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.

Tefillin bar mitzvah
Various Rabbis | 9 Cheshvan 5768

Selecting the Parasha of Bar Mitzvah
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 6 Cheshvan 5765

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






