In Polydox Judaism, every person is affirmed in his or her freedom. This means the individual possesses the ultimate right to lay down commandments or mitzvot to herself or himself, that is, the ultimate right to autonomy or self-determination. Understandably, this fundamental right cannot be fully realized during childhood. The Baalat/Baal Mitzvah ceremony signifies the increased degree of autonomy that is acquired in adolescence and points to the full realization of autonomy that comes with adulthood.