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Q: Why are girls bat-mitzvah at age 12 and boys at age 13? And why does it seem that we are now waiting until girls are 13 years old? Please explain bat-mitzvah significance.
A: The words bat mitzvah, mean "daughter of mitzvah," that is, a woman who becomes obligated in the performance of mitzvot, divine commandments. While it has only been in this century that bat mitzvah has been publicly celebrated, the concept of a woman becoming of mitzvah age is ancient. The age for obligation was that of physical maturity, i.e., puberty. Since it was assumed that the average age for the onset of puberty was 12 for girls and 13 for boys, these became formalized as the age at which adult obligations would begin, and children recognized as adults. |
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