The Book of Ruth is traditionally read on Shavuot, the Jewish festival associated with the giving of the Torah.
Ruth tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who remains loyal to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth later marries Boaz and becomes an ancestor of King David. The book’s themes of loyalty, acceptance, harvest, and connection to the land help explain its place in the Shavuot liturgy.
Shavuot occurs seven weeks after Passover and is associated in rabbinic tradition with the revelation at Mount Sinai. Because bar and bat mitzvah education often centers on Torah, Jewish families may encounter the Book of Ruth in study programs, holiday services, or discussions about Jewish identity and community.
The Book of Ruth is different from the weekly Torah portion: it belongs to the Writings section of the Hebrew Bible and is one of the Five Megillot. A bar or bat mitzvah celebrant may study it, but a standard ceremony does not automatically require reading Ruth.