A Jewish girl celebrates her Bat Mitzah at the age of twelve, and it is usual to offer a Bat Mitzah gift to celebrate her coming of age. Interestingly it wasn’t until 1922 that the first Bat Mitzah was recognized to balance a Jewish boys Bar Mitzah. You can choose a specific Bat Mitzah gift which pays homage to her Jewish roots, or pick something which is suitable to a twelve-year-old girl if you have any idea what that is.
As twelve-year-olds like to consider themselves young teenagers it can be a minefield choosing a suitable gift unless you know them well and know what they like. You don’t want to receive a look of disdain if you make a present of something she grew out of several years ago or is totally not cool for today’s pre-teen.
Money or a Gift Certificate
You really can’t go wrong if you make a gift of money or a gift certificate, allowing the girl to make her own choice for something she really wants. However, you can tie this in with Jewish tradition by gifting money, checks of certificates in multiples of $18. In Jewish tradition, the number 18 symbolizes ‘chai’ which is the Hebrew word for life, so it has special significance if your gift represents chai. If you opt for gift certificates you could choose ones for music stores, book shops, clothes stores or accessories shops.
Necklace
Jewelry is always a suitable gift for the pre-teen girl and a necklace with perhaps a personalized silver initial pendant would be well received. Alternatively, you could choose a special Bat Mitzah musical jewelry box such as one which plays Hava Nagila. There is a solid wood jewelry box available from Bat Mitzah specialist online shops which are detailed with a finely decorated panel.
Recipe Book
If the girl has shown an interest in cooking you could make a wonderful gift of ‘The Vintage Judaica Recipe Book’ which will enable her to keep all her recipes together in a beautiful book. It is embellished with ribbons and fine fabric, and sure to be treasured for years.
Book on Jewish history
If she is interested in her Jewish roots then a book focusing on Jewish history would be an excellent gift. A good choice would be ‘The Encyclopaedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust’, or perhaps a book which would spark her interest such as Helen Epstein’s ‘Children of the Holocaust’.
Any of these gift ideas are sure to be appreciated as the young girl celebrates her coming of age at her Bat Mitzah, and if you really don’t know her well enough to know her specific likes then cash really is always a welcome gift for this age group.
