The Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah is a significant milestone in a young Jewish person’s life as it marks their transition into adulthood within the Jewish community. Generally it occurs when a person turns 13 (or 12 for girls in some cases) and is accompanied by a fantastic, and sometimes hilariously themed, party! 🎉
Many folks choose to give money, and often in increments of 18, to represent “life” or “Chai” in Judaism. But as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs evolve, so do the traditions around gift giving. Selecting the perfect present is both exciting and challenging, but fear not, as we have curated a comprehensive gift guide that will keep you excited for the party and assured about your gift choice!
✡️ Religious Items ✡️
If tradition holds a special place in your heart and the family of the recipient, a religious item might be a good fit. A number of religious items serve as great gifts including:
- Tefillin - A set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, is shown. Traditionally, they are used for morning prayers on a daily basis
- Siddur - The Jewish prayer book
- Tallit - A shawl to wear while practicing prayers (often accompanied with the Tefillin)
💎 Jewish Jewelry 💎
A necklace or a bracelet is always a beautiful and memorable way to celebrate an event, and a person’s bar or bat mitzvah is no exception! Certain Jewish charms of symbols carry great weight in the Jewish faith and culture and will likely be kept by the recipient for a long time. Some popular Jewish Jewelry selections are:- Magen David: The Jewish star, a timeless symbol of the Jewish people’s history, faith and resilience.
- The Chai: In Hebrew, “Chai” means life and giving someone a necklace, pendant or bracelet with this symbol on it commemorates the celebration of it!
- The Hamsa: Used by many cultures through the Middle East, including Muslims, Greeks, Jews and North Africans, the Hamsa is a symbol of protection, as it is believed to ward off bad luck and the evil eye!
👧 Personalized Items 👦
As this day is very much geared to the Bar Mitzvah boy or Bat Mitzvah girl, a personalized item with the recipient’s name etched in can be a memorable and wonderful gift for someone! These include:- A personalized Yarmulke or Kippah
- Engraved Kiddush Cups
- Personalized Hebrew name necklaces
⌚ Technology & Gadgets ⌚
To keep with the times, it’s becoming more and more clear that kids use technology and will only continue to. So, why not work with technology to help them ace their HafTorah portion!- iPad: To help them look at the sacred text instead of text messages!
- AirPods/Headphones: So they can listen (and relisten) to their HafTorah portions!
- Smart Watch: To help them with time management
Experiential Gifts
Time spent together is often the most valuable and unforgettable gift of all. Take them on a trip or volunteer together with them as they approach their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, so they can understand the true meaning of being a part of the community and world. After all, “Tikkun Olam” is a cornerstone of the culture, and “repairing the world” by seeing it or helping it is the best way to teach an emerging adult.
💰 Financial Investments 💰
As mentioned, many people attending a Bar or Bat Mitzvah choose to give money … but adjacent to that are an array of financial investments including:- Contributions toward a savings account
- College fund
- Stocks & bonds
When selecting a Bar Mitzvah gift, remember that the most meaningful presents are those that reflect the recipient's personality, interests, and values… Including a great greeting card to pair with it! Check out all our uniquely funny and adorable Bar and Bat Mitzvah cards!
