Jewish question

Tell him to send me some of those tickets and I'll take care of the agent & his son.

Sorry, not a large Jewish population in my neck of the woods. Ask CD, he may know but I'm thinking it would be similar to a wedding (minus the toaster) and that a monetary gift would be customary.

Fungo, pm coming on proper etiquette for sending out Bar Mitzvah gift!

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Fungo, pm coming on proper etiquette for sending out Bar Mitvah gift!

Can't you share to educate the rest of us???

Fungo,
I beleive a money gift is fine... A Kar-Mitzvah is the start of adulthood for the jewish faith I think. I would say they consider it just as important as a wedding and this money they recieve is the start of their bank account also. I know of kids who have gotten thousands for their special party. So, I would be thinking along the same lines of a wedding gift. That's of course if they have weddings down there in Rural West Tennessee. LOL.... jist kiddin ya.

Hope I have helped
MOUNDMASTER

Fungo

It is not unlike any other BIG DAY for a youth-- a gift is in order

Beezer,
Ok, no problem.

Bar Mitzvah is usually celebrated on the 13th birthday. It is the day the young man is first called to the Torah to read special passage. It is the time that he enters adulthood in regards to his serious religious training, which parents usually stop after the Bar Mitzvah! For girls it is called a Bas Mitzvah and very fashionable these days for girls to do the same, but not in the orthodox sect of judaism. It is commanded by g-d that every jewish boy do this, same as with the circumcision (well you ASKED), another big celebration!
Since it is their birthday, big party is planned by mom and dad (not commanded by g-d). Money is usually given to the Bar Mitzvah. It is customary to give in increments of 18, the 18th letter of the hebrew alphabet is Chai (sort of looks like an H)which means life. I wrote to Fungo to tell him even if son was not attending it is still proper to send money and a suggested amount. After all, it is AGENTS son!

A Bar-Mitzvah is second only to a wedding. In the Jewish religion, when a boy is Bar Mitzvah he has achieved manhood. I don't know what your son's agent has invited him to as there are usually two parts -- the religious ceremony and the reception. He may be invited to both.Appropriates gifts begin at $50 depending on the relationship with the kid and with the family.

TPM is right about the 18 -- but I've never seen anyone other than a casual friend (like a kid from school) give less than 50 bucks (or 54, depending on the family).

Better to attend then a Bris...

As a gentile I attended a Bris, not making lite of this religious event but I swear every guys kness buckled inward that day!!!

Fungo,Im jewish so I can answer this

A cash gift of 18 dollars or more is what most people gave me,Id give the same in return

Ahh, a jewish futurecatcher from Oklahoma! Just as good as a jewish RHP in South Carolina!

Way to go!

Fungo, you heard the young man, send the MONEY!

TPM, THANKS!!! Well thought out and enlightening.

I wish my son were Jewish. When he turned 13 he sure didn't achieve adulthood.

Thanks TPM! Isn't there a "Bat Mitzvah" as well? What's that?

The bat mitzvah is when a girl turns 13.

Thanks EagleDad. Same guidelines as a Bar Mitzvah (monetary gift in $18 increments)?

Bat Mitzvah is also a Bas Mitzvah. Same guidelines, except that the whole thing is optional!

If it's his agent's son, shouldn't he just give 10% of the tradtional gift?

Orlando.
hmmmm, maybe 10% of signing bonus?

Very interesting thread. I am Jewish and was Bar Mitzvah as was my son. TigerPawMom does a very nice job describing the background and significance of Bar/Bat Mitzvah. In terms of being an adult...it is only from a religious perspective. At the age of 13, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is then able to read from the Torah (the first 5 books of Moses in the Old Testament) and lead a religious service.

In terms of a gift, the number 18, corresponding to "Chai" (meaning "life" in Hebrew) is important. If you are giving a gift of money, the amount you give is totally up to you, but if you make it in an increment of $18 (i.e. $36, known as "double-Chai and so on), it is a nice, thoughtful touch.

By the way, there was reference to a "Jewish catcher" in this thread...let's not forget Mike Lieberthal or Brad Ausmus...what there good Jewish mothers must think...lol.

My son hopes to follow in the path of Sandy Koufax (only he's a rhp) or, Jason Marquis. Right now though, he's just preparing for his last high school season.

Boris,

I see we picked up a couple of jewish pitchers today on the HSBBW!

TigerPawMom, We did, although mine still has 1 more year of HS baseball to go (his team has been picked in the top 10 in the preseason poll (for whatever that is worth). Next year, he will be pitching at Bradley University.

boris - huge congrats to your son and your family

boris:

Yes...congratulations!

