Shavuot, which was originally an ancient pilgrimage festival, has gone through many changes over the years – as has Judaism itself.
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Articles on Coming of age rituals
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Judith Kaplan became the first American bat mitzvah in 1922. The Jewish coming-of-age ceremony has become more popular for girls ever since.
Exam revision and parties are a traditional part of growing up.
Historically, indigenous people celebrated a girl’s transition to womanhood with a year-long ritual. Many such ritual practices were made ‘illegal’ by the US and Canadian governments.
The Jewish coming-of-age ritual of bar mitzvah evolved to its current form during the time of Enlightenment, when Jewish families feared losing their traditions.
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Professor of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University
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Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Bangor University
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University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History, Brandeis University
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Lecturer in Cell Biology, Bangor University
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Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, Brandeis University
