Jewish fathers recite a short blessing traditionally when their sons reached the age of Bar Mitzvah. ―Barukh
she'petarani mi-onsho shel zeh - Blessed is He who has freed me from the punishment due this child‖.
(Genesis Rabbah 63:14). The blessing is recited today in traditionalist and some liberal synagogues, though
many other liberal communities have eliminated it. In those communities that have retained it and in which
girls have equivalent ceremonies to boys, parents recite the blessing for their daughters as well.
While the term "bar mitzvah" occurs in the Talmud to describe one who is subject to the commandments,
early rabbinic literature provides no reference to an occasion or rite under that name. However, there is
some suggestion that the 13th birthday did not pass unnoticed, for it was marked by a blessing.
"Rabbi Phinehas said in Rabbi Levi's name: They [Jacob and Esau] were like a myrtle and a wild rose-bush
growing side by side; when they reached the age of maturity, one displayed its fragrance, and the other grew
its thorns. So for 13 years both went to school. But after turning 13, one went to the study hall and the other
to idolatrous shrines. Rabbi Eleazar ben Rabbi Simeon said: A man is responsible for his son until the
age of 13: thereafter he must say, 'Blessed is He who has now freed me from the responsibility of this boy'"
(Genesis Rabbah 63:10).
Aaron ben Jacob Hakohen of Provance wrote in the 14th century when: "It is written in Genesis Rabbah that
he whose son reaches the age of 13 must say the blessing, 'Blessed is He who has now freed me from
the responsibility of this boy‘. There are those who say it the first time that the boy receives his aliyah to read
the Torah. The [eighth-century] Gaon Rabbi Yehudai rose in the synagogue and said this blessing the first
time that his son read the Torah‖. (Aliyah - being called up to recite blessings over the Torah reading.)
The customary understanding of this blessing accordingly is that "up until now, the father has been punished
when the son sinned because he had not educated him [as it is assumed that it is the father's responsibility
to teach the child]‖.
Church, how do you avoid losing young people aged 15-20?
In many of the churches around the world, including some with congregations of well over 100, there is
absolutely nobody aged 15-20. It seems that people in that age group have decided that church has nothing
to offer, even if they have been associated with the church in some way since early childhood. The
congregation consists of old people, middle aged people, and parents with young children. There might be
people aged 21-30 who have been to University and come back; but in the 15-20 year age group, there is
absolutely nobody.
The absence of this age group is self-perpetuating. There needs to be a critical mass to attract new people.
Most young people complain that there is no point going to church because there is nobody there of his age.
There are plenty of friends outside the church, but none of them have any kind of spiritual interests.
What Happens at Age 15?
Children and young teenagers are quite happy to learn from adults, as long as they are given something
interesting. Up to the age of about eight or nine, they are happy with simple things like crayons and colouring
books. After that they want videos and computer games. From about 11-14 they want outdoor pursuits like
sailing and canoeing, and maybe some visits to theme parks; and as long as you give them some of these
things they are happy to sit around for half an hour and discuss the Bible. Then from 15 onwards, they
disappear completely and become pre-occupied with money and part-time jobs so they can buy CDs, driving
lessons and ultimately cars.
During July 1999, there was a conference organised by the British Messianic Jewish Alliance (BMJA). The
theme was "Passing on the Baton to the Younger Generation". The Messianic Jewish congregations appear
to have the same problems as the churches, with hardly anyone aged 15-20. There was nobody of that age
group at the conference. The first speaker was aged about 90 and had a plastic baton, which he passed on
to the next speaker aged 39, who said he was quite flattered to be considered young. The third speaker
talked about the latest generation of Israel supporters, which included anyone born after the State of Israel
was founded in 1948.
After lunch they had a panel discussion with some people who were mostly in their twenties, although one of
them was aged 31. They each gave their stories about how they had become believers in Y‘shua during their
teens or early twenties, and because they were Jewish they had the additional difficulty of being the only
Jewish believer in a Gentile church. They talked about how they felt isolated, and sometimes doubted
whether they had done the right thing, and then felt reassured when they first came into contact with another
Jewish believer and realised they were not alone. These are stories that have been repeated throughout the