Jewish life cycle – brit milah, bar mitzvah, wedding, shiva
Jewish law and custom accompany a person from the eighth day of life to the anniversary of their passing. Each guide explains the source, the ceremony and the main customs.
- Bar mitzvah בַּר מִצְוָה
Bar mitzvah means “subject to the commandments”. Why 13, what changes, the aliyah and tefillin, the father’s blessing and Sephardi and Ashkenazi customs.
- Bat mitzvah בַּת מִצְוָה
A Jewish girl becomes bat mitzvah at 12: the source in the Mishnah, what changes, how it is celebrated, and the views of leading rabbis on the celebration.
- Brit milah (bris) בְּרִית מִילָה
Brit milah, the bris, is the circumcision of a Jewish boy on the 8th day: the Torah source, the ceremony, the sandak and the name, and Sephardi and Ashkenazi customs.
- Jewish wedding חֲתֻנָּה
The stages of a Jewish wedding: kiddushin and the ring, the ketubah, the chuppah, the seven blessings, breaking the glass, and Sephardi and Ashkenazi customs.
- Shiva שִׁבְעָה
Shiva is the seven-day mourning period after a funeral: its source, the mourners’ customs, visiting a shiva house and what to say, and Shabbat during shiva.
- Yahrzeit יָארְצַייט
Yahrzeit is the yearly anniversary of a death on the Hebrew calendar: how the date is set, the candle, Kaddish and other customs, and Sephardi and Ashkenazi practice.
For learning and general information only. Customs differ between communities; for practical halachic questions ask your rabbi.