Baruch Shepetarani: Traditional Bar Mitzvah Blessing from Father

Baruch Shepetarani: Traditional Bar Mitzvah Blessing from Father

This post provides the Hebrew, English and transliterated text for the ‘baruch shepetarani’ blessing, traditionally recited by fathers on the occasion of their son’s Bar Mitzvah, as well as a detailed article by Modern Orthodox Rabbi Ari Enkin outlining the origins and technical halachic details surrounding this blessing. This blessing officially releases the father from his accountability for his son’s transgressions, now that he is technically considered an adult. Although it is traditionally only recited by fathers over their sons, in some communities, slightly altered versions of the blessing are recited by both mothers and fathers over both daughters and sons, while in other communities it has been abandoned altogether.