בר מצווה
Hebrew
Etymology
From בַּר (bar, “of the age of”, literally “son of”) and מצווה \\ מִצְוָה (mitzvá, “mitzvah, commandment”); hence literally “of the age of commandment”. Originally designated the man of age, then the ceremony marking that age, then the teen having said ceremony.
Noun
בר מצווה \\ בַּר מִצְוָה • (bar mitsvá) m (plural indefinite בני מצווה \\ בְּנֵי מִצְוָה, feminine counterpart בת מצווה \\ בַּת מִצְוָה)
- A bar mitzvah; a male Jew who is at least thirteen years old, and therefore considered old enough to be held responsible for following most of Jewish law.
- A bar mitzvah; a ceremony marking a male Jew's first aliyah to read the Torah after his thirteenth birthday.
- A bar mitzvah; a male Jew who has just turned thirteen and is having or has just had a bar mitzvah ceremony.
See also
