Question:
G-d gives each and every single person the ability to have free will. The choice to choose btw right to wrong. When is a person held accountable for their actions by the torah? For instance, how is it that not by the torah but in general (different countries may vary) like in New York a persons free will is held accountable at a certain age: 18 and up. In other words, that’s when free will is fully developed. Is there an age or time period in where free will is held accountable by the torah & in the eyes of g-d? Thank you.
Answer:
According to the torah, the time when a person becomes accountable for his actions is from bar/bat mitzva, which would be 12/13 years old. There is however an idea that for certain ideas, the bais din shel ma’ala (heavenly tribunal, for punishments such as kares) doesn’t hold one accountable until 20.
Best wishes
