Which term denotes religious adulthood ceremonies in Judaism?

• A. Seijin no Hi
• B. Walkabout
• C. Bar and bat mitzvahs
• D. Khatam al Quran

Answer: (C)

In Judaism, the coming-of-age ceremonies are bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah. A bar mitzvah marks a boy reaching adulthood at about age 13, while a bat mitzvah marks a girl at about age 12 or 13, depending on the community. These ceremonies signify that the young person is now responsible for observing the commandments and can take on adult roles in the religious service, such as reading from the Torah and leading parts of the service. The moment is both a personal milestone and a communal recognition that the individual is now counted as an adult member of the Jewish people.

For context, Seijin no Hi is a Japanese Coming of Age Day, Walkabout is an Australian Aboriginal rite of passage, and Khatam al Quran is a Muslim milestone marking the completion of the Qur’an.