Question: What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Source: www.about.com

Question: What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer: Bat Mitzvah literally translates to "daughter of commandment" and implies "responsible female."

According to Jewish Law, every Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah at age 12 - a year earlier than a Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah due to the fact that girls mature earlier than boys. As a bat mitzvah, she becomes obligated by God's commandments - as prescribed in the Torah and as interpreted by Moses, the Prophets, the Sages and the Rabbis.

A Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah automatically upon turning 12 years old. No ceremony is needed. The Reconstructionist Movement introduced the idea of celebrating a girl becoming a bat mitzvah in 1922. Since then, ceremonies to mark the occassion of a girl becoming a bat mitzvah have become more and more popular.

While the bat mitzvah girl can celebrate from her 12th birthday, some wait and celebrate on the girl's 13th birthday. In many Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative synagogues, the bat mitzvah may be celebrated by the girl blessing and/or reading Torah and also leading part of the prayer service. Festive meals and lavish parties in honor of a girl becoming a bat mitzvah have also become common in non-orthodox communities.

In orthodox communities, the bat mitzvah is more often marked with a family celebration than a religious ritual. If an orthodox girl wants to celebrate her bat mitzvah by reading Torah or leading a prayer service, then this is generally done in the presence of women only.

The Invitation?!
Many people feel confused when invited to a bat mitzvah. They ask what present to buy, when to give the present, how to dress... It helps to think of the bat mitzvah as a special birthday - special in that it has religious significance. Any present that is appropriate for a 12 or 13 year old girl will also work for a bat mitzvah present (jewelry, books, gift certificates, music, clothes, picture frames, ....) Dress for the religious service like you are going to a religious service (modest, formal attire), and dress for the party according to whatever party is being held. It is best to bring the present to the party (rather than the religious ceremony). Mazel Tov or congratulations are appropriate greetings. You have been invited because the bat mitzvah girl wants you to join her in celebrating her "coming of age" - so, above all, enjoy the celebration!

Gililee Silks recommends the perfect gift: a Bat Mitzva tallit from our large and varied collection.

Come to one of our online store and make your pick.

www.galileesilkjudaica.com/shop

Tallitot ON SALE you find on Galileesilks.com

A Tallit to keep you [spiritually] warm

We found a great blog which explains all about Galilee Silks most popular marketed garment:

The Talit. We especcialy liked the following post about blessing the Tallis

As read on http://mytalit.com/

The Jews do not believe in the blessing of their garments and ornaments by their Rabbi, or the Jew’s religious teacher or master. This is significantly different from other religions, particularly Catholicism, which practices the blessing of items, from those related to their religious practice (such as the Bible) to other items and material possessions. This applies to the use of their tallit or their prayer shawl. The tallitot are not blessed by the Rabbi, although Jews can get such prayer shawls at the synagogue before praying. Because of this, one can buy tallilot anywhere.
However, the Jews do believe that they themselves should bless their tallits. This is a form of their respect to this sacred garment. This practice is actually included in their mitzvah, hence the importance they place on the prayer shawl. Although it is the tzitzit (or the fringes on the prayer shawl) and not the tallit that the Jews are required to wear, it still plays a pivotal role in their religious practice. So it is not surprising that the Jews take the effort to say a prayer or a blessing before wearing the tallit or the prayer shawl.
The blessings are done every time one uses the tallit. First, one takes his or her tallit from the tallit bag, unfolds the prayer shawl carefully, and recites a blessing, which, in essence, acknowledges God who sanctifies His people with the commandments and commands them regarding the use of the tzitzit. After which, one puts the tallit or the tallis on and recites a prayer similar to the first one, although it cites the commandment of wrapping one’s selves in the tzitzit. The second prayer is written on the atarah of the tallit or tallis.
After the tallit has been worn and the prayer has been said, one should then kiss the atarah’s end (or where the last word of the said prayer is embroidered). He or she then kisses the beginning of the atarah (or where the first word of the prater is embroidered). The individual should then wrap the prayer shawl around his or her shoulders, holding the tallit over the head for a brief moment of meditation. At this point, praying a verse of the book of Psalms can be done, although this is not required.
There are a number of rules regarding the reciting of prayer after wearing the tallit. If the person removes a particular tallit and uses a new one, he is required to say the blessing again. The same applies when the person removes the tallit without the intention of praying and using the tallit again. However, if he or she removes it with the intention of putting it back on, this individual can wear the tallit without reciting the blessing.

