Appropriate Bar Mitzvah Gift Amount

Essentially you re blessing the young boy girl with a long successful life.

Appropriate bar mitzvah gift amount.

Multiples of 18 cash gifts for bar mitzvahs are typically given in multiples of 18 such as 18 36 or 54. Checks are traditionally written out in 18 increments marking the hebrew letters for the word life chai which are numerically equivalent to 18. For children looking to give a great bar mitzvah gift the thought obviously counts more than a significant financial contribution. You re certainly not obligated to give in increments of 18 although it is more traditional.

You should give the bar mitzvah money in multiples of 18. A general rule for bar or bat mitzvah gift giving is to take the amount you would normally spend on a birthday present and give 1 5 times that amount in a multiple of 18. The number 18 translates to chai חי or life in jewish numerology. Cash is undoubtedly convenient for all involved and can be used for something the bar bat mitzvah child wants right now or socked away into savings accounts.

Although no guidelines exist on the set amount you should give for a bar mitzvah being familiar with jewish customs can help you determine an appropriate gift. For example if you were going to give a present of 100 for that birthday you would want to give something in the neighborhood of 150 but in a multiple of eighteen so you could give either 144 18 times 8 or 162 18 times 9. However you should at least give an amount that will cover your meal and not less than the usual amount that is given in such occasions which is usually around 150 300 ils 50 100 per person. Often times guests will give the bar or bat mitzvah money in some increment of 18 18 36 54 72 and so on.

If you are coming as a couple you need to at least double the amount of money you give. Instead of giving 50 give 54. For example if the boy is fond of a sport give him a gift certificate of a sports store. 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.

Mitzvah chic recommends a minimum gift of 18 unless the child s financial situation requires otherwise. 36 is more common. Generally for friends i assume you are not relatives because i assume you d have more experience 18 is a good minimum. If you are a close friend of the family it would be reasonable to give as much as 118.

For a very close friend the range is closer to 54 108. 72 is also symbolic because it represents 4 life. With this in mind the tradition of giving in multiples of 18 to represent chai still applies.