The Jewish calendar is full of celebrations, from weekly Shabbat to high holy days and more. Whether you’ve been invited to a holiday meal or want to treat a far away family member, a Jewish holiday gift is a great way to go. From Hanukkah gifts to Shabbat, read on for our list of Jewish holiday gifts for every holiday.
Shabbat Gifts
Shabbat is a weekly celebration that invites Jewish people to slow down, take a breath, and reflect on the week that passed and the week ahead. The holiday celebrations begin Friday night with the lighting of the candles and a Shabbat dinner. It’s customary to invite friends and family to celebrate Shabbat and join in the meal. If you’ve been invited to a Shabbat dinner, consider thanking your host by celebrating with one of these Shabbat gifts.
Candle Holders
The first step in ushering in Shabbat is lighting the candles. This cherished ritual is performed at the start of the evening to welcome the sabbath and bring warmth, light and a sense of calm into the home. It helps set the tone for rest and reflection while creating a peaceful atmosphere known as Shalom Bayit, or peace in the home, and inviting everyone in the household to connect and celebrate together.
Next time you’re attending a Shabbat dinner, consider giving a beautiful pair of candle holders as a Shabbat gift. Tall candle holders are traditional, but they’re not the only option. A pair of tealight holders makes the perfect Shabbat gift for a couple that loves to travel, but wants to bring Shabbat along with them.
Challah Cover
The transition from the Shabbat rituals into the meal happens with the blessings over the challah. Two challahs (braided loaves of bread) are placed on a plate, then covered with a cloth called a challah cover.
The tradition of Hidur Mitzvah, beautifying the commandment, states that a challah cover should be decorative, rather than plain. By using something special, we don’t simply fulfill the commandment, but we do so to the fullest extent.
Shabbat comes every week, so Jewish households can never have enough challah covers. By giving one as a Shabbat gift, you provide your hosts with new and exciting options to include on their Shabbat table.
Shabbat Box
Whether a child is striking out on their own or a newlywed couple is building a Jewish home together, our signature Shabbat box makes celebrating the weekly ritual easy. This curated mix of ritual objects has everything they need to start observing the day of rest, including candle holders, matches, and candle sticks, a Kiddush cup, challah cover, and conversation cards that bring meaning to every celebration.
Passover Gifts
Passover is the holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. After years of prospering, Pharaoh became threatened by the Israelites and took them as slaves.
God, in an attempt to win their freedom, sent 10 plagues to the people of Egypt. The final plague was the death of every Egyptian’s first born. The Israelites marked their doorposts with lamb’s blood, so God knew to pass over their home, the origin of the holiday’s name. After this last plague, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go.
The celebration of Passover is known as a seder. It’s a ceremonial meal that enables Jews to relive, remember, and retell their ancestors’ experiences as slaves in Egypt. Here are a few customary gifts to give to thank your seder hosts.
Seder Plate
The seder plate sits at the center of every seder table. It holds six symbolic foods that represent the story of Passover. As we progress through the story, we eat each food on the seder plate and are reminded of the sacrifices our ancestors made for us. The seder plate is a perfect example of the uniqueness of Passover. Rather than simply celebrating the holiday, we attempt to relive it so we can feel more connected to and grateful for our ancestors.
For larger Passover celebrations, some families choose to have a seder plate on every table. The more tables, the more seder plates, making these a perfect Passover gift for hosts.
Matzah and Afikomen Bag
The afikomen is a Passover tradition that’s just for kids. During the seder, three pieces of matzah, unleavened bread, are placed on the table. The middle piece is broken in half, and half is designated as the afikomen. The afikomen is placed in a bag and hidden somewhere in the house. It’s the children's job to find it. Whoever does gets a prize!
An afikomen bag is a fun Passover gift that engages the kids, too. Find an afikomen bag with traditional Jewish imagery, or treat the kids with an Afikomen bag that features their favorite characters.
Hanukkah Gifts
Celebrated toward the end of each year, Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees in reclaiming the Temple from their oppressors in the 2nd century BC. It’s Judaism’s primary gift giving holiday, so Hanukkah gifts are often in high demand. Here are a few that will please your Jewish friends and family.
Menorah
While the 8-day long celebration is known for jelly-filled donuts and gift giving, the main feature of the holiday is the lighting of the candles. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, there was only enough oil in the light to last one day. Miraculously, it lasted eight. Each Hanukkah, we light eight candles to remember that miracle.
Every Jewish person needs a menorah, making it the perfect Hanukkah gift. In some families, every family member has their own menorah to light each night. Many people display their menorah as home decor throughout the year.
When selecting a menorah to give as a Hanukkah gift, take some time to think about your recipient’s taste and style. Menorahs come in every shape, color, and style under the sun. There’s always something that’s sure to match their style!
Matches and a Match Dish
They may have Hanukkah candles and a menorah to hold them, but what about something to light them with? We believe every part of a Hanukkah celebration should be special and meaningful, and matches are no different. Rather than a grocery store box of matches or a kitchen lighter, give a beautiful box of matches and a match dish as a Hanukkah gift.
The best thing about this Hanukkah gift is its practicality. Those same items can be used each week on Shabbat and during other Jewish holidays, too. Each time they strike a match, they’ll be reminded of the warmth your relationship brings.
Rosh Hashanah Gifts
Rosh Hashanah, which literally translates to “head of the year,” is the Jewish new year. Unlike the secular calendar, which is solar, the Jewish calendar is lunar. Our new year falls somewhere between September and October each year.
The holiday strikes an important balance between introspection and hope. It’s a chance to consider the year that’s passed, right wrongdoings, and make wishes for the year ahead.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for 48 hours with a combination of synagogue services and celebratory meals. If you are a part of a celebration, read on to discover our favorite Rosh Hashanah gifts.
Honey Jar
Honey is a customary Rosh Hashanah treat, believed to usher in a sweet year ahead. The most common way to eat it is drizzled on apples, though it’s also found in honey cakes, challah, and other treats.
A honey jar is a thoughtful and unique Rosh Hashanah gift that’s practical all year round. Our honey jar is crafted from teak wood and glass, for a jar that’s as beautiful as it is celebratory.
Gratitude Journal
Self-reflection is one of the main themes of Rosh Hashanah. It’s a time to look back on the past year, consider our actions, and set intentions for the year ahead. This period encourages thoughtful reflection, personal growth, and meaningful resolutions, leading up to Yom Kippur.
A gratitude journal is a gift that perfectly reflects these themes of introspection and self reflection seen in Rosh Hashanah. It helps start the new year on a positive foot and cultivate an attitude of gratitude and positivity. These actions set the stage for another year in the Book of Life.
Oneg Home: Your Source for Jewish Holiday Gifts
For meaningful, contemporary Jewish holiday gifts, discover Oneg Home. From seder plates and menorahs to all-in-one Jewish gift sets that make holiday celebrations easy, we have meaningful gifts for every occasion. Help your friends and family make celebrating Jewish holidays more meaningful and accessible with Oneg Home.
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