According to Jewish law, a boy is viewed as a "Bar Mitzvah" when he turns 13 yeas of age, and a girl becomes a "Bat Mitzvah" when she turns 12 yeas of age. They subsequently achieve the status of adulthood. Girls achieve the status of adulthood a year earlier than boys because girls typically mature physically and emotionally earlier than boys, ready to embrace the responsibility adulthood entails. At this auspicious time they become full-fledged Jewish adult and are presented with both the opportunity to grow spiritually and the responsibility to become a better person.

Children begin for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah by going to Hebrew/Religious school some years before they actually turn Bar/Bat Mitzvah age. In fact, some children begin attending afternoon religious school from the time they enter kindergarten. The purpose of going to religious school is to learn about Jewish customs, holidays, history, and the Hebrew language.

Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so as much as possible to learn the obligations they will have as an adults. For example before children are Bar/Bat Mitzvah, they do not need to fast on Yom Kippur. However after bar/bat mitzvah, they are required to fulfill this mitzvah. At bar/bat mitzvah they are also counted in the minyan, a quorum of ten required to conduct a service. When boys and girls become bar and bat mitzvah, they reach a new stage of development in their lives and start thinking about the kind of people they want to be.

When the children automatically reach the Bar/Bat Bar Mitzvah age. No ceremony is needed to confer these rights and obligations. The popular bar mitzvah ceremony is not required, and does not fulfill any commandment. It is a relatively modern innovation.

On a deeper level, just as their bodies are growing and changing in a new way, so too their souls are growing and changing. The Kabbalistic tradition tells us that a person's spiritual being has several levels of soul. A new level of soul called neshamah comes into awareness at bar or bat mitzvah time. This level is what gives a person the ability to make conscious, rational decisions.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony usually takes place on the first Shabbat after the appropriate birthday. At the synagogue the youngster is called to celebrant's an Aliyah (A blessing over the Torah). Some youngster recite the Haftora, some read the Torah portion and some lead part of the service. Most likely would need some practice in advance with a cantor or scholar experienced in reading the Torah. After services or during the birthday night a Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are typically celebrated with a festive meal, with the family and friends of the Bar Mitzvah boy or Bat Mitzvah girl on hand to celebrate their entrance into adulthood.