NFT: What's acceptable for a bar mitzva gift?

The hebrew word for life has a numerical value of 18, so it's somewhat traditional when giving money to give amount that's a multiple of 18, so if $50 seems good to you, you could make it $54. (No one would give it a second thought if your kids didn't do that, but it's a nice touch).

a Milano. Alyssa of course

I looked online and saw reference of the multiples of 18, wasn't sure the meaning, so thank you for explaining that.

We'll probably do that.

appreciate the reply. I'll delete in a few min.

18 x 10= 180

You will be that young man's good friend after that gift too.,

In comment 12107817 Spock said:

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18 x 10= 180 You will be that young man's good friend after that gift too.,

thanks Spock. While that sounds generous I'm not going, just the kids are, and I have no desire to have a 12 or 13 year old (girl, but boy wouldn't change it) as one of my good friends.

Bat mitzvah=daughter

Fyi

In comment 12107831 Spock said:

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Bat mitzvah=daughter Fyi

thank you, wasn't sure the difference.

(18x5). $45 from each kid.

In comment 12107874 crick n NC said:

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Haha Can you imagine doing that to your kid.

As I saw this thread I thought of Seinfeld when Elaine brought Boggle as a gift at a bar mitzvah, ala my picture.

with a gauge to check the PSIs of his football

So, you can ask the parents if the child has a Kindle or other reading device and give e-books ... or real books.

Bar Mitzvah gifts, IMHO, should not be toys or frivolous. It is about coming of age as an adult, and education is huge in Jewish culture, so books about Jewish History are always nice, or money for the child's college fund.

I gave my cousin's child a coffee table book on the history of Jewish Athletes because the kid was into sports.

One of my favorite gifts from my Bat Mitzvah was a Bible Atlas, given to me by my mother's boss at the time, Frank Young, former Dean of the University of Rochester Medical School and fmr head of the Food & Drug Administration.
\

to the kid's 529 college savings fund

no?

In comment 12107874 crick n NC said:

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Ha Ha Ha. schicks appeal

In comment 12108507 schnitzie said:

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So, you can ask the parents if the child has a Kindle or other reading device and give e-books ... or real books. Bar Mitzvah gifts, IMHO, should not be toys or frivolous. It is about coming of age as an adult, and education is huge in Jewish culture, so books about Jewish History are always nice, or money for the child's college fund. I gave my cousin's child a coffee table book on the history of Jewish Athletes because the kid was into sports. One of my favorite gifts from my Bat Mitzvah was a Bible Atlas, given to me by my mother's boss at the time, Frank Young, former Dean of the University of Rochester Medical School and fmr head of the Food & Drug Administration. \

I enjoyed reading your post, nice story I liked it.

It is often given in increments of $18, as 18 represents Chai, or life. So, if you were thinking of $50, then it is a nicer gesture to make it $54.

My take when giving money, is whatever you can afford is acceptable and appropriate.

I do recall receiving a couple of books about Jewish culture as well. I don't know why, but for a while (at least in the 50s and 60s) fountain pens were a common gift. So, my mom's cousin gave me an old fountain pen along with another gift.

the Jewish kids in my neighborhood generally had their bar mitzva $ secured by their parents to help with college. Most of the kids got cash and it was put towards that cause.

that was just crazy. Not sure what my mom sent as a gift but it probably was not enough. Some of the guests were Bill Cosby, Bobby Vinton, Ben Vereen, etc I really did not belong there and probably should have been cleaning the tables instead of on the guest list.

In comment 12110625 EricJ said:

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that was just crazy. Not sure what my mom sent as a gift but it probably was not enough. Some of the guests were Bill Cosby, Bobby Vinton, Ben Vereen, etc I really did not belong there and probably should have been cleaning the tables instead of on the guest list.

Was Cosby offering young ladies any drinks?

In comment 12110628 steve in ky said:

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In comment 12110625 EricJ said: Quote: that was just crazy. Not sure what my mom sent as a gift but it probably was not enough. Some of the guests were Bill Cosby, Bobby Vinton, Ben Vereen, etc I really did not belong there and probably should have been cleaning the tables instead of on the guest list. Was Cosby offering young ladies any drinks?

Steve, funny you should ask that. When this Cosby shit recently started to get a lot of air time, I actually wondered if he was trolling for bitches at this event.