Many cultures have a unique way of accepting the leap from childhood to a manhood. These customs might be extremely different in each culture, but they share a common thread. The Jewish, Ibo and Mayan cultures are examples of variant societies that share the common notion that this stage should be marked in a distinctive way.

             In the Jewish religion, boys are not obligated to observe the commandments, although they are encouraged to do so. At the age of thirteen, boys are required to abide by the commandments. The Bar Mitzvah, which literally means "son of the commandment," is the ceremony in which the Jewish boy accepts that obligation. During a Bar Mitzvah, the boy is called up to the Torah to recite a blessing over the weekly reading. In today's culture, it is expected for the boy to also recite the haftorah portion (weekly text from the prophets), and sometimes to lead part of the service. He is expected to make a speech that starts with the phrase, "Today I am a man." Although a Jewish boy automatically becomes a Bar Mitzvah at the age of 13, it has recently become popular to have a ceremony. The ceremony does not fulfill any commandment. In recent times, there is normally a reception that follows the ceremony. The Reform Movement tried to do away with the Bar Mitzvah because they did not accept the idea that a thirteen year old was considered a man. However, the movement failed due to the popularity of the Bar Mitzvah ceremony in modern times. "This criticism comes from a misunderstanding of the significance of the Bar Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah is not about being a full adult in every sense of the word, ready to marry, go out on your own, earn a living and raise children. In Pirkei Avot of the Talmud, it is said that while 13 is the proper age for fulfillment of the Commandments, 18 is the proper age for marriage and 20 is the proper age for earning a livelihood"(Rich, Tracey).