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Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be
 
 
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Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be [Paperback]

Bert Metter (Author), Joan Reilly (Illustrator)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Book Description

August 20, 2007 9 and up4 and up
In some places, bar and bat mitzvahs are rivaled only by proms as the most important social event in many teens’ lives. Parties celebrating the occasion can range from humble cookies-and-punch receptions to lavish catered affairs with elaborate themes and celebrity guests. But more important, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs are serious religious ceremonies, with rich histories and deep significance to the participants.

Here is a warmly written discussion of these important Jewish coming-of-age rituals, their historical backgrounds and evolution. A special chapter features the reminiscences of well-known actors, television personalities, and sports figures about their own bar and bat mitzvahs. Joan Reilly’s lively black-and-white drawings perfectly illustrate the details of the event and the celebrations. This concise, informative book will help children preparing for their bar and bat mitzvahs—as well as their families and friends—understand and appreciate this rich, spiritual occasion.

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This revision of Metter's 1984 book, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: How Jewish Boys and Girls Come of Age, describes a typical ceremony and explains how this custom began for boys during the Middle Ages and how it was adapted for girls beginning in 1922. He also discusses the recent custom of adult bar and bat mitzvahs and celebratory parties. The writing is clear and concise; ink illustrations (not all seen) help to break up the text and will be informative, especially for readers not familiar with these ceremonies. The sections detailing bar and bat mitzvah memories of the rich and famous (particularly their parties) will appeal to kids; those looking for a more spiritual view of this topic may prefer Eric Kimmel's Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age (1997) or its companion, Bat Mitzvah: A Jewish Girl's Coming of Age (1997), by Barbara Goldin Diamond. Appended with a bibliography, Web sites, and source notes. Weisman, Kay --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Clear and concise." Booklist, ALA

"[A] quick, short, easy-to-read introduction." Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  • Paperback: 80 pages
  • Publisher: Clarion Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin (August 20, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0618767738
  • ISBN-13: 978-0618767731
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be, March 19, 2008
This review is from: Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: The Ceremony, the Party, and How the Day Came to Be (Paperback)
Updating his 1984 book, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah: How Jewish Boys and Girls Come of Age, Metter again traces the history and changing customs of this important ritual. Eric Kimmel's Bar Mitzvah: A Jewish Boy's Coming of Age (1997) and Barbara Goldin Diamond's Bat Mitzvah: A Jewish Girl's Coming of Age (1997) are more detailed and deal with religious meaning more directly, but Metter's work is concise, readable and enlightening, especially for those not already familiar with these observances. This new version reflects changes in our world over the past 23 years. Metter includes a stronger egalitarian voice and a new section on Judith Kaplan, the first modern bat mitzvah. He has eliminated using the male pronoun and bar mitzvah ceremony as the norm. Some borderline pedantic background information has been removed or made far more concise. He expanded prior mention of the trend toward adults becoming bar and bat mitzvah to a whole chapter and included more material on customs in other countries. Metter's revised chapter on celebrity memories of their own ceremonies has left politicians and Nobel prize winners out, focusing instead on younger film and TV actors, comics, and Olympic medal athletes. A brief discussion of sumptuary excess appears less judgmental than in his original earlier work. Both changes reflect an acceptance of today's realities. The final chapter is unchanged, however, emphasizing that the timeless significance of this ritual remains undiminished. Appended bibliography, B/W illustrations and, source notes, and websites. Rita Berman Frischer
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bat mitzvah ceremonies, mitzvah party, mitzvah ceremony
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish, Stars of David, Abigail Pogrebin, New York, Spy Kids, United States, American Jewish Life Magazine, Marlee Matlin, Ben Stiller
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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