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9
Jewish holiday traditions in regards to gift giving are different from those associated with Christian holidays. For example, while Christians like to give gifts to all the important people in their lives during the Christmas holiday, Jews generally only give Hanukah gifts to their own children. This is not to say that people of the Jewish faith don't enjoy gift giving. In fact, they excel in the spirit of generosity. However, they focus their gift giving efforts on a spring holiday known as Purim, as opposed to their winter holiday of Hanukah.
Contemporary Jewish Holiday Gift Giving
In the United States the melting pot effect has evolved the way that many American Jews celebrate their holidays, especially in regards to gift giving. For example, many Jewish families who are headed by a couple of mixed faiths or have friends who are Christian exchange Christmas gifts. Business owners who are Jewish have also started to give their customers and employees, who many be Jewish, Christian or another religion, holiday gifts as a way to say thank you for their business or service.
Kosher Giving During the Holidays
Kosher gifts are attractive to both people of the Jewish faith as well as to people of other faiths. Kosher is a Jewish term that refers to religious laws for food items. The basic rules of being kosher require that meat come from specific "clean" sources, that it is slaughtered properly and that it is not manufactured, processed or served with dairy products. When you are selecting a kosher gift to give to someone this year or next, make sure you keep the rules for being kosher in mind. However, if you are unsure what items are kosher and what items are not, just look for an "OU" symbol on the label of the item you are buying; this means that it has been certified as kosher.
Kosher Ideas for Holiday Gifts
Nearly everyone enjoys a food gift, and because of this many businesses and people decide to give food gift baskets. If you are interested in kosher giving you will need to pay attention to what items are included in your baskets. First of all make sure dairy and meat items are not mixed in a single basket. For example, you can put together a kosher dairy gift basket with items like kosher cheese spreads, kosher certified dairy candies (like the ones produced by Enstrom's) and kosher dairy beverage mixes.
If you want a hardier gift basket, then put together meat baskets or soup baskets. For example, a kosher chili-making gift basket makes a great gift. These baskets tend to include a pot for making chili, a seasoning mix, beans and serving bowls. To ensure this gift basket is appropriate for a kosher gift you need to make sure that the meat that is included is kosher, or simply remove the non-kosher meat from the basket and replace it with a can of certified kosher chili meat.
While kosher holiday gifts of any type will be appreciated, the top kosher gifts will come from the heart and be backed up by your sincere appreciation or love.
References
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/kosher
http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm
Stritof, Sheri and Stritof Bob. (2008). "Observing the winter holidays as a Jewish-Christian interfaith couple."
Written by JB Robbins
Nov
6
Holidays, birthdays and special occasions are cause for the perfect gift. Kosher gift giving offers unique challenges and opportunities for people to seek out and support industries that take kosher preparations seriously and make them a part of their business plan. In addition, many companies voluntarily seek out the approval of Orthodox Union Kosher when marketing their products. Kosher gift giving allows you to meet the specific needs of the recipient, as well as support sellers who acknowledge and value kosher practices.
1.Enstrom's Customizable Toffee Gift Boxes
Enstrom's toffee and candy, which are certified kosher diary products, are a delicious and upscale choice for holiday or corporate gift giving. Their customizable gift boxes can be purchased in larger quantities, and messages can be printed on sleeves that cover the boxes. Kosher toffee with a twist, Enstrom's toffee is a great choice for kosher gift giving.
2. Abarbanel Kosher Wines
Abarbanel Kosher wines make the perfect gift during the holiday season. The wine selection is large, offering white, red and sparkling varieties from around the world. Place one of each in a gift basket for a holiday hostess.
3. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly jelly beans have been certified as kosher by the OU (Orthodox Union) as well. Jelly Belly jelly beans are the perfect kosher gift idea, as the snacks can be packaged in re-sealable tubs, as business gifts or in machines and dispensers.
