simple explanation of girls bat mitzvah ceremony, meaning etc that i
can use to write a 1 page sheet for group ceremony

Hi Aussiejules ~

You asked an interesting question about a custom with a long history
in Judaism.

"Bat" means "daughter" in Hebrew and Aramaic (while "Bar" means
"son"), and a "Mitzvah" is a "Commandment". So "Bat Mitzvah" literally
means "Daughter of Commandment".

This commemorates the age one becomes responsibile for his own
actions. That is 12 in girls (although some wait until they are 13),
and 13 in boys.

Under Jewish Law, children are not obligated to observe the
commandments, and the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony is when they take on
the responsibility of observing the commandments.

Since some practices, the Chasidic and Orthodox, women aren't allowed
to participate in religious ceremonies, so a Bat Mitzvah may not be
more than an elaborate party. In other practices, where women are
encouraged and a part of the ceremony, this is the age where they can
do so.

I have found some excellent sources for you with information about the
Bat Mitzvah and the ceremony and its meaning.

 * Judaism 101, "Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation"
   - http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm

 * Tri-City JCC "Bar/Bat Mitzvah"
   - http://www.tricityjcc.org/resources/lifecycle/barmitzvah.html

 * Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.org "History of Bar/Bat Mitzvahs"
   - http://www.barmitzvahs.org/barmitzvahhistory.html

 * Government of Canada, "Bar/Bat Mitzvah"
   - http://collections.ic.gc.ca/art_context/tbar.htm

 
Each of the above has contains enough information for you to write
your paper, from the traditional to modern day.


Google search strategies
-------------------------

  * Bat Mitzvah
  * Bat Mitzvah ceremony


Good luck with your paper!

Serenata
Google Answers Researcher

This answer is fine, but the comment about the Orthodox is true for
some, not all Orthodox. In recent years, across the spectrum of
Orthodoxy, many different ways of commemorating a girl's becoming a
Bat Mitzvah have been developing. See, for some examples, the recent
book Traditions & Celebrations for the Bat Mitzvah, edited by Ora
Wiskind Elper <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/9657108527/103-6508425-4830229>.

--ravuri-ga