How to Choose Bar or Bat Mitzvah Gifts

Video Transcript

"Hello, I'm Russ Handler and let's say, for instance, you need to attend a Bar or Bat Mitzvah for a member of your congregation, but you don't know what to get them as far as gifts are concerned. We'll there's a few things that you need to keep in mind when choosing a gift for somebody whose not a family member. First of all, you don't really know that person very much, other than the fact that you might see them on weekends and sometimes with the children in and about the yard. So a couple tips that could help you choose that perfect gift for someone you're not very familiar with. Talk to the Rabbi, talk to the Cantor, or other congregates within the congregation. They know this person very well. Talk to their Hebrew school teachers and their fellow classmates to find out what gets them going. And, keep in mind, when all else fails you can always give money. But don't overdo it with that. Now a couple suggestions that I have, which are my favorites, are literature. Something that they can keep with them for the rest of their lives and remind them about the Judaism. Here's a book I like, "The Sabbath Festivals and Ceremonies." This is Jewish family celebrations by a great author. You could look that up, that's always a good thing to do. Another great suggestion is a child's Bible lessons from the Torah. Something that they can take with them for the rest of their lives and remember that special occasion. And I'm Russ Handler, there's your tip on buying a gift for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah for someone in your congregation."