BAR MITZVAH ON SHABBAT SHUVA

QUESTION:

A Bar Mitzvah in the congregation is scheduled, according to the boys age, on Shabbat Shuvah. A doubt was raised as to the propriety of having a Bar Mitzvah celebration on this solemn Sabbath which comes of course in the ten days of penitence between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. May, or should, the Bar Mitzvah be held on that Sabbath? (Asked by Rabbi Richard A. Ziontz, Shreveport, La.)

ANSWER:

Questions analogous to this one are rather frequently raised. See Reform Responsa, where there is the discussion of the question of whether a Bar Mitzvah may be held at those services during the year when memorial services (Yizkor) are held.

The reason why this type of question is raised nowadays is due to a feeling among many people that there is a contradiction in mood between certain solemn days of the year and the happy celebration by family and friends attendant on a Bar Mitzvah.

At the outset, it is important to consider the mood of the Sabbath of Repentance; that is to say, it should be understood whether the mood of this Sabbath is of so solemn a penitential nature that a Bar Mitzvah party would be violative of its spirit. Actually, this is not so. The name of the Sabbath must be clearly understood. Although it is popularly called, the Sabbath of Repentance (Shabbat Teshuvah), that is not its correct name. Its name is Shabbat Shuvah, and it is named after the first word of the prophetical reading from Hosea, “Return, O Israel.”

So, actually, its name should be given in quotation marks, “The Sabbath of the prophetical portion, “Return.”” This is the same as with the Sabbath after the 9th of Av. It is often called the “Sabbath of Consolation,” but actually it is the Sabbath named after the prophetic reading which begins with the word, “Console,” so it is the “Sabbath of ” Console,”” and this Sabbath which we are discussing is the “Sabbath of ” Return.”” And although it does indeed occur in the ten days of penitence, it has not a penitential mood, for such a mood would destroy the Sabbath mood of joy (Oneg Shabbat) which must always be preserved. A simple proof of this fact is that the penitential litany, avinu malkeinu, which is read every day of the ten days of penitence is omitted from the afternoon service of Friday because of the approaching Sabbath, whose mood of joy must not be marred. So on the face of it, the joy of Bar Mitzvah does not contradict the mood of the Sabbath, whose “joy” is carefully protected.

The other side of the question is the status of the Bar Mitzvah meal. It is true that in modern times often the most noticeable part of the Bar Mitzvah is the party and celebration which follows the service. But the fact that this is a joyous party does not reveal its essential nature. The Bar Mitzvah service in the synagogue is a serious and solemn declaration of the boy becoming adult with regard to his religious responsibilities. And as for the little sermon that he gives, that bestows upon the party that follows the status of seudat mitzvah. See the discussion of Solomon Luria in his Yam Shel Shelomo to Baba Kamma, toward the end of Chapter 7, #37. In other words, the Bar Mitzvah is much more than merry-making. The dinner that follows is considered a “commanded meal,” and therefore, even if the Sabbath were solemn in mood, the meal that follows would fit into it.

Of course, it is true that the mood of the Bar Mitzvah party has become often one of merriment. So it is hard to think of it as a meal of mitzvah, which it essentially is. And if, therefore, there actually is a strong feeling that the modern kind of Bar Mitzvah meal might violate the spirit of this special Sabbath, then since Solomon Luria informs us that even if the meal be postponed from that Sabbath, it is still a duty to give it. In that case, the party may well be postponed a week, which would bring it into the festival of Sukkot. However, the synagogue ceremony must take place on the proper Saturday date.

Yet such a postponement, while according to Luria is permitted, is really quite unnecessary. The Sabbath of Repentance is still a joyous Sabbath day, as all Sabbaths should be, and the Bar Mitzvah meal is more than mere merriment. It has religious status as a seudat mitzvah and therefore the Bar Mitzvah service should be held on this Sabbath and the gathering of family and friends should take place, as is customary.