Hello! Welcome to the eportfolio entry for Folklore. This portfolio should include:
Either your Mythology Project, your Rites of Passage Project or your Interpreting Folklore Project
One sample of an initial post from the weekly discussions
One sample of your response to another student from the weekly discussions
A self-assessment that discusses your learning over the course of the semester, making specific reference to assignments (particularly the ones you’ve included in the portfolio) and how your work demonstrates your attainment of the course outcome.
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs:
A Jewish Rite of Passage
For Jewish girls and boys, a coming-of-age ceremony is performed when they take their place in their community as an accepted member of their faith, and their ethnic group. While there are many nuances involved in the different groups within Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstruction), as well as regional differences and variations depending on religious identity, I will mainly focus on the commonly practiced rites, and will include girls in this project, even though some groups do not. For girls, at age 12 they have a bat mitzvah, and for boys at age 13, a bar mitzvah. Bar and bat mitzvah means “son and daughter of the commandment”. (Rite Of Passage)
Bar and bat mitzvahs were not always performed. During Medieval ages, a male child began participating in religious events when he was mentally able, which included reading from the Torah, fasting on Yom Kippur, and wearing tefillin. During the Middle Ages, changes began to happen within the Jewish communities, and restrictions began to be placed on the activities of young men. By the 16th century, young men were called up to the bimah (pulpit) to read a portion of the Torah. In the 17th century, clothing choices, elaborate meals, and gifts had become a part of the ritual. In modern rituals, traditions can vary greatly, depending on the location and type of faith, such as the differences between the Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, or the level of celebration differences between American and Moroccan Jews. (Schauss)
Women also
have a part to play in the lore of Jewish coming of age ceremonies, although on
a different timeline. Americans didn’t have bat mitzvahs until 1922 (Prichep),
and
they were originally very different events compared to boys. However, the end goal is the same: taking on religious responsibilities as a member of the community, despite the massive differences in the various groups. Orthodox communities do not hold bat mitzvahs at all, and some Conservatives sects reject the concept. However, they may have other kinds of coming-of-age ceremonies to celebrate girls becoming women.
A bar and bat mitzvah is considered a high context ritual: a family plans many experiences for both the participant and the attendees during and after the ritual. For context, a orthodox participant will wear tefillin, a wrapping that contains portions of the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, bound close to his or her skin. The participant will also spend years learning Hebrew, so as to demonstrate the ability to read the Torah to his or her community, publicly. Many parents will spend several hundreds, if not thousands purchasing a tallit (prayer shawl) for the new member, sometimes custom woven by artisans in Israel. (Tallis Man) It is held at a synagogue in front of the community, and a meal complete with prayers over wine is held before a celebration takes place with friends and family at another location, and usually with a very celebratory party. Depending on the person, and their expectations, this may be a quiet event or an extremely extravagant affair. Participants usually wear their best clothing, and bring gifts for the child, as well as money in multiples of $18, a number considered to be a blessing. (Judaism 101) The members of the synagogue will also wear their ceremonial clothing, such as a kippah and a tallis, a brimless cap and a prayer shawl.
The main
purpose of the ceremony is for the child to read from the Torah, in the
original Hebrew, aloud, as well as perform blessings. This act confirms the
child’s willingness to observe the commandments, as well as assume the debt of
their own sins, which their parents were previously responsible for, and are no
longer. The parents may also perform blessing thanking God for the child’s
willingness to take responsibility for their own lives.
The Torah is read front to back, on a scheduled weekly routine, so a child can prepare in advance for the portion they are asked to read, but learning Hebrew is something that takes them years of preparation, and possibly longer in the case of a convert who has no experience with a new language. It has become common for boys and girls to give a talk to the congregation as well, as well as an act of public service or donation, to perform tikkun olam, or “repair the world”. The child is choosing their faith, their beliefs, and their lifestyle. There are other faith groups around the world that ask for children to commit to their religious group, but a bar and bat mitzvah asks more, in that they must work for years to get there.
