What is proper dress for attending a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
Since a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a religious ceremony, nice clothing should be worn a jacket for boys and a modest dress for girls. Males may be offered a yarmulke, or skullcap, to wear at the ceremony. They may choose to wear it or not, but it is acceptable for non-Jews to don it as a sign of respect if they want to. Married Jewish men may wear prayer shawls, but non-Jews do not. Traditionally, married Orthodox Jewish women wear a hat or cover their heads during services, but that isn’t usually the case in other branches of Judaism. For the festivities later, wear clothes appropriate for a party at the specified time and location. How do you congratulate the Bar/Bat Mitzvah? You can say “mazel tov” or “congratulations.” Should you give a gift? What should it be? Think of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah as a special birthday celebration; a gift is appropriate. Choose anything you might give a birthday boy or girl at age 13: gift certificates, CDs, books, software, electronics. In addition, money is a tr
