If you've looked at our giving page, you may have noticed something odd: the suggested amounts aren't round numbers like $20 or $50. They're $18, $36, $180, $3,600. That's not a pricing quirk — it's one of the oldest habits in Jewish giving, and it has a name: Chai.

Letters that are also numbers

In Hebrew, every letter doubles as a number. The word חי ("Chai") means "life" — and its two letters, chet and yud, add up to 18 under the traditional system of gematria. Because the word itself means life, giving in multiples of 18 has become a quiet way of attaching a blessing to a donation: you're not just giving money, you're giving "life," multiplied.

Why $18 became a giving tradition

Over generations, this turned into a widespread custom across Jewish communities: wedding gifts, bar and bat mitzvah checks, and charitable donations are often given as $18, $36 ("Double Chai"), $180, or higher multiples of 18. It's a small ritual that turns an ordinary transaction into something symbolic — a way of saying l'chaim, "to life," with your wallet.

Giving $18 isn't about the amount. It's about attaching intention to generosity — a reminder that every gift, however small, is a vote for life and continuity.

How this shows up at NB Jewish

When we built our giving tiers, we wanted them to carry the same meaning our community carries at the table every week. So alongside larger sponsorships, you'll find:

  • $18 — A Chai gift. The classic gift of "life."
  • $36 — Double Chai. Twice the blessing, still deeply personal.
  • $180 — Sponsor a Shabbat guest. Ten times Chai, hosting one guest at our table.

From there, the tiers scale up to sponsoring a month of programming or becoming a community partner — but the smallest gifts carry just as much weight. Every Chai and Double Chai adds up to keep our Shabbat tables and classes running.

You don't need a reason to give in multiples of 18

You're always welcome to give any amount, of course — there's no minimum and no maximum. But if you've ever wondered why so many Jewish organizations suggest odd-looking numbers like $18 or $360, now you know: it's tradition, wrapped in arithmetic, wrapped in a wish for life.