bat mitzvah

or bath mitz·vah, bas mitz·vah

[ baht mits-vuh, bahs; Sephardic Hebrew baht meets-vah; Ashkenazic Hebrew bahs mits-vuh ]

noun

, (often initial capital letters)

1. a solemn ceremony, chiefly among Reform and Conservative Jews, that is held in the synagogue on Friday night or Saturday morning to admit formally as an adult member of the Jewish community a girl 12 to 13 years old.
2. the girl participating in this ceremony.

verb (used with object)

1. to administer the ceremony of bat mitzvah to.

Bat Mitzvah

/ bɑːt ˈmɪtsvə /

adjective

1. (of a Jewish girl) having attained religious majority at the age of twelve

noun

1. the date of, or, in some congregations, a ceremony marking, this event
2. the girl herself on that day

bat mitzvah

1. An important ceremony and social event in Judaism marking the beginning of religious responsibility for Jewish girls; it is the less frequently observed counterpart of the bar mitzvah . Bat mitzvah is Hebrew for “daughter of the commandment.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bat mitzvah¹

From Hebrew bath miṣwāh literally, “daughter of the divine law”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bat mitzvah¹

from Hebrew, literally: daughter of the commandment

Example Sentences

Don’t get me wrong, she’s cool—I’m supposed to go to her bat mitzvah next year—but JP’s my best friend.

From Literature

“As each bar or bat mitzvah reads from the actual Torah, they learn its history, which becomes part of their own story and connection of Jewish traditions and community,” the rabbi said.

From New York Times

Her character, Carla, is a retired music teacher who wants to get her bat mitzvah.

From Seattle Times

The movie doesn’t pass judgment, per se, on the state of today’s upscale bat mitzvahs.

From Los Angeles Times

A turning point came in 2002, after a Palestinian gunman killed six people at a bat mitzvah party, including a 32-year-old Hebrew Israelite singer who had been performing.

From Washington Times