DoctorSimcha.com’s Bar Mitzvah Planning Forum

Gifts on a bar mitzvah are not the same as on an ordinary birthday. The gift you give must reflect the fact that it’s a simcha and not any other school program. There are no specific guidelines for gifts, since it depends upon your family budget, but I can give you some tips. Some families might want to give a donation or tribute (for example, a JNF tree). You can also send a check if you want, but it always better to gift something that reflects the Jewish traditions. There are so many things to give- just go to the market and you will find a plethora of bar/bat mitzvah gifts. If you want, you can give something that is not mitzvah-related. But it would be better if you supplement it with something that has a Jewish touch.