the Torah. After the Gaon affirmed this, he was asked where the commandment of pidyon haben was alluded to and the Gaon replied that it was in the word Bereishit, the Hebrew initials which stand for Ben Rishon Achar Sheloshim Yom Tifdeh or "a firstborn son after thirty days redeem". Seudat Bar Mitzvah Rabbi Shlomo Luria ("Maharshal") notes that the occasion of a youth becoming obligated to obey the commandments is to be celebrated with a religious feast, usually including a sermon the youth has prepared. It is customary at a bar mitzvah meal for parents to give thanks and praise to God for giving them the merit to raise a child to bar mitzvah and to educate him in the ways of Torah and the commandments. Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef holds that a Bat Mitzvah is also a seudat mitzvah. Seudat Siyum Masechet Based on the Talmud and Midrash, the seudah celebration upon the completion of a Talmudic tractate is considered a seudat mitzvah. This seudah is made to rejoice over the accomplishment, and also to motivate and inspire others to do the same. Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (the "Munkatcher Rebbe") observes in his work Sha'ar Yissachar that the evil inclination does not want to see this type of shared joy, noting that one of the names of the evil inclination, "Sama'el," may be seen as an acronym for Siyum Masechet Ain La'asot, or "do not make a siyum". Seudat Hoda'ahSeudat Hoda'ah (Hebrew: סעודת הודיה) literally means a meal of thanksgiving. At a public meal that is given to recognize the good - Hakarat HaTov - the beneficiary gives something to others - the ability to say blessings - Brachot. Seudat Nissuin During the festive meal, seudat nissuin following a Jewish wedding, guests participate in the mitzvah (commandment) of L'Sameach Chatan v'Kallah, to bring joy to the groom and bride. The emphasis of the celebration is on entertaining the newlyweds. At Orthodox wedding meals, men and women dance separately - sometimes separated by a mechitza ("divider") - for reasons of tzniut (modesty). At the end of the seudat nissuin, Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals) is recited, and the Sheva Berachot (seven blessings) that were recited under the chupah (wedding canopy) are repeated. Seudat HavraahSeudat Havraah is the "meal of consolation" or comfort provided for a mourner upon his or her return from the cemetery following interment of the deceased. It