Hi I'm Me-Me and this is my bedroom. It's pink because I really really love the colour pink. This is Will my horse. He's my third pony. Oh no he's my fourth pony.
CHARLIE: Me-Me's religion is Reform Judaism. This year is massive for her because she's becoming a bat mitzvah which means becoming a Jewish adult. Bat mitzvah for girls or bar mitzvah from boys happens at the age of 12 or 13. It depends on the type of Jewish tradition you follow. Mitzvah is a Hebrew word meaning commandment from God. So becoming a bat mitzvah meansbecoming a daughter of the commandment and promising to follow God's rules. During her bat mitzvah Me-Me will recite two passages in Hebrew from the Torah the most important religious text in Judaism.
ME-ME: So this is a prayer which I do with the congregation.
SHE SINGS PRAYER
CHARLIE: The rehearsal is taking place at the Reform Synagogue in London where she's been goingsince she was born. In Jewish terms this thing about 13 for the commandments goes back to sort of ancient and medieval times when of course a scary thought but you could get married at 13 and people would start having familywhen they were 14 or 15. You take on more responsibilities after you've had your bar or bat mitzvah. I wouldn't be a real adult but I would be a Jewish adult. After my bat mitzvah I'll feelcloser to the community I think.
ME-ME: Mm.
RABBI: So you're going to do your opening prayer right?
RABBI: Good. Go.
SHE SINGS PRAYER
ME-ME: I'll feel quite excitedbut a bit nervous because there'll be all my friendsand family there and also people from the community which have known me since I was a baby.
ME-ME: Oh.
RABBI: OK when you're holding it hold the yad closer.
RABBI: Right hold it like you hold a pen and then you won't lose your place.
CHARLIE: The scroll is hundreds of years old so Me-Me's using a special pointer called a yad to follow the Hebrew. Touching it with your fingers might damage it.
SHE SINGS PRAYER
It's a really special time for the whole family.
May I be a true bat mitzvah a daughter of the commandment taking my place in the community of Israel accepting its responsibilities rejoicing in its blessings.
CHARLIE: That's the rehearsal over. The real thing will happen away from the cameras followed by a big party.
ME-ME: I'm really excited because it's like another chapter of my life. Mitzvah year feels special because my friends and my family will be there supporting me.
Video summary
Jewish girl Me-Me introduces us to the Bat Mitzvah ceremony as she prepares to become a ‘Daughter of the Law’, learning to pray and to read the Torah in public.
Me-Me belongs to the Reformed Jewish religion. At 12 or 13, Jewish young people can become ‘sons or daughters of the Commandments’, of the Torah. We see her learning to pray and sing in Hebrew, a test for every young Jewish person as they grow up. We see her rehearsing the ceremony with her Rabbi.
From BBC Series My Life, My Religion: Judaism.
Teacher Notes
Ask pupils to watch the clip, then draw three circles, small medium and large, inside each other. In the centre circle, they draw themselves, and some things that make them unique.
The second circle has three drawings and six words: the three people who are closest to them and two words to describe each one.
The third circle has five people who matter, but are not so close to them – maybe a famous singer or sports person, and so on. They are each described in two words as well.
There are eight people in the clip about the Bat Mitzvah. Can pupils make a three circle diagram for Me-Me, like the one for themselves? (Best tackled in pairs, and with a second look at the clip).
This topic is relevant to KS2 Religious Education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 2 Religious Studies in Scotland.
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