Ask the Rabbi
- Family and Society
- Happy Occasions
- Bar and Bat Mitzva
Question
I have always understood that the age for Bar/Bat Mitzvah was rabinicaly set, that halchicly the guideline was physical maturity.
Now if a law D’rabbanan can only create a fence for a law D’oraita, how could they set an age for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, especially today when we see physical maturity occuring much earlier and thus D’oraita many of these children should be Bar/Bat Mitzvah but are not treated as such?
Answer
By Torah law both Physical maturity AND age count, the rabbis decreed that age in it self counts.

Kiddush at a Bar Mitzvah
Various Rabbis | 23 Sivan 5765

Bracha for Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 5 Sivan 5766

Tefillin bar mitzvah
Various Rabbis | 9 Cheshvan 5768





