Jewish Gifts and Knowledge

There are always the classic gifts to consider when you are invited to a Jewish wedding ceremony. If the couple is religious, it is sometimes risky to stray too far from the ordinary. So, if you receive an invitation to attend a Jewish wedding, consider these Jewish wedding gifts to give:

• Candle stick holders: in a religious home, these will be used every Friday and Saturday, so a good pair is essential. However, you can make the Sabbath extra special for the soon-to-be wedded couple if you find a pair of candle stick holders that have extra flare, elegance or design. Ones covered in sparkles or gems may be beautiful, or others that feature a colorful pattern. You can also go very simply and elegance with sterling silver holders that stand tall and stylish. Traditionally, the mizvot of lighting the candles on the Sabbath is the mother’s responsibility, so it is just fine if the candle stick holders you find have a bit of a girly design.
• Mezuzah: every Jewish home must have a mezuzah on their front door post, if not on every door in the house. You can find unique mezuzahs with fun prints and designs on them, or elegance ones with abstract designs that can sometimes take up six to 10 inches on one’s wall! Find one that can be engraved with the couple’s wedding date and names or find a simple one that speaks of elegance and happy occasions. The couple can never have too many of these, since religious couples need one for every room in the house.
• Menorah: the eight- tiered candle holder for Hanukah is a popular gift because everyone celebrates this holiday and everyone needs a menorah in order to do so. The styles of menorahs that are available today are endless: fun cartoons, stylish sterling silver casings, tv themed menorahs, classic looking menorahs, artsy abstract menorahs and even personalized menorahs. Choose one that reminds you of the soon to be wedded couple so they can use it during that special time of year and keep it on display in home year round.

Shopping for Jewish gifts is not a difficult task, but finding the right piece that is truly unique may require a bit more time than usual. Just be sure to scout out all your options before making your choice. In the end, so long as you have put genuine thought into the mission, the lucky couple will be extremely grateful no matter what!

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A Jewish wedding is a huge occasion to celebrate and, should you be invited to one, you are certain to have a great time. Even the ultra orthodox are known to have a wild and crazy time! But, before the Jewish wedding rings are exchanged, many bridal showers and l’chiam (a toast) parties are thrown for the bride.

In Orthodox communities, the women and the men are separated for many occasions. The men may have their own gathering, while the women attend showers. The bride and groom often marry young- generally anytime between 19 and 24.

At the wedding, it is a mitzvah (or ‘good deed’) to make the bride laugh and dance with her. It is also a great time to seek a blessing from the bride on her wedding day, as she is very special on this day and the blessing is more potent than on any other day.

Ideas: Jewish New Home Gifts

Great bridal shower gifts would be any new home gifts that the bride and groom can put to good use. Jewish new home gifts may include:

• Challah Cover- these are fancy rectangle cloth covers that lies on top of the challah (or bread) during the Sabbath. It is removed after the blessing over the bread has been made. It is always nice to have a beautiful challah cover and fancy ones may have embroidery or gems, it may be hand painted or it may be crafted from fine materials (like silk).

• Shabbot Candle Stick Holders- beautiful candle stick holders are always a wonderful gift for a newly wedded couple. They will be used every Sabbath and they are considered a very special part of the Shabbot routine that is reserved for the lady of the house.

• Mezuzah- this is a wonderfully clever gift because it is something that every Jewish family needs, and they need a lot of them! A mezuzah is ordinarily placed on the right side of every doorway in the house. They carry a tiny scroll of Hebrew text inside and it is believed to bring protection for the house. In Orthodox communities, men and women touch the mezuzah with their hand and kiss that hand every time they enter a room. All kinds of mezuzahs- clay, glass, metal, funny pictures, beautiful designs, or just plain- are available and a couple can never have too many!

*Remember that, if you are invited to an orthodox bridal shower, the food must be kosher. If you wish to bring a dessert, make sure you purchase it from a kosher bakery, or ask the hostess how you can help.

The proper attire may be a skirt, leggings and a long sleeve blouse. Even though orthodox women don’t let their arms or legs show, doesn’t mean they are not in style. If they have a cute tank top or sleeveless dress, just wear a shell (a basic black or white long sleeve shirt) underneath.

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