Bar Mitzvah: A Guide to Spiritual Growth

by Marc-Alain Ouaknin

Do you have to be Jewish to have a Bar Mitzvah? What is a synagogue? What is read in the Torah? Why is reading and study at the heart of Judaism and this symbolic ceremony? What are the foundations of Judaism? Signifying the end of childhood and the passage into adult life, the Bar Mitzvah is one of the most famous ceremonies in Judaism. Celebrated at the synagogue, it is a big event for family and friends, and also a time of ritual. Clear and educational, this book is an introduction to the fascinating and mysterious world of one of Judaism s oldest rituals. Perfect for children who are about to have this important experience. Thanks to its informative content the parents too will be able to share their knowledge of this age-old ceremony with their family and friends.

367 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Marc-Alain Ouaknin both a rabbi and a philosopher. He is the son of Rabbi Jacques Ouaknin and Eliane Erlich Ouaknin. His father is the Grand Rabbi of the French cities of Reims, Lille, Metz, and Marseille. Ouaknin dedicated his best-known work, The Burnt Book, to "my father, my master, Grand Rabbi Jacques Ouaknin."