There are many Jewish holidays and celebrations that are important to the culture. From Passover and Hanukkah to Yom Kippur and Purim, the list is long and cherished by the Jewish community. In addition, there are two other very important celebrations that take place in the lives of younger Jewish people: the Bar Mitzvah and the Bat Mitzvah, the coming of age ceremonies for Jewish boys turning 13 or Jewish girls turning 12, respectively, are recognized as being adults who are responsible for their actions from that day forward. For a girl’s Bat Mitzvah it is important and traditional to bring a gift that she can treasure as a part of the celebration for years to come. Here are 10 great gift ideas to give you a head start in choosing the right gift for her.
1. Savings bond or cash – There is nothing that a 12-year-old likes more than receiving money for their coming of age celebration. Starting a savings bond or giving them cash to save for the future is a great idea. This can teach them to be frugal with their money and help them learn that saving is always a good thing to do. Many times in the Jewish culture they give bonds in increments of 18 because that number is important in the Jewish culture. The Hebrew word for life (chai) has a numeric value of 18.
2. Star of David necklace – This symbol of Judaism is a great gift because it is a symbol of protection for the wearer. You can purchase a necklace in either sterling silver or gold.
3. A gift certificate for her favorite bookstore – Many teenagers like to read, so this can be a nice gift, allowing her to purchase her favorite books and do it on her own, making her own choices. She can choose books about her religion in order to learn more about Judaism, or any others on subjects that interest her.
4. A pen set – This can be great for a gift and will help her in high school, too. You can get a lovely, elegant pen set for around $50 and then have it engraved with her name for a special touch.
5. Photo album – You can get her a nice photo album to commemorate the special occasion of her bat mitzvah. This is a great way for her to share the experience with others through pictures of family and friends. You can gift either an old-fashioned book style for hard copy photos or a special piece of software (like iPhoto) that will let her make photo albums from digital pictures on her PC.
6. Storage box – This is a great idea if she has a lot of memorabilia. A nice box can even have her name engraved on it, and can be a place where she can keep her jewelry and other important things.
7. Frame – You can get her a nice frame into which you can place a picture of her on her special day. You can add the date and her name on the frame so that she will always remember it for the rest of her life. As with #5 above, this can be a regular frame, or a digital one that will display pictures (as slideshows, too) that were taken on a digital camera.
8. Family tree – You can create a family tree for her to cherish. Gather all of your family history from decades or even centuries past, and put pictures, clippings, stories and other things into a family tree design, and frame it for her to hang on her wall.
9. Family heirloom – It can be something very special to give her something that was handed down from previous generations in your family. She will feel special being the next recipient to receive the heirloom, and it is something she will never forget.
10. Ritual items – There are several ritual items that you can give her, such as candlesticks or even a Menorah, that are traditionally given at a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.
A bat mitzvah can be one of the most joyous and sacred times in a young Jewish girl’s life. It is not only a time-honored tradition, but a turning point in her life where she finally gains recognition and responsibilities as an adult. The gifts are just the icing on the cake and they will make her feel more special and appreciated than ever.
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