Like any other religion or race, the Jews too have their own set of Jewish customs and rituals. Although their customs are significantly different from other religions they are performed in celebration of the same reasons. There are specific Jewish customs for the birth of the child, the coming of age, marriage, death etc. Wherever applicable there are specific Jewish gifts too. Below is a brief of some of the customs and some Jewish gifts that go with them as well.
Customs At Birth
There are no specific Jewish customs at the time of birth. However in the case of a baby boy being born there is a ceremony called the Brit Milah, or what is more commonly known as circumcision.
This custom is carried out on the 8th day from the baby's birth, provided there are no medical reasons to delay the process. The Brit Milah is performed by a mohel who should be contacted at the time of the baby's birth. He is the person who sets the ideal time and date for the procedure. Common Jewish gifts that are given during this ceremony are baby clothes and accessories.
The Naming Ceremony
Amongst the Jewish customs that take place at birth is also the naming ceremony for a girl child. This naming ceremony traditionally takes place in a synagogue. The law of Jewish customs states that it has to take place on the Sabbath that follows immediately after the birth of the child. It is a very simple procedure where either either the parents or just the father is called for a blessing and a reading to the Torah. Today a lot of people have this ceremony at home. Traditional Jewish gifts that are given here besides Jewish gifts like clothes and accessories for the baby are baby naming certificates and blessing certificates.
Bat / Bar Mitzvah
The next in line of Jewish customs in the life of a follower is the Bat / Bar Mitzvah. This ceremony marks and commemorates the entry of a young Jew into the Jewish adult community. This is not a ceremony that is part of the Jewish law, but they have been in practice over the last 450 years. It is a simple ceremony where the person concerned is required to read the Haftorah which is the portion of the Torah for the week and then gives a scholarly comment or a speech. It is called the Bar Mitzvah for boys and the Bat Mitzvah for girls. Ideal Jewish gifts for this occasion would be Albums, Kiddush Cups, Stands and Shofars, Mezuzah Cases, Charity Boxes etc.
Marriage or Simcha
Jewish customs of marriage are called the simcha. Like any other religion, this too celebrates the union of two Jews. This simple ceremony is performed under a canopy and is carried out with the exchange of rings. There is also a line / vow that just the groom or the couple recites during the ceremony that officially binds them together as man and wife. There are no specific Jewish gifts for marriage. In most cases the bride and groom already have a registry of what they would like so picking out Jewish gifts for them should not be a problem. In case they don't there are options right from books to various collectibles that are available.
The Mikovaot
According to Jewish customs this ceremony is a cleansing bath that is a ritual and is one of the longest standing practices in Jewish customs. This ceremony is performed to endow marriages. Orthodox Jewish women are required to dip themselves in this bath every month after their menstruation before they resume relations of marriage with their husbands. Since this is more of a routine custom and not really a milestone ceremony, Jewish gifts are not given.