Bar / Bat mitzva
Every year tens of thousands of Jewish people come to the Jerusalem Western Wall in Jerusalem to celebrate their child's Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah. They come from Israel itself and from far away countries; some with their immediate family, others with a wide circle of relatives; for some it is their first time at the Western Wall and for others - the hundredth. But they all have one thing in common. They have come to celebrate one of the most important occasions in the Jewish life cycle, to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah of their son or daughter. They have chosen to mark this initiation into adult Jewish society at the holiest place in the world, the Jerusalem Western Wall, (or Kotel Maaravi in Hebrew). Bar Mitzvah means one (masculine) to whom the commandments apply. Bat Mitzvah means one (feminine) to whom the commandments apply. These terms describe the coming of age of a Jewish boy or girl.
According to Jewish Law when Jewish children reach the age of thirteen years for boys and twelve for girls they become responsible for their actions, and "become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah." Before this age the child's parents are responsible for his or her adherence to Jewish law and tradition, and after this age, children themselves bear responsibility for observing Jewish law and traditions and are given the privilege to take part in all areas of Jewish community life
In modern Jewish observance becoming a Bar Mitzvah (or Bat Mitzvah in non-Orthodox Judaism) is normally associated with the young person being called to read the Torah at religious services. What exactly the Bar Mitzvah (or Bat Mitzvah) do during this ceremony may vary in different congregations of Judaism. But the nature of the celebration stays the same: from this point on the child is now considered an adult in the eyes of Jewish law, and becomes responsible for his own deeds, spiritually, ethically, and morally.
Most of Orthodox Jews disagree with the idea that a woman can read from the Torah in public or, even
more, lead prayer services. On the Sabbath following his 13th birthday, the young man is called up to the Torah (even if he was called up to the Torah during the course of the week). In some communities, he reads from the Torah and/or the Haftorah. One interesting custom raises much excitement in the synagogue: At the conclusion of his final blessing, the young man is good-naturedly pelted with candies by friends and relatives.
A typical Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah Holiday could include several holy sites in Jerusalem such as the Migdal David (King David's Tower), Meiron, Zafed and others . However, the most popular place for celebrating the coming of age in Israel remains the Western Wall. This is the holiest site in Judaism, Jerusalem's Western Wall - also known as The Wailing Wall. Bar Mitzvahs / Bat Mitzvahs at the Western Wall are held on Monday and Thursday mornings from 7:30AM until noon. Also, the Western Wall tunnels are one of Israel's most splendid sites. Jewish Ceremonies here, like at the Western Wall, are strictly Orthodox.