Coming of Age in Jewish America - 9780813575933

Coming of Age in Jewish AmericaBar and Bat Mitzvah Reinterpreted\nAuthor(s): Patricia Keer Munro\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Rutgers University Press, United States\nImprint: Rutgers University Press\nISBN-13: 9780813575933, 978-0813575933\nSynopsis\nThe Jewish practice of bar mitzvah dates back to the twelfth century, but this ancient cultural ritual has changed radically since then, evolving with the times and adapting to local conditions. For many Jewish-American families, a childs bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah is both a major social event and a symbolic means of asserting the familys ongoing connection to the core values of Judaism. Coming of Age in Jewish America takes an inside look at bar and bat mitzvahs in the twenty-first century, examining how the practices have continued to morph and exploring how they serve as a sometimes shaky bridge between the values of contemporary American culture and Judaic tradition. Interviewing over 200 individuals involved in bar and bat mitzva.