Exhibits
The bar or bat mitzvah, generally a rite of passage for boys and girls of the Jewish faith, often vary amongst Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform ideologies. While uncommon, individuals may choose to partake in additional b’nai/b’not mitzvah to reaffirm their commitment–or may choose to have an initial ceremony later in life for an array of reasons.
The bar mitzvah has existed since the 5th century, but has only been recognizable as the modern bar mitzvah (i.e, reading from the Torah, chanting the weekly prophetic portion, leading services, and delivering learned talks) since the 1800s.
Alternatively, the first bat mitzvah in the United States was celebrated in March 1922, though its structure and content held only loose similarity to the bar mitzvah rites of young men at that time. Over many decades, the bat mitzvah ceremony has evolved to nearly mirror its counterpart.
Peruse our displays to see a variety of personalized skull caps, invitations, photographs, ceremonial accessories, books, and documents that relate specifically to bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies celebrated locally from the 1970s-present day.
The Dallas Jewish community has seen no shortage or b’nai and b’not mitzvah over the years—no shortage of young men and women entering the next chapter of their lives. This exhibit aims to share a portion of that history with visitors of the Aaron Family Jewish Community Center, the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, and Jewish Dallas at large.
Photograph of festivities following the Zefferen Bar Mitzvah, 1980, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Photograph of festivities following the Zefferen Bar Mitzvah, 1980, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Photograph of festivities following the Zefferen Bar Mitzvah, 1980, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Bar Mitzvah Invitation, Sylvia Margules Trugman Collection
Letter from former DJHS board president to David Sikora regarding Bar Mitzvah donations, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Mark Silverman, Bar Mitzvah Portrait, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Scrapbook with Bas Mitzvah Invitations, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Photograph of Stanfield Bar Mitzvah, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Photograph of Stanfield Bar Mitzvah, Dallas Jewish Historical Society Collection
Tiferet Israel Brotherhood, undated, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Unidentified Young Man at his Bar Mitzvah, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Unidentified Young Man at his Bar Mitzvah, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Newspaper clipping related to a local Bar Mitzvah, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas Collection
Andrea Beth Coleman, Bat Mitzvah Portrait, 1959, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Portrait of Darren Lewis Barnett at his Bar Mitzvah, Miriam Lewis Barnett Collection
Darren Lewis Barnett with his Parents at his Bar Mitzvah, Miriam Lewis Barnett Collection
Jack Rubin, Bar Mitzvah Portrait, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Joey Zimmerman Bar Mitzvah Portrait, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Judy Reisberg, Bas Mitzvah Portrait, Texas Jewish Post Collection
Karolyn Kaufman, Bat Mitzvah Portrait, Texas Jewish Post Collection