From hazing in a fraternity, to high jinks when a sailor first crosses the equator, to vision quests in native societies, most groups have some initiation or rites of passage, especially for the young. In the Jewish tradition, the bar and bat mitzvah marks the time when a young boy or girl is recognized as an adult. The Jewish child attends classes in Jewish customs, beliefs, history and a little of the Hebrew language, then recites blessings from the Torah, followed by a party.
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