Teachings 

 

Symbols and traditions 

 

 

 

Bat mitzvah

 

Yaakov, Béla Orbán

The daughter of the commandements - the commandement of the daughter

The tradtion of initiating the girl to the adult age is also known among Jewry such as it is for the boys.   
This is what we use to call Bat Mitzvah, it means the daughter of the commandement. 
What can this mean in the life of a girl living in Yeshua? 
What does this mean in the life of a Gentile girl living in Yeshua? 

What is the common point in both cases: in spirit, in soul and physically?

When a Jewish girl becomes Bat Mitzvah, daughter of the commandements, she has the same obligations as the Jewish woman since she has just reached the adult age. She has to light the candles of the Shabbat and to fulfill the role that has been given to all Jewish women.

What does all this mean of a Jewish girl living in Yeshua?

- In spirit

It means to work around the Altar on which the offerings have to be given endlessly: the prayers, the worship and the Holy Communion according to the order defined by God. From this moment she is responsible for all her ministries before the Eternal God. She is exclusively leaded by the Holy Spirit and no-one has the right to control her anymore.  
- In soul

Her identity strenghtens as a consequence of her spiritual strenghtening. She has individual thoughts, her senses and feelings reach maturity and she begins to set up home. Of course she lives all this as a Jew.   
- Physically

She manages her own housework, she cooks, cleans, washes, etc.  

But how does this work in the life of a non-Jewish girl? 

Practically the same way. Exept that she should not force herself to endorse the Jewish identity but rather to gain strenght in the identity of Christ that she got through her borning from new. Then, as she goes along the path of disciple, of purification and sanctification, her way will become more and more side by side to the way of her Jewish sister believing in Christ.

What is the way from Bat Mitzvah to the Chuppa (wedding canopy)? Because a separation does also take place at that moment. The separation from the spiritual, psychical and physical parents.  
How do we have to live this time of preparation?   

When Bat Mitzvah occures in the life of a young Jewish girl and she becames an adult woman, she is not rejected by her family even so. On the contrary! This is the moment from which she receives advises and teachings from her parents concerning the adult life. She is not seen as a little girl anymore but she is being respected as any other independant adult person. They give her advices, teachings but the parents do no longer rebuke her. She is considered as an adult having exactely the same rights as her parents and when she asks, the parents have to give an answer. The little girl becomes a big one and she is loved just the same as before but although in a different way. 

On the road leading to the Chuppa, the girl learns how to manage a home, what is the task of a spouse and a mother and what does mean to be a woman in the spiritual, psychical and physical point of view.
She can only learn all that in the circle she grew up: her family. She cannot cut her off it but she still keeps her autonomy, independance and liberty. 

The period between Bat Mitzvah and Chuppa is a preparating stage for the fundation of her own family.   

The question of the spiritual covering is also very important. Because as long as a girl is not married, it is her father who has to provide her this protection. He protects her, preserves her, etc.
Although she is considered as an adult from the moment of the Bat Mitzvah, the girl continues to live under the protection of the fatherly home while having her own and independant thoughts, opinions and feelings.   

When she gets married, the father passes this covering on to the husband. A new chapter starts here for her… 

And when does a woman of Jewish origin become a full Jewish woman?   
"When she is under the Chuppa. Since she must choose a Jewish husband to perpetuate the ancestral line. It is only at that moment that both the Jewish and the feminin identity unite in her."

 

 

 

Translated from hungarian by Richard (Zeev Shlomo)

 

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