Do you bring a gift to a bat mitzvah?

Answer 1

you could bring money

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If the synagogue is Conservative or Orthodox, never try to give a monetary gift (this include gift cards as they're the equivalent of cash) at a bar mitzvah. The reason is that Jews do not handle money on shabbat (the sabbath). In fact, it's not a good idea to bring a gift of any kind to the synagogue. Either drop off the gift at the family's home in advance or wait until the party.

Answer 2

Because a bat mitzvah is held during Shabbat, you shouldn't bring any gifts to the ceremony. It's better to send the gift in advanced or bring it to the celebration party after, if there is one.

In regard to the types of presents. Pretty much any present suitable for a 12 years old girl is fine. In a lot of places, the bat mitzvah girl will register at gift shops, this prevents a lot of duplicate gifts (keep in mind, there can be hundreds of guests invited - there were 400 people invited to my bat mitzvah).

The other acceptable option is money, the tradition amongst Jews is to give multiples of 18. The reason behind this tradition is that the numerical value for the letters that make up the Hebrew word for 'life', is 18.

Answer 3

Yes. Popular gifts at bar and bat mitzvot include money, particularly in multiples of $18 (because the child is now an adult and should be able to be responsible for money, and 18 is a number symbolic of life), a prayerbook (because as a new young adult, child is now responsible for the obligation of daily prayers), books of Torah or Talmud commentary (to encourage continuing education), Jewish themed young-adult fiction (more likely to be appreciated than the former). Money is the most common gift. For the others, it helps to know something about the child's interests, and perhaps consult with the parents to avoid duplication. No child wants to receive lots of prayerbooks or Bibles.