What do I give for a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Gift? (2024)

When it comes to finding the perfect gift for aBar or Bat Mitzvah, it can be difficult to know where to start. From traditional religious items to more modern gifts, there are many options available. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts that will mark this momentous occasion with the perfect item to make themfeel special and appreciated.Money
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah boy or girl will love receiving money. They just won't like the part where their parents take most of it away to put into a savings account for future use.
If you're giving cash or check, the most common rule in Jewish gifting is to gift inmultiples of $18. In numerology, 18 is Chai (no, not the delicious tea latte), Hebrew for life. Giving money in multiples of $18 is symbolicof giving “chai” or life.So if you were going to give $50, give $54. If you were going to gift $100, make it $108 instead.
That's where the rules end, and the rest is highly dependent on how close you are to the boy or girl celebrating and how many people are invited; please use the below as rough guidelines, and give what you're comfortable giving:

• A child attending a friend’s bar mitzvah will likely give anywhere from 2x-4x chai, for a maximum of $72 (and that's considered generous).$72 is also symbolic because it represents 4 Life.For a very close friend, the range is closer to $54-$108.
• A family will likely start the gifting where the individual spectrum ends, with $72 on the low end (perhaps if only attending the service) and up from there. In some metropolitan areas, family gifts reach $360-$540 for very close friends. But on average,most families will give in the range of $108-$180, and, for close friends, around $252. A more rounded number of course will never be turned away.

The advantage of a personal gift is that its perceived value is oftentimes higher than the actual value, with consideration given to the thought and the time taken, providing the gift-giver additional wiggle room in terms of spend.

Judaica. A beautifulyad(torah pointer) is a unique gift they will use for life. We also love giving thisTallit Bag, which is non-leather and can be used year round. AMezuzahis also very special, and can be engraved with a custom saying or name. This acrylic one comes in a multitude of colors! We also love the idea of giving a girl her first Star of David Necklace, and we are in love withthis one. We recently gave thismenorahas a Bat Mitzvah gift, it’s stunning and timeless.

You can shop all our Judaica formore ideas.

Hebrew/Jewish Jewelry.A necklace with their Hebrewnameis something they’ll wear for years. We also love thisHebrew necklacethat says Ahava (Love in Hebrew). It is delicate and dainty enough to layer with other necklaces. If you’re seeking a bracelet that’s modern and meaningful, theseEverything Is PossibleandWoman of Valorbracelets are the perfect pieces.

For a boy seeking their first piece of jewelry, we are obsessed with this Star of David dog tag necklace and this Chai necklace

Amulets.An amulet is an object, often a charm or piece of jewelry, that is believed to possess certain magical powers of protection. The Hamsa and Evil Eye are two powerful amulets that represent protection and strength. This czHamsa necklaceand this opal one with stones from israel are a great gift for the girl who has it all. We also love the detail on thisevil eye necklaceand this evil eye enamel charm bracelet.

Back to blog