Bat Mitzvah

From Halachipedia
This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.

Shehechiyanu

  1. It is a good practice for a bat mitzvah girl to eat a new fruit or wear a new clothing in order to make a Shehechiyanu on the day that the girls becomes obligated in mitzvot. Upon reciting the Shehechiyanu, the girl should have in mind that she is accepting the obligation of fulfilling all the mitzvot.[1]

Celebration

  1. While some poskim write that there is no source for celebrating a bat mitzvah and that it does not constitute a seudat mitzvah,[2] others encourage the celebration[3]

Links

Sources

  1. Kaf HaChaim 225:12 and Ben Ish Chai Reeh 17
  2. Rav Moshe Feinstein writes in Iggerot Moshe OC 1:104 and 2:97 that there is no source for celebrating a bat mitzvah. Even though there are sources for a bar mitzvah celebration, that is different because there is a recognizable change in that he can count for a minyan and be called to the torah. Rav Moshe adds that the whole idea to celebrate such an event comes from outside Orthodox Judaism.
    He does however, conclude that even though there is no source, it is not prohibited to celebrate but it is better not to make such a big deal out of it, and one can treat it like a birthday party. However, Rav Moshe continues that whilst there may be no source for it, it is certainly not prohibited to celebrate a bat mitzvah, though Rav Moshe maintains that it is better not to make a big deal out of it.
  3. Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Yabea Omer 6:29 and Yechave Daat 2:29 writes that a bat mitzvah celebration does constitute a seudat mitzvah. He brings from the Ben Ish Chai Parashat Re'eh 17 that even if there is no custom to celebrate, a girl should display some extra happiness in celebration of entering the obligation of keeping mitzvot that apply to her. Chacham Ovadia writes that just as there is an idea of celebrating a boy's entrance into mitzvot, there is no reason the same should not apply to girls as well.