According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys become 13 years old, they become accountable for their actions and become a bar mitzvah. A girl becomes a bat mitzvah at the age of 12. Prior to reaching bar mitzvah, the child's parents hold the responsibility for the child's actions. After this age, the boys and girls bear their own responsibility for Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics, and are able to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. Traditionally, the father of the bar mitzvah gives thanks to God that he is no longer punished for the child's sins. In addition to being considered accountable for their actions from a religious perspective, b'nai mitzvah may be counted towards a minyan (prayer quorum) and may lead prayer and other religious services in the family and the community.

A Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel (Western Wall) is a dream of many parents and their sons. At this place the services are held on Monday and Thursday mornings when Torah portions are traditionally read. The Western Wall Bar Mitzvah services are in the Orthodox tradition, and men and women have separate prayer areas.

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