Bar Mitzvah-Class Gift

moogsmom

Tue, Sep 11 2007, 7:35 pm

My son's class is now just starting with their Bar Mitzvahs. Considering that there will be many to buy presents for, maybe as a class all the parents can chip in and get something together? But what? And how much? or if you have any ideas for a universal gift that is appropriate for everyone.

chocolate moose

Mon, Sep 17 2007, 8:30 am

It's not always the best idea, to chip in each time. The parents may not always have the money and then a kid is shortchanged. Our class got a Rambam L'am for each child, but it wasn't cheap and if a kid missed paying into a few parties, he didn't get one. I'm sure it caused some hurt feelings.

sho770

Tue, Feb 12 2008, 1:57 pm

Well, if all the parents chipped in in all discretion, and gave the money to the Rebbe / teacher, who would then himself find out a nice koddesh book to offer, that wouldnÂ´t put a pressure on parents who canÂ´t afford so much.

If already each set of parents gives 1$, you can have nice books for 30 $, you donÂ´t need to necessarily buy a whole book-set for a bar-mitzva boy. Maybe heÂ´ll get it later... from his family. Or even later, at his wedding. Wink

Love My Babes ↓

Tue, Feb 12 2008, 2:24 pm

I know for bas mitzva our the school I went to made a rule that girls should not be buying gifts for all the parties they go to, but rather each mother gave like 50 or 60 dollors to the school and that was considered towards the gifts from everyone and for you too. we had a choice of a bracelet or machzorim. I think this is a wonderful way to make everyone happy and each child receives a gift too. it also came with a nice letter the school put together.

Fox

Tue, Feb 12 2008, 3:03 pm

Love My Babe wrote:

each mother gave like 50 or 60 dollors to the school and that was considered towards the gifts from everyone and for you too. we had a choice of a bracelet or machzorim.

This is what DD's school did, too. However, it was $100, and the choices were gift certificates from various stores for . . . $100. This made no sense to me. Why not just say "no gifts" and let everyone spend $100 or whatever on her own child. I felt $100 was a bit high -- I realize that's probably less than I would spend by purchasing individual gifts, but I would have preferred a nice machzor or tehillim. A gift certificate to the local jewelry store wasn't quite the same.

DS's school handled it a little better: they also asked each parent to give a set amount of money, but they used it to order a set of seforim at a discount. It made sense to pool the money in that case, since they were then able to purchase something of greater value than parents could have purchased individually.