Bar Mitzvah Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

Hi, can you have a bar mitzvah the saturday between Rosh hashanah and yom kippur

As a general rule, there is no true problem with holding a Bar Mitzvah service and celebration in the synagogue on the Shabbat between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This special Shabbat is known as “Shabbat Teshuva”, the “Shabbat of Repentance”

However, such Bar Mitzvahs are uncommon for the following reasons:

1. It is traditional to honor the rabbi or other dignified member of the congregation with reading the special “Shabbat Teshuva” Haftara. It is a teaching about repentance and returning to God meant to inspire the congregation to repent ahead of Yom Kippur. As such, it is seen as a slightly more reverent Haftarah than most. As you know, the highlight of most Bar Mitzvah is the Bar Mitzva boy reading the Haftara.

2. There are those who feel that holding an overly joyous event during these days may not be appropriate. The Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are meant to be days of solemnity and reflection. Some might say that scheduling a Bar Mitzvah at that time is distasteful though there is nothing truly wrong with it.

I will add, however, that there are additional grounds to hold a Bar Mitzva on Shabbat Teshuva in the event that the actual Bar Mitzvah day (Hebrew birthday) is on that day. Holding a Bar Mitzva on the exact day of a Bar Mitzvah is especially joyous and appropriate. One should consult with one’s rabbi to confirm and make the appropriate arrangements.

However, if it is not the actual Bar Mitzva day, and one is merely scheduling a Bar Mitzva based on convenience, one might want to indeed consider postponing the Bar Mitzvah until after Yom Kippur.