While this has become a major part of a young Jewish person’s life, it is not commanded nor required. It has become a celebration for the whole community in that a new soul is voluntarily joining the faith and thus committing to the continuation of Judaism. For such a small faith group with such a long history of peril, this is something to party about! More modern takes on bar and bat mitzvahs are also re-designed for people with disabilities or convert students who are adults. The more open-minded people become, the more possibilities are available to all. This ceremony is entirely voluntary and comes with commitments which are of an adult nature, which is why this is a rite of passage into adulthood, and the choices that come with it. Its importance lies in its commitments to God, and its celebration holds the excitement of a new adult. In combination, a bar and bat mitzvah is a wonderful rite of passage to congratulate a young adult for their commitment and dedication to their faith.
Cited Work:
“Rite of Passage.” Encyclopædia Britannica,
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/rite-of-passage.
Faran, Ori. “Handmade Tallit - Omer.” TallisMan,
https://tallis-man.com/collections/handmade-tallit/products/custom-tallit-jewish-prayer-shawl-54482.
Judaism 101 “Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation.” Bar
Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation - Judaism 101 (JewFAQ),
https://www.jewfaq.org/bar_mitzvah.
Schauss, Hayyim. “History of Bar Mitzvah.” My Jewish
Learning, 18 Feb. 2022,
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/history-of-bar-mitzvah/.
Prichep, Deena. “The Bat Mitzvah Turns 100. It Marks More than a Coming-of-Age for Jewish Girls.” NPR, NPR, 17 Mar. 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/03/17/1086733010/bat-mitzvah-turns-100-coming-of-age-jewish-girls.
Discuss the figure of trickster in general. What is trickster like? What are his traits and characteristics?
Both wise and foolish, always male, promiscuous, amoral. Over the top, base in his jokes. Takes animal form, sometimes helpful. Undone by his own problems. Moral counterexample.
What roles do trickster stories fill? That is, what are some of their functions in different cultures? (Perhaps review functionalism in ch. 6)
Promotes the underdog, shows off the rebel. We identify with them because they embody human shortcomings. They provide examples of creativity and unique solutions. The are capable of creation that we find admirable, such as Hermes creating lyrics, or Loki inspiring magical hair. Their unusual ability to work out solutions is riveting to us.
What did you learn about African tricksters? Do you have any additional experience/knowledge to add about African tricksters?
There seems to be a level of stupidity that seems amusing. The trickster has a way of being cunning but also idiotic at the same time. The observers seem to always see through the ruse.
What did you learn about European tricksters? Do you have any additional experience/knowledge to add about European tricksters?
There seems to be a strong element of competition. Male characters seem to be constantly fighting and attempting to one up each other.
What did you learn about Native American tricksters? Do you have any additional experience/knowledge to add about Native American tricksters?
I found the way that Coyote was playful in his trick to be amusing. I would imagine that it would have been a funny story to tell around the fire. It reminds us that we all have appetites and issues.
What was your favorite trickster tale from the videos this week?
I love the story of Raven. I felt that while he was a trickster, his effect on the world was pretty good! I love how he became black, too.
For the hero's journey, we are going to practice structuralism. Select a hero story (book, movie, story, tv show or video game) and fill in the event(s) that correspond with each narrateme.
I recently read The Golem and the Jinni, so I’ll be using this tale!
Ordinary World: A man goes to an evil rabbi and asks for a golem wife
Call to Adventure: The man takes the golem wife to America in a ship.
Refusal of the Call: The man activates the Golem, but dies in the process. The Golem runs away.
Meeting the Mentor: The Golem meets a rabbi who knows what she is and takes her in.
Crossing the Threshold: The Golem meets the Jinni and begins adventuring with him.
Tests, Allies, Enemies: Both the Golem and the Jinni hide their true identity and struggle to integrate into the human world
Approaching the Inmost Cave: The Golem and the Jinni break away from their friendship, and the Golem marries the rabbis son.
The Crisis/Supreme Ordeal: The evil rabbi find the Golem and the Jinni and tries to kill them. The rabbi’s son is killed.
Seizing the Reward: The Jinni remembers who he is, and the Golem finds the way to trap the evil rabbi
The Road Back: The Golem and the Jinni reunite to find a way to trap the evil rabbi
The Climax/Resurrection: The evil rabbi is trapped, and the Jinni returns to his homeland to find closure.
Return with the Elixir: The Jinni sends word to the Golem that he is coming back to her.