About MitzvahWise: Who We Are and How We Work
What MitzvahWise is, who writes it, how we check customs and amounts against real practice, and how the site makes money without selling recommendations.
MitzvahWise exists because the most-searched questions around a bat or bar mitzvah, how much money to give, what to wear, what to write in the card, usually get answered with “it depends.” This site answers them with numbers, tables, and the reasoning shown, so guests can stop second-guessing and families can point relatives at one clear page.
What MitzvahWise is
MitzvahWise is an independent editorial site about bat and bar mitzvah gifts, etiquette, and the Jewish calendar, written for two readers: the guest holding an invitation and the family planning the day. The gift side is the core: how much to give, what to give instead of cash, and the customs behind both. Around it sits the knowledge layer: what the ceremony actually is, and the holidays that shape the Jewish year.
Our editorial rules
Specific beats safe. Every amount question gets a number or a table, never a shrug. When a range is honest, we give the range and say what moves you inside it.
Movements differ, and we say so. Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform practice can differ on age, ritual, and custom. We describe the mainstream US practice and flag the differences rather than flattening them.
No invented traditions. Customs on this site come from documented practice. Where something is a modern American addition (like Hanukkah gift-giving), we say exactly that.
Respect first. This site describes a living religious tradition. We write so that a Jewish reader recognizes their world and a non-Jewish guest never feels judged for asking.
How the site makes money
Reader support: some links to gifts, books, and Judaica are affiliate links that pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are chosen before affiliate status is checked, and plenty of our picks earn us nothing. The full policy is in the affiliate disclosure.
Corrections and requests
Practice varies by community, and we would rather be corrected than confidently wrong. If a custom is described in a way that does not match your community’s practice, tell us and we will note the variation. Topic requests genuinely shape the publishing queue.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what guests ask us most
Is MitzvahWise affiliated with a synagogue or movement?
No. MitzvahWise is independent and not affiliated with any synagogue, movement, or retailer. Where practice differs between Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform communities, we describe the differences rather than picking a side.
How does MitzvahWise make money?
Some product links earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you, disclosed wherever it applies. Commissions never decide a recommendation, and customs and amounts are never sponsored content.
Where do your gift amounts come from?
From documented US practice: the chai (multiples of 18) tradition, published etiquette guidance, and the ranges families and guests consistently report. The amount guide shows every table with its reasoning.
Can I submit a correction?
Please do, especially on customs, since practice genuinely varies by community. Corrections from rabbis, educators, and community members shape our updates.