Not to mention we warmly recommend you to visit our own online Galilee Silks stores and look at our beautiful Jewish prayer Shawls! Happy Hanukkah!!

Is 13 an Adult? About Bar Mitzvah

Galilee Silks found on the web this interesting part of an article on http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm

Quote:

"Many people mock the idea that a 12 or 13 year old child is an adult, claiming that it is an outdated notion based on the needs of an agricultural society. This criticism comes from a misunderstanding of the significance of becoming a bar mitzvah.

Bar mitzvah is not about being a full adult in every sense of the word, ready to marry, go out on your own, earn a living and raise children. The Talmud makes this abundantly clear. In Pirkei Avot, it is said that while 13 is the proper age for fulfillment of the Commandments, 18 is the proper age for marriage and 20 is the proper age for earning a livelihood. Elsewhere in the Talmud, the proper age for marriage is said to be 16-24.

Bar mitzvah is simply the age when a person is held responsible for his actions and minimally qualified to marry. If you compare this to secular law, you will find that it is not so very far from our modern notions of a child's maturity. In Anglo-American common law, a child of the age of 14 is old enough to assume many of the responsibilities of an adult, including minimal criminal liability. Under United States law, 14 is the minimum age of employment for most occupations (though working hours are limited so as not to interfere with school). In many states, a fourteen year old can marry with parental consent. Children of any age are permitted to testify in court, and children over the age of 14 are permitted to have significant input into custody decisions in cases of divorce. Certainly, a 13-year-old child is capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong and of being held responsible for his actions, and that is all it really means to become a bar mitzvah. "

Then the article goes on about giving Bar Mitzvah gifts...

There is where galilee Silks comes in, we have the perfect Br Motzvah or Bat Mitsva gift: a Tallit!

Galilee Silks Tallitot are appreciated greatly by the people who obtained one. We see this from the many enthousiastic response emails we receive from grandparents or parents who sometimes together with the br Mitzvah boy or the Bat Mitzvah girl, or without them make their choice from our online shops.

Do not forget our Tallitot on SALE! We invite you warmly!

About Tallitot

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says about the Tallit

A tallit (Hebrew: טַלִּית‎) (taleth or talet in Sephardic Hebrew and Ladino) (tallis in Ashkenazic Hebrew and Yiddish) is a Jewish prayer shawl worn in the synagogue on Shabbat and holidays, and while reciting morning prayers (Shacharit), as well as afternoon (Mincha) and evening prayers (Ma'ariv) by many Sephardi Jews.

The tallit has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. The tallit can be made of any materials except a mixture of wool and linen interwoven which is strictly prohibited by the Torah. Most traditional tallitot (plural of tallit) (tallesim in Ashkenazic Hebrew) are made of wool.

Galilee Silks creates traditional classic wool tallits as well as modern tallitot in wool, silk and polyester decorated with other delicate fabrics to give the tallis extra allure.

Every tallit is made with the utmost attention and intention with eye for the smallest detail.

All of Galilee Silks prayer shawls come with a matching tallis bag and kippa.

Have a look on our website store and subscribe to our blog to keep updated!

Make sure to check out our Special Tallitot ON SALE at very attractive pricing!

Tallit Exploratory Quiz

This is from the Rabbi Scheinerman website http://scheinerman.net/judaism/index.html

and really realy nice because there is no wrong answer:

Tallit Exploratory Quiz.
The questions below are designed to encourage you to explore the significance and religious meanings associated with the tallit. There are no right or wrong answers; rather, whatever answer you consider will lead you to new insights. Feel free to explore several answers to each question
The purpose of the Tzitzit is:
To feel closer to God.
To have something to play with during services.
To serve as a reminder of God's commandments.
Another Jewish ritual object with a similar purpose is:
Shabbat candlesticks.
Siddur.
Seder plate.
Mezuzah.
Which of the following appeals to you?
Wearing a tallit makes me feel wrapped in God's presence.
Wearing a tallit makes me feel "dressed and ready" to pray.
Wearing a tallit makes me feel connected to other Jews.
If you do not wear a tallit for prayer, is it because:
I'm not yet 13 years old.
Where I pray, no one wears a tallit.
I usually go to synagogue for evening services.
I would feel uncomfortable.

