Bar Mitzvah ceremonies at age thirteen often mark the end rather than the beginning of Jewish religious education - a critical failing that occurs precisely when adolescents are developing the cognitive capacity for deeper understanding. Drawing from medieval precedents and contemporary analysis across Ashkenazic, Sephardic, and Yemenite communities in Israel and America, this research proposes "Bar Talmud," a supplementary initiation rite at age sixteen or seventeen. Through comparative analysis of historical sources and current practices, the research examines how traditional ceremonies inadequately bridge the gap between cognitive development and religious education timing. The proposed Bar Talmud ceremony strategically incorporates two fundamental Talmudic principles: acquiring a study companion (קנה לך חבר) and finding a teacher (עשה לך רב). Medieval documentation provides historical precedent for such formal study partnerships and mentorship relationships. Implementing Bar Talmud would address the current educational vacuum by providing structured learning opportunities during peak adolescent intellectual development, establishing lasting study partnerships and mentorship relationships that create a more robust foundation for lifelong Jewish engagement.