Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age

Why does a bar mitzvah (BM) happen at age 13? Where did the elaborate rituals come from & how are they relevant today? What does it feel like to experience a BM? Kimmel answers these questions & more, providing historical background, explanations of rituals, & real-life bar mitzvah stories. This is a book not only for every pre-bar mitzvah boy, but for anyone who wants to learn about the beliefs, philosophies, & history of the Jewish religion. Illustrated with woodcuts. ''A thorough well-written account of the ceremony & rituals involved in a 13 year-old boy's confirmation in the Jewish faith. interspersed with fascinating & sometimes deeply moving vignettes in which boys & men of various ages share memories of their own bar mitzvah experiences.''