Great explanations and the $18 thought is perfect. It really shows that your son took the time to look into traditions that are so important and we really appreciate that.

Too bad your son won't be able to go as it is quite an experience for those of other faiths to see all of the work that a 13 year old has too accomplish (and the party I am embarrassed to say is something quite extraordinary if you haven't been to one).

As for the amount, I am afraid to tell you what the going gift is in California and New York but $18 from your son will be remembered forever.

And now you can add an outfielder to the count.

seniormom...good luck to your son this season and in the future.

Ok, just need a few more players for a whole team!

Best of luck to your sons!

quote:

Originally posted by boris:
Very interesting thread. I am Jewish and was Bar Mitzvah as was my son. TigerPawMom does a very nice job describing the background and significance of Bar/Bat Mitzvah. In terms of being an adult...it is only from a religious perspective. At the age of 13, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah is then able to read from the Torah (the first 5 books of Moses in the Old Testament) and lead a religious service.

In terms of a gift, the number 18, corresponding to "Chai" (meaning "life" in Hebrew) is important. If you are giving a gift of money, the amount you give is totally up to you, but if you make it in an increment of $18 (i.e. $36, known as "double-Chai and so on), it is a nice, thoughtful touch.

By the way, there was reference to a "Jewish catcher" in this thread...let's not forget Mike Lieberthal or Brad Ausmus...what there good Jewish mothers must think...lol.

My son hopes to follow in the path of Sandy Koufax (only he's a rhp) or, Jason Marquis. Right now though, he's just preparing for his last high school season.

So, What were the special gifts on that bat mitzvah?
bat mitzvah gifts

Too bad your son won't be able to go as it is quite an experience for those of other faiths to see all of the work that a 13 year old has too accomplish (and the party I am embarrassed to say is something quite extraordinary if you haven't been to one).--


In my neck of the woods, it is a big season of events and parties. We are Catholic but my last name 'sounds' Jewish so it was funny to see how many mailings and brochures my daughter got in the mail for parties and dresses, when she was 12/13 years old. We attended several, and they are very impressive, the readings from the Torah and the ceremonial aspects mark the transition to adulthood. But the parties!!! The non-Jewish girls have gotten so jealous, they ask their parents for 'faux mitzvah' parties (not kidding!)

I thought that's what the over the top Sweet 16 was all about. two parties now in 3 years...Oy Vey!

Best Bar Mitzvah gift ever- Sandy Kofax autographed ball. Best gift to Grampa 9 years later - an offer to play for the (now defunct) Israeli Baseball League.

This is probably the right thread to point out that hitting guru/punching bag Mike Epstein was known as SuperJew when he played.

As my kids and their friends passed through thirteen I told them they may never have a social life like the two years of Bar/Bat Mitvah's they attended. I think they each went to about fifty. The one my son liked the best was when Dave & Busters was rented out for a private party. Imagine what it cost the parents to have D&B shut down on a Saturday night from 4-7pm.

Interesting timing. I am going to my first this weekend. My niece's.

I now have some solid background work. I am already hearing about the party on Facebook.

Just to clear up some misconceptions here. Bar Mitzvah literally means "Son of the Commandment" (Bat means Daughter, thus "Bat Mitzvah." Bas as in "Bas Mitvah" is an outdated pronunciation of the feminine form, bat). You become a Bar Mitzvah, a "Son of the Commandment". Its not the name of a celebration, its a description of a new "member" of the congregation who is going to stand up in front of the congregation and prove that he has been educated to such a point, that he is capable of reading Torah with the other members of the congregation.

There is no official age where a jewish boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah. It is just a tradition to recognize the child's new status at around thirteen. When this tradition started, in the middle ages, I think rabbis were being smart by saying to congregants, "if we don't get them to do this work by thirteen, we are never going to get them to do it!" My wife became a Bat Mizvah at 30. She was pregnant and it was hard, but it is very moving to see an adult become a Bat Mitzvah.

Money is probably the best gift. My son invested the money he received when he became a Bar Mitzvah in the stock market with the intent of buying a car when he graduated HS. It wasn't much money at the time, but we thought the car was a nice dream. The money has grown and he never bought the car, but he is tremendously grateful to have this money to start his life after college.

It is really hard to do your training correctly, while going to middle school, playing sports, and trying to be a regular kid. But Ryan Braun, Kevin Youkalis and Ian Kinsler will tell you it was worth the sacrifice.

Let's keep the thread rolling.

Sorry, link didn't show up

Max Fried, 18, drafted by Padres

Round 36 1104 Washington Nationals:

Max Ungar, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, MD

I guess he's Jewish.

Jeremy Shaeffer
18th Round Tulane