Bat Mitzvah gift ideas

[Igraine]

Hello,

My family has been invited to a Bat Mitzvah this summer. We are not Jewish and have never been to such a celebration. I am curious about appropriate gift ideas other than money.

This is a rather eclectic family who are celebrating their daughter's special day in a park with day long activities and feasting, which from what I have read is not usually the tradition.

So any ideas would be great! If a gift of money is really the best option, then I will certainly understand. I just love to give special gifts and money always makes me feel like I really didn't get creative enough.

Thanks!

[chely7425]

Honestly, I got a lot of money for my Bat Mitzvah... that being said, if you know the parents well enough you could ask them what their daughter is interested in at the moment. There are also the "traditional" gifts of candlesticks and yads for the Torah, but I got a bunch of those and really? Wasn't that interested in them... Anyway, I guess I would say either ask the parents or money. If the parents say she is into drawing you could get her some nice drawing pencils or something.

[Igraine]

Thanks! I will check with her parents otherwise I will stick with money.

[amma_mama]

How about a nice bracelet or necklace? I remember those being my favorite gifts at my Bat Mitzvah and have given the same to some of my younger nieces.
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[smeisnotapirate]

Also, based on the party you described, you could buy a tree in Israel in her honor. You can do that through JNF (the Jewish National Fund)'s website, and Jews and trees have always been close friends.

ETA: JNF sends these beautiful certificates, as well - so she'll have something to remember the gift by, and she can go see "her tree" when she visits Israel when she's older.

[zinemama]

At our shul, bar/bat mitzvah's choose a service project during the year of preparation and usually identify it on the invitation so that folks can make donations in honor of the occasion if they choose. You might want to ask if there's an organization you can donate to in her honor instead of a gift to her directly.

[Igraine]

Very cool ideas!

Thanks so much.