Bat Mitzvah Wishes: What to Write in a Bat or Bar Mitzvah Card

Bat mitzvah wishes usually start with "Mazel tov" and go on to tell the young woman how proud you are of her. A few warm, personal lines about her hard work and the person she is becoming are all a card needs.

A bat mitzvah marks the age when a Jewish girl becomes responsible for keeping the commandments, usually at 12 or 13. Many families celebrate with a service where she reads or chants from her Torah portion, followed by a party. The day is a simcha, a joyful occasion, for the whole family. A bar mitzvah is the same milestone for a boy at 13, so most of the wording below works for both.

Article contents

• How to Write a Bat Mitzvah Card
• Short Bat Mitzvah Wishes
• Bat Mitzvah Messages From Family
• Bat Mitzvah Wishes From Grandparents
• Bat Mitzvah Messages From Friends
• Bat Mitzvah Messages From a Teacher or Tutor
• Bar Mitzvah Wishes and Card Messages
• Bat Mitzvah Gift Money: Messages to Go With a Check
• Bat Mitzvah Blessings From the Hebrew Bible
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Write a Bat Mitzvah Card

A bat mitzvah card can be short. These steps work for a niece, a granddaughter, a friend's daughter or a student.

1. Open with "Mazel tov." It means "good fortune" and is the usual way to say congratulations at a Jewish celebration.
2. Mention the work she put in. Many students study for months to learn their Torah portion and write a speech.
3. Say something about who she is. Name a quality you admire, such as her kindness or her sense of humor.
4. Look ahead. Wish her well in the years to come, or add a blessing.
5. Mention any gift. If you are including a check or cash, say so in the card so it does not get separated from your message.

Example: "Mazel tov, Rachel! We know how many hours you spent learning your Torah portion, and it showed today. We are so proud of the kind and thoughtful young woman you are becoming. Love, Aunt Deb and Uncle Sam"

Short Bat Mitzvah Wishes

• Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah!
• Mazel tov! We are so proud of you.
• Congratulations on becoming a bat mitzvah. What a wonderful day.
• Mazel tov! You did a beautiful job today.
• Wishing you joy on your bat mitzvah and in all the years ahead.
• Mazel tov! All your hard work paid off.
• So proud of you today and always. Mazel tov!
• Mazel tov on this simcha. We are thrilled to celebrate with you.
• Congratulations, and thank you for letting us share your special day.

Bat Mitzvah Messages From Family

These work from parents, aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins.

• Mazel tov, sweetheart. Watching you read from the Torah today is a moment we will never forget.
• You have grown into a thoughtful, kind young woman, and today everyone got to see it. Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah.
• Mazel tov to our favorite niece. Your speech made us think, and it made us laugh.
• May you always carry the traditions of our family with pride, and add a few of your own. Mazel tov.
• Today you took your place in the Jewish community, and we could not be prouder to be your family. Mazel tov!
• To my little sister: I remember when you were learning to read, and today you read from the Torah. Mazel tov. I am so proud of you.
• From the day you were born, you have filled our family with joy. Mazel tov, we love you.
• We are so proud of the young woman you are becoming. Keep asking questions, keep being kind and keep being you. Mazel tov.

Bat Mitzvah Wishes From Grandparents

A memory, a family tradition or a simple word of pride all fit well.

• Mazel tov, our darling granddaughter. Grandpa and I are kvelling, and we will be for a long time.
• We waited a long time to see this day, and you made it more special than we imagined. Mazel tov. Love, Grandma and Grandpa
• Hearing you read from the Torah filled our hearts. We are so proud to be your grandparents. Mazel tov.
• Mazel tov, sweetheart. You carry the traditions of our family forward, and that means more to us than we can say.
• May you grow in wisdom, kindness and joy all the days of your life. Mazel tov, with love from Bubbe and Zayde.
• We remember your mom's bat mitzvah like it was yesterday. Watching you today brought it all back. Mazel tov, our love.
• Our wish for you is a life full of learning, good friends and many more happy celebrations. Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah.
• Mazel tov! This gift is for your future. We know you will do wonderful things.

Bat Mitzvah Messages From Friends

Friends and classmates can keep it light. Family friends can add a word for the parents.

