Bar mitzvah gift question.

[TNDemo]

I will be attending one soon. This is only the second one I have been to. I was planning to give cash (unless somebody has a better idea). Someone told me that multiples of 9 were considered lucky in the Jewish faith - so give $18 or $27 or whatever. The person who told me this lives several states away so I was wondering if that was just a regional thing or a typical Jewish thing? I was afraid they might wonder why I gave such an odd amount.

[Kamika]

1. check if he has a video game consol

Check if he has a gamecube/box/ps2 and if so buy him a game.

Those small buggers go crazy over them

[veganwitch]

2. cash is alway good

but you could always give a gift certificate in a 9-multiple to a book store or something.

they may not appreciate it at the time, but a nice pen (mont blanc etc.) are really cool. (also reminds them to write thank you notes)

[GabysPoppy]

3. Rule of thumb (It's $18 meaning chai which means life)

You should tie any amount to whatever relationship you have with the person or family.

Their is no "magic" gift.

[Darranar]

4. Mutiples of 18, not 9...

because the Hebrew spelling of chai, or life, is chet-yud. Each letter in Hebrew has a numerical value; yud is ten, chet is eight.