Arnold Van Gennep was the first observer of human behaviour to note that the ritual ceremonies that accompany the landmarks of human life differ only in detail from culture to culture, and that they are in essence universal (Google Books, 2012). He was the first to formally accumulate theories of socialization on Rites of Passage. He developed three stages that are involved in a rite of passage; separation, transition and incorporation.
In a Jewish Bar Mitzvah, separation occurs in the lead up to the Bar Mitzvah when the child first starts preparing and leaves his normal child life. The child is taken away to work with the Rabbi or Cantor for months to prepare themselves for the ceremony. They are taught to read and interpret scriptures from the Torah and learn the Hebrew language.
Transition occurs once the child has finished the ceremony and made the initiation into adulthood. They are now considered old enough to understand the Ten Commandments from Moses and to aspire by them throughout their lives.
The child is now incorporated back into the Jewish community and the adult world as they have made the transition into adulthood. They are now responsible for their own actions and are expected to show a degree of maturity and respect the values, attitudes and beliefs of their faith group.
In a Jewish Bar Mitzvah, separation occurs in the lead up to the Bar Mitzvah when the child first starts preparing and leaves his normal child life. The child is taken away to work with the Rabbi or Cantor for months to prepare themselves for the ceremony. They are taught to read and interpret scriptures from the Torah and learn the Hebrew language.
Transition occurs once the child has finished the ceremony and made the initiation into adulthood. They are now considered old enough to understand the Ten Commandments from Moses and to aspire by them throughout their lives.
The child is now incorporated back into the Jewish community and the adult world as they have made the transition into adulthood. They are now responsible for their own actions and are expected to show a degree of maturity and respect the values, attitudes and beliefs of their faith group.