• Mazel tov! You did an amazing job today.
• Your speech was so good. I can't believe how calm you were up there. Mazel tov!
• So proud of you, and so glad I got to be there. Mazel tov!
• Mazel tov! Thank you for inviting me to celebrate with you. The party was so much fun.
• Congratulations on your bat mitzvah. You are one of the kindest people I know.
• Mazel tov! You were amazing during the service, and even better on the dance floor.
• We have watched you grow up alongside our kids, and today was a joy to see. Mazel tov from all of us.
• Congratulations on becoming a bat mitzvah. Thank you for letting us share in your simcha.

Bat Mitzvah Messages From a Teacher or Tutor

Tutors, Hebrew school teachers and cantors saw the work up close, so their notes can speak to it directly.

• Mazel tov! You worked so hard these past months, and today you made it look easy. It was a joy to teach you.
• Congratulations on your bat mitzvah. You came to every lesson ready to learn, and it showed in every word you read today.
• Mazel tov! Your speech on your Torah portion was thoughtful and well prepared. I hope you keep asking good questions.
• It has been a privilege to help you prepare for today. Mazel tov, and please come back and visit.
• You should be very proud of yourself. I certainly am. Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah.
• Mazel tov! You practiced, you were patient with yourself and you were ready. That will serve you well.
• Congratulations, and thank you for being such a wonderful student. Mazel tov to you and your family.

Bar Mitzvah Wishes and Card Messages

A bar mitzvah marks the same milestone for a boy at 13. Most of the messages above work with "bar" in place of "bat." Here are a few more written for a boy.

• Mazel tov on your bar mitzvah!
• Mazel tov! You did a great job reading from the Torah today.
• Congratulations on becoming a bar mitzvah. We are so proud of you.
• Mazel tov, buddy. You stood up there with confidence, and we could not stop smiling.
• Mazel tov to our grandson. You worked so hard for today, and you made us very proud.
• Mazel tov! Your speech was smart, funny and very you.
• Congratulations on your bar mitzvah. May you keep growing in kindness, learning and good humor.
• Mazel tov, nephew! Thank you for letting us celebrate with you. We love you.

Bat Mitzvah Gift Money: Messages to Go With a Check

Many guests give money in multiples of 18. In Hebrew, each letter also stands for a number, and the two letters of chai, the word for "life," add up to 18. A gift of $18, $36, $54 or $180 is a way of wishing the young person a good life. For help choosing an amount, see our guide to how much money to put in a card.

• Mazel tov! Here is a little chai to help you start your next chapter.
• Wishing you a life full of good things. Mazel tov, and enjoy this gift.
• Mazel tov on your bat mitzvah! Please put this toward something that makes you happy.
• This gift comes in multiples of chai, with wishes for a long, healthy and happy life. Mazel tov.
• Mazel tov! We hope this helps with your college savings, or with something fun along the way.
• A little something for your future, with a lot of love. Mazel tov.
• Mazel tov! Save some, spend some and give some to a cause you care about.
• Congratulations on your bar mitzvah. Here is some chai for the road ahead. Mazel tov!

Bat Mitzvah Blessings From the Hebrew Bible

Many Jewish parents bless their children on Friday night with the Priestly Blessing from the book of Numbers. The verses below are from the New International Version (NIV). Write one on its own or after your own message.

• "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
• "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105
• "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25
• "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." Psalm 20:4
• "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
• "The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Psalm 121:8
• "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do you give for a bat or bar mitzvah?

There is no set amount. Many guests choose a multiple of 18 that fits their budget and how close they are to the family, such as $36 or $54.

Why do people give money in multiples of 18?

Hebrew letters also stand for numbers, and the two letters in chai, the word for "life," add up to 18. Giving in multiples of 18 is a way of wishing someone a good life.

What is the difference between a bar mitzvah and a bat mitzvah?

A bar mitzvah is for a boy and usually takes place at 13. A bat mitzvah is for a girl, at 12 in many Orthodox communities and often at 13 in others.

Can you write "Mazel tov" if you are not Jewish?

Yes. "Mazel tov" is the usual way to say congratulations at a Jewish celebration, and guests of every background use it. "Congratulations on your bat mitzvah" works just as well.

For more ideas, see our guides to congratulations messages, Hanukkah wishes and Passover messages.

Our Butterfly Garden and Boho Rainbow sets have no words on the front and are blank inside, so there is plenty of room for your own bat mitzvah message. Each box holds 12 cards with envelopes on 100% recycled paper. You can see more cards in our congratulations collection.