At a Jewish bar or bat mitzvah celebration, the charitable obligation often represented by donations is called tzedakah.
Tzedakah is commonly translated as charity, but its Hebrew sense is closer to justice or righteousness. Jewish tradition treats helping people in need as an obligation rather than merely an optional act of generosity. Families may connect a bar or bat mitzvah with tzedakah by asking guests to support a cause instead of giving gifts or by donating part of the celebration’s proceeds.
This practice is often linked to a mitzvah project, in which the young person researches a need and takes practical action. The chosen organization can address food insecurity, education, medical care, poverty, or another community concern.
Tzedakah is different from teshuvah, which means repentance or returning to proper behavior. Shabbat names the weekly day of rest, while kashrut concerns Jewish dietary laws.