Can we celebrate my sons bar mitzvah before his 13th birthday?
Can we celebrate my son’s bar mitzvah before his 13th birthday? Is it reasonable to ask my Rabbi to allow my son to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah 6-8 months early? We are members of a Reform Temple in Arizona. My mother has a terminal illness and we would like her to attend our simcha. We have been told that she is unlikely to be able to attend if it is held on his 13th birthday. Is this ever done in the Reform movement? Answer: Thank you for your letter. You wrote to ask if it would be “reasonable” to ask your rabbi if your son could celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah before his thirteenth birthday in order to allow your terminally ill mother to attend the celebration. My immediate answer to your question is that it is, of course, always reasonable to ask your rabbi a question. Different Jewish communities have different standards on an issue like this and I’m sure that your rabbi would be more than happy to talk with you about the standards of your community. There is very little in tradit
