mcmillan@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (03/02/84)
This is not simply an equal sex issue. Just as a boy grows up and becomes a "son of the commandments", so does the young girl become a daughter of the commandments. The point is, a parent is responsible for the actions AND responsibilities of a young child. When the child reaches the ritual age, it assumes its own obligations and responsibilities. If a six year old girl "chooses" not to keep Kosher, it is her parents failure to observe a commandment (please, in this context I am not judging the parent's decision, just assigning responsibility). A 12 year old girl is breaking a commandment herself if she chooses not to keep Kosher. It is a custom for the parents to recite the "sheptarani" prayer at the Bar/Bat Mitzvah to celebrate their well earned relief from the weight of this religious responsibility for their children's actions. - Toby Robison allegra!eosp1!robison decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison princeton!eosp1!robison (NOTE! NOT McMillan; Robison.)