Galilee Silks has many nice Tallitot on SALE come have a look!

Tallit on Knol

The Tallit - Jewish prayer shawl - is a commemoration of a kind of wrap that was worn by our forefathers. After the Exile, they adopted the custom of the neighboring Bedouins of wearing it as protection from the sun, and the Tallit became an every day garment.
Read more on the Google Knol project

What better month to buy a Tallit....

The Month of KISlev According to The Book of Formation (Sefer Yetzirah)

Each month of the Jewish year has a corresponding color

The Color for Kislev is Blue-Violet

Kislev is the ninth of the twelve months of the Jewish calendar.

Kislev is the month of Chanukah--the only holiday in the Jewish calender which spans, and hence connects, two months: Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev and concludes in the month of Tevet (either on the 2nd or 3rd, depending on the number of days in Kislev).
The name Kislev derives from the Hebrew word for "security" and "trust." There are two states of trust, one active and one passive, both of which are manifest in the month of Kislev (see Bitachon, confidence). The miracle of Chanukah reflects the active trust of the Chashmonaim (Maacabim) to stand up and fight against the Hellenistic empire (and its culture). Kislev's sense of sleep reflects the passive trust that G-d's providence always guards over Israel.

Galilee Silks creates countless Tallitot with shades and hints of this beautiful spiritual Blue Violet color.

Come have a look in our online Judaica shop....welcome...and you might decide to buy one in the month of Kislev...!

Deals Deals!! Now Tallitot ON SALE!!

Galilee Silks offers now special Tallitot on sale!! Visit our online Judaica store by clicking the promo. Get your Tallit deal now, Limited amount of Tallitot available!

Free Silk Gift!!

Judaica from Galilee Silks make great gifts for all occasions. We like to give too! On a purchase of $50 [or more] from our Galilee Silks Judaica store or our Judaica Etsy shop we add a hand painted pure silk scarf for FREE!!

Just follow one of the links and browse through the wonderful world of Galilee Silks. Not to forget our new additions: wood laser cut Judaica gifts. See you there!

Celebrate the Days of Awe

Order now for the High Holy Days your Tallit from our new Galilee Silks Judaica Gift store with more than 150 Tallitot for Men and boys, women and girls!

Classic or modern Tallitot from the Land of Israel, a beautiful gift for family and loved ones.

Galilee Silks New Judaica Store updated

Our new Galilee Silks Judaica Gift store carries now more than 150 Tallitot for Men and boys, women and girls!
Our Tallitot follow the traditional classic tallit in wool with beautiful original designs, inspired by our natural environment: the Land of Israel.
Gallilee special designed Modern Tallis is very popular as Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah gift and make a beautiful present for Jewish weddings.
Bring a visit to our new Judaica store whith its user friendly display of our tallitot, make your choices and use the Paypal or Ccard checkout. We ship by expres and registered mail, and promise you a 100% friendly customer service! Soon we exand Galilee Silks Judaica with more Judaica gifts by Israeli artisans.

New Judaica Gift Store

We are working very hard to get our new Galilee Silks Judaica Gift store online.
At the moment we are busy listing our more than 80 different woman's tallitot! Come have a sneak peek at our lovely Judaica textiles which are very popular as Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah gifts and make a beautiful present for Jewish weddings. In the coming days our new Judaica store will be linked from the home page, but if you like, you can buy right now!

Practical Silk Information, for Judaica too!

Who said you cannot get a stain on your Tallit? No one right?
And the same counts for a challah cover as one of our customers emails us, when your friend puts the Shabbat candles on them accidently. You end up with big oily stains, what then?

Well, the good news is is some practical stain removal info on this nice informative community website.
Its all about corn starch, who would guess..
We cannot use the content of this article but are allowed a link to it, so just click the following link:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2305908_remove-grease-stains-from-silk.html

Good luck!

Superior Tallit from Wool with Magen David Motif

A beautiful Classic Tallit was added today on Galileesilks Judaica on Etsy. We have the same Tallit in our main Galilee Silks store as new Judaica item for April.

This white and dark blue pure wool tallit has a Magen David motif as you can see in the image. The Atarah is embroidered.

This Tallit is something very special. A beautiful gift on the occassion of a Bar Mitzvah.

Have a look!
Shabbat Shalom!