah did not exist in the time of the
Oraynu Congregation for Humanistic Judaism for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Rabbi Denise Handlarski defines what Humanistic Jews believe: "JK to Grade 7, a B’nai Mitzvah program and Oraynu-Tots preschool program" The purpose of the curriculum is to encourage a strong Secular Humanistic Jewish identity in each child by making Jewish culture, values and history come alive. Central to the School’s philosophy is the value of Tikkun Olam, making the world a better place. The program culminates at the end of Grade 7 with a group B’nai Mitzvah ceremony. Adolescents, age 13+, are part of a youth group which meets for discussion, programs and volunteer activities. The