{"id":3206,"date":"2015-05-10T04:40:59","date_gmt":"2015-05-10T01:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/birkatchaverim.com\/wordpress\/?p=3206"},"modified":"2018-04-17T10:43:37","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T07:43:37","slug":"the-mitzvah-in-bar-and-bat-mitzvah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birkatchaverim.com\/wordpress\/celebrations\/the-mitzvah-in-bar-and-bat-mitzvah\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mitzvah in Bar and Bat Mitzvah"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

We are happy to have a guest post by Marcia Goldlist as part of Mitzvot Unplugged, discussing using her Bible in Rhyme series as a way of teaching Bar and Bat\u00a0Mitzvah.<\/em><\/p>\n

A common question asked of b\u2019nai mitzva is, \u201cWhat are you doing for your bar\/bat mitzva?\u201d Everyone knows that what people really mean is \u201cWhat kind of party are you having?\u201d. But, the question and the answer to this question really is not about the bar or bat (the boy or girl), but rather about the mitzva<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This is a great time to discuss the source of the children of Israel taking on the mitzvot. Not in order to put you or your child on the spot with what responsibilities he\/she will take on The point of this discussion is to see (and talk about) the origin of the children of Israel taking on responsibility, which mirrors the child taking on responsibility as a bar\/bat mitzva.<\/p>\n

One way to discuss this is through my, Enjoying Exodus: The Bible in Rhyme<\/a>\"\", or Exodus in rhyming couplets. This is because it is different, and kids (and adults) listen and think about \u201cdifferent\u201d more thoroughly than what they would \u201cthe same\u201d. Don\u2019t just talk to your child, talk with<\/em> your child; pay attention to the conversation because you will have a better conversation \u2013 which is priceless \u2013 and you may just reinvigorate your own commitment.<\/p>\n

A Starting Point<\/h2>\n

A starting point could be to challenge your child to think about the difference between the last plague that God brought upon the Egyptians and all the others. You may want to read together all of the plagues (Shmot\/Exodus 7:15- 12:30) but you could also just use the instructions that God gave before the last plague in Shmot 12.<\/p>\n

Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say,
\n\u2018This month on the tenth day
\nA lamb or a kid each man should take.
\nOne for each household to partake.
\nIf for a lamb or a kid a household will be too small
\nThen with a neighbor they should take according to the number so that there is just enough for all.
\nYou should have an unblemished male lamb or kid that is a year old,
\nAnd of which, from the sheep or the goats you take hold.
\nIt will be yours to examine it
\nUntil the fourteenth day of this month to see if it is fit.
\nThe whole assembly of Israel together will submit
\nAt noon to slaughter it.
\nOf some of its blood they should take hold
\nAnd place it on the two sides of the door frame mold
\nAnd on top of the door frame they should put a bit
\nOn the houses where they will eat it.
\nOn that night the meat
\nWith matzas, the unleavened bread, and bitter herbs they should eat.
\nPartially roasted you shall not eat it.
\nNor boiled is it fit.
\nOnly roasted over a fire are you to eat the spread
\nOf inner parts, legs and the head.
\nDo not leave any of it until morning \u2013 eat it all before you adjourn.
\nWhat is left until the morning should in a fire burn.<\/p>\n

And this is the way that you are to eat
\nThe meat:
\nWith a belt fastened on your loins and shoes on your feet.
\nWith your staffs in your hands quickly you are to eat.
\nThis is a Passover offering to God so be swift,
\nAs to God it is a gift.
\n\u201cI will go through the land of Egypt on this night
\nAnd I will kill every firstborn in the land of Egypt outright.
\nBoth animal and man.
\nAnd the gods of Egypt I will judge \u2013 I am God and this is My plan.
\nThe blood will be a sign marking your houses for Me to view,
\nSo that I will pass over you,
\nWhen the land of Egypt I will pass through.
\nThe plague will not be upon you.<\/p>\n

The answer to how this plague is different is that for all the other plagues God gave us a freebie. We didn\u2019t have to do anything. We were saved just by the fact that we were the children of Israel. Now, God asked us to help save ourselves. This also mirrors the child becoming a bar\/bat mitzva. The child is now responsible for him\/herself. There are no more freebies. The child is now asked to act as a part of the Jewish people.<\/p>\n

Would you Have Taken Part?<\/h2>\n

A question you could pose to the new Jewish adult could be, \u201cWould you have been part of the ceremony to kill the lamb and put the blood, as prescribed, on your door post?\u201d Remember that anyone that took the prescribed actions were spared the tenth plague. If you decided not to due to lack of belief, laziness, or any other reason, you would not have been spared from your first born being killed. Express your inner thoughts why you think you would and why you may not have gone along with the requirements. For more questions and activities related to these verses check out this\u00a0Enjoying the Bible Online post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On Shavuot, we, the children of Israel, had another test which we passed with flying colors. In Shmot chapter 23 we are told that all Bnei Yisrael accepted the laws of God together.<\/p>\n

Moses came in front of the nation
\nAnd all the words of God and all the laws he told in oration.
\nThe entire people responded with one voice,
\n\u201cAll the words that God has spoken we will do by choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

And on the next day when Moses conveyed the laws given by God:<\/p>\n

He took the book of the covenant and read it aloud.
\nThen the people vowed,
\n\u201cEverything that God did say
\nWe will do and obey!\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, we need to ask if we \u2013 parents and child \u2013 would have answered affirmative. If not, what would have happened? And if yes, do we reaffirm that same conviction today?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just answer with yes and no responses.<\/p>\n

Think out what would make you accept all the laws and what would have been difficult.
\nDiscuss the amazing accomplishment of all the children of Israel being unified. Perhaps there are things which your child could suggest to help unify the Jewish people.
\nBut most of all, listen and talk to your children about what it means to be b\u2019nai mitzvah!<\/p>\n

The following are a few easy ways to make the mitzva part of b\u2019nai mitzva more meaningful:<\/h2>\n