Coming of Age in Jewish AmericaThe Jewish practice of bar mitzvah dates back to the twelfth century, but this ancient cultural ritual has changed radically since then, evolving with the times and adapting to local conditions. For many Jewish American families, a childs bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah is both a major social event and a symbolic means of asserting the familys ongoing connection to the core values of Judaism. Coming of Age in Jewish America takes an inside look at bar and