I haven’t been to a bat mitzvah since my cousin’s ceremony and occasion again in 1987. The occasion was held steps from the Brooklyn Bridge, earlier than the neighborhood got here to be generally known as Dumbo, and I bear in mind it as a sea of off-the-shoulder Laura Ashley clothes (wildly refined in comparison with my woefully inferior puffy-sleeved “white is for infants” alternative for the festivities). There was an epic musical chairs battle. And my first gradual dance with a boy that led to a clumsy kiss simply because the lights went up. Someplace there’s a VHS tape documenting the entire thing in grainy element.
Subsequent week, stated cousin and I shall be up in Windfall, R.I., celebrating her niece’s bat mitzvah. (Millie can also be my “niece” however is technically my second cousin. Confused? Ask me to elucidate a while, and/or the truth that I personally am not Jewish however have Jewish members of the family!)
I’ve been instructed by dependable sources that the factor to do is give money, in quantities which might be divisible by 18 as a result of the Hebrew letters for the phrase chai (that means “life”) are numerically equal to 18.
I’ve additionally been instructed that jewellery is welcome so long as you’re not a shiksa giving a Star of David pendant (famous). Somebody instructed me to take a look at the choices at Trendy Tribe, and Judaica WebStore reliably has a gazillion certain issues, together with this necklace that obtained the thumbs up from somebody I belief—it spells out the celebrant’s title in English and Hebrew.
I appreciated the concept of giving Millie a attraction, and in March I discovered one thing excellent on the JA New York Present: a diamond hamsa set in 24k gold–plated silver. A sacred image of safety that additionally acts as a conduit for good luck, peace, and prosperity appears good for my beloved niece, who’s so sensible, type, and beautiful. I’ve a vivid reminiscence of her crawling as much as me when she was 16 or 18 months previous, pointing to the chain I used to be carrying and saying, “Pitty neckiss.” Just some years later, she would steal the present because the flower woman in my marriage ceremony, picture-perfect in her navy-and-white occasion costume.
Beneath are some extra bat mitzvah jewellery reward concepts that appeared youthful and female, tasteful and basic. And most are coming in beneath $200!
Having carried out this analysis and surveyed the myriad choices, I believe a bat mitzvah jewellery reward ought to be chosen with the concept it’s one thing the recipient will put on now however maintain on to without end. Even when it’s only a memento, a bit of tarnished possibly, however like youth itself, irreplaceable.
Helena Pearl necklace, $110; at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus
Tin Cup freshwater pearl bracelet in 14k rose gold, $130; Mastoloni
Serena Williams Unstoppable necklace in sterling silver with diamond accent, $190; Zales
Highly effective Woman pendant in sterling silver with pink sapphires, $130; Woman Up Assortment
Piper pendant in 14k gold–plated brass with blue lapis, $60; Kendra Scott
Daisy pendant in 14k gold with white enamel and yellow sapphire, $170 (chain offered individually); The Final Line
Birthstone mini ring necklace in 14k white gold and turquoise, $325; Fox & Bond
Unicorn stud earrings in 14k gold and enamel, $195; Hamilton Jewelers
Opal butterfly studs in 14k gold with white sapphires, $200; Gorjana
Open circle ring in 10k gold with diamond, $198; Stone and Strand
Sideways open coronary heart ring in 14k gold, $210; Zo”e Chicco
Diamond preliminary ring in 10k white gold, $137; Kay Jewelers
Wilder alphabet bracelet in 18k gold–plated brass, $48; Gorjana
Prime: Nothing however Love gold-filled beaded bracelet with enamel coronary heart, $92; Bonnie Jennifer
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