If you want to give the gift of food to your religious Jewish friends, then you must ensure that you give a Kosher gift. That means that the food you offer up has been prepared in a kosher kitchen and follows the laws of Kashrut.
Here are some wonderful kosher gift ideas to get your mind thinking:
- Deli trays
- Cookie platters
- Red or white wine
- Fresh or dry fruit bowl
- Dessert tray
- Cakes or pastries or candy
All of these options are good choices for any special occasion: bridal party, wedding, birth, birthday, graduation, special accomplishments, informal gatherings, etc. These are also good choices to bring for a shiva, or the three-day mourning period for guests to visit after a loved one passes on.
There is no given reason in the Torah for the laws of Kashrut. However, keeping kosher is a commandment, so no reason is necessary. Just like there is no reason for the commandant that tells us not to steal, or kill. Of course, those commandments are rated much higher on the scale of importance, but the point is that commandments don’t need reasons.
That being said, throughout the years many people have stated (or assumed) that the reason for the laws of Kashrut is for health and hygiene purposes. Just like the state enforces food safety laws in its restaurants, so does the Torah for its Jewish kitchens. There are three basic categories when it comes to keeping Kosher: dairy, meat and pareve. Dairy and meat can never be mixed with each other, but pareve foods can pair with either dairy or meat.
Many secular American Jews feel that the laws of Kashrut are outdated, since we now have the technology for proper sanitation and cleanliness. However, most secular Jews in Israel continue to keep Kosher because they either feel it is a way to stay close to G-d or they truly believe in the health benefits of the rules. Of course, it is much easier to keep the laws of Kashrut in Israel because nearly every restaurant is Kosher, unlike in the United States. Others continue to abide by the Kosher laws out of force of habit.
If you’re thinking about buying a Kosher gift for your friends or family, be sure that the provider of your food keeps a strictly Kosher kitchen and only uses Kosher foods. Also distinguish that the kitchen is Glatt Kosher (meaning strictly Kosher, following every rule) as opposed to ‘Kosher style’ (doesn’t use non-Kosher foods).