The Ultimate Bar Mitzvah Gift Guide

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A bar mitzvah is arguably one of the most important events in Jewish man's life. At age 13, a boy is considered a man in the eyes of the Jewish faith and a celebration is thrown in honor of this major rite of passage. In recent years, bar mitzvahs have been made up of two parts: a religious ceremony where the bar mitzvah boy is called to read the Torah at a synagogue and a secular after-party to celebrate with friends and family.

Typically, a check given in multiples of $18—a significant number which symbolizes chai, or life, in Judaism—is a go-to bar mitzvah present. But if you want to give something a little more unique than money, there are plenty of fun gift ideas for all kinds of teenage boys. Is he a sports lover? Get him custom swag of his favorite team. Is he counting down the days until summer camp? A personalized duffle bag for packing his belongings or monogrammed stationery for writing back home are both no-brainers. Or maybe he's tech-obsessed? You can't go wrong with latest and greatest from Apple.

Ahead, the best gifts to bestow on the bar mitzvah boy in your life.

More: The 26 Best Bat Mitzvah Gifts

Create Your Own Video Game Set

This customizable gaming device allows you to program and play your own retro arcade game—and introduces pre-teens to simple coding concepts.

Tello Quadcopter Drone

He'll be the envy of all his friends with this drone.

Custom Replica Jersey

A 13-year-old boy can never have enough sports jerseys from his favorite team. Better yet? Gift him a custom jersey, with his name on the back.

JBL Clip 4

If he's always hanging out with his friends, a portable speaker is a must. This is our favorite option, for its size and quality.

Deco Star of David Pendant

Some boys love to rock a Jewish star necklace, others couldn't be caught wearing any form of jewelry. You know your bar mitzvah boy best—but if he is one who loves to show his Jewish pride, this David Yurman pendant is a classic option.

Watch Series 8

An Apple Watch is a great present, especially because he's likely never had his own watch before.

Slim Single Billfold Wallet

Gift him his first leather wallet with this simple, yet elegant leather billfold from Tumi.

Personalized Note Cards

After the bar mitzvah gifts comes writing all the thank you notes! These personalized note cards are a thoughtful present—and he can use them for the years to come.

Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light

Thirteen-year-olds notoriously have trouble waking up in the morning. Gift him (and his parents, in all honestly) this smart-sleep wake-up light, which helps teenagers wake up naturally—and hopefully less grumpy.

Classic Swiss Army Knife

If he loves spending time outside and exploring, customize a classic Swiss Army Knife with his initials. He'll hold onto it for decades.

Adopt a Polar Bear

If you don't want to give him just a check, you can also make a donation in his name—or adopt an animal in his name with the World Wildlife Fund. There's many animals to choose from, including polar bears, sea lions, and zebras.

The LOX Hoodie

In 2020, Russ & Daughters collaborated with Jake Gyllenhaal and NY Forever to support NYC theater workers with this "LOX" sweatshirt. It's understated, cool, and ideal for any Jewish food lover.

Nintendo Switch

A Nintendo Switch is a sure-to-be-loved gaming console. If he already has one, you can also gift him with some new video games for his Switch.

Dogs vs. Cats Chess Set

Forget digital games—sometimes, you just want to play a good, old-fashioned game of chess. We love this adorable dogs vs. cats chess set, perfect for pet lovers of all ages.

Large Ski Resort Blueprints

For the bar mitzvah boy who loves to hit the slopes, gift him a blueprint of his favorite mountain. He'll love to hang it in his room.

Makers Ballpoint Pen in Sterling Silver

A bar mitzvah is an appropriate time to gift him his first fancy ballpoint pen; Tiffany's is a fantastic choice.

Tree of Life Menorah

If you're looking to gift the bar mitzvah boy a Jewish present, a menorah is always a solid option.

AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

We guarantee a pair of Apple's overhead noise-cancelling headphones in slate will be his favorite present.

Canvas and Leather Weekender, Embroidered

Make him feel grown-up with a personalized duffle bag he can use for sleepovers or weekend trips with his family.

Bluejay WILD - Electric Blue Kids Electric Bike

If he loves the great outdoors, an e-bike to cruise around in is a splurge—but also a no brainer. This recently-launched kid-friendly version was designed by a mom, so right off the bat you know its tricked out with safety features. It has protective features like maximum speed of 12 mph and up to 45 miles of ride time.

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