4. Jolly Time Popcorn
Jolly Time popcorn is a great choice for kosher gift giving. Like Jelly Belly, their products are certified as kosher by the OU. While popcorn might not seem like much of a gift, consider creating a movie night gift package, complete with DVDs, popcorn and a bottle of kosher wine.
5. Welcome Baby Gift Basket
Consider putting together a gift basket for a new arrival, complete with the things mom and dad might really appreciate--food and milk! Healthy Times and Nature's One are both certified as kosher, and their product lines would make a great addition to a kosher gift basket.
6. Welcome Home Supplies
If you want to help a family member or friend celebrate a new home with a kosher gift twist, consider filling a gift basket with kosher certified cleaning supplies. The Soft Scrub product line is a great kosher gift choice and can help set up a new home's kitchen with things homeowners can definitely use and need.
7. Water and Vitamin Drinks
Got a college student headed out the door? SoNu Beverages are a great choice to stock a kosher student's dorm room refrigerator. These water- and vitamin-filled drinks are not only kosher, but they're organic, too!
8. For the Tea and Coffee Drinker
A gift basket filled with tea and coffee is a great choice for a kosher recipient. New Line organic teas and the Buck's County Coffee Company are both great choices for kosher gift giving.
9. Funky Chunky Gourmet Snacks
Looking for impressive packaging, as well as the kosher gift itself? Try Funky Chunky's gourmet snacks, certified as kosher foods. They offer everything from popcorn and pretzels to caramel corn - all in classy gift packaging, too.
10. Halloween Treat Packages
Looking to fill a bag with Halloween treats for a kosher recipient? Dum Dum lollipops are a great choice, as are Jelly Belly jelly beans. These are readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores, so they make a great choice for a last-minute kosher children's gift package.
Kosher gift giving allows you to meet the specific needs of the recipient, as well as support sellers who acknowledge and value kosher practices. Dress up a simple gift with great packaging offered by several companies, and you'll have a gift that's not only kosher but impressive to look at, too.
Additional Resources:
Orthodox Union Kosher; http://oukosher.org
Written by Kelly Herdrich
Nov
5
When you're searching for the perfect holiday gift for family and friends this season, gourmet food and candy are always well received. Buying food gifts for people with dietary restrictions is no longer a challenge because specialty items such as kosher food and candy are readily available online! Whether you're celebrating the holidays with family and friends who follow kosher dietary principles or want to enjoy original, authentic and high-quality foods at the holiday table, you'll find hundreds of kosher products and gifts online, ready for delivery to your home or sent as a gift to someone on your holiday gift list.
Buying Kosher Gifts Online
Gourmet food items such as kosher candy, kosher cakes and other sweet treats make excellent gifts during the holiday season, and many vendors now offer national shipping options for easy delivery. Companies such as Enstrom's, a kosher candy and toffee company, offer beautiful gift boxes, gift tins and gift baskets for the holidays and other celebrations. Enstrom's toffee and candy are made with certified kosher dairy products and food is prepared under the supervision of a rabbi. Kosher gifts may also include items such as:
- Chocolate babka
- Kosher brownies
- Rugelach tins
- Kosher wine baskets
- Kosher cheesecake
- Dried fruit and nuts baskets
- Kosher chocolate and cookie assortments
Is It Really Kosher?
Kosher food must meet certain standards to be deemed 'certified' kosher. Since most gifts and food items are processed foods, they are only considered to be kosher if they are prepared in the presence of a rabbi. Companies that sell kosher food online will provide this information in their 'About Us' section or FAQs area to confirm whether their food and gift items truly are kosher.
Kosher meat products must also adhere to certain guidelines. The poultry and meat must have been prepared by people who are trained and qualified to slaughter kosher animals, and the meat may only come from animals that chew cud and those that have cloven hooves. Companies that sell kosher meat products typically explain where their products came from and confirm whether the meat is kosher certified. It's important to remember that only some types of birds for the holiday dinner table are considered to be kosher in the United States; chicken, turkey, goose and duck meat are all acceptable for the kosher holiday table, but birds such as hens, quail and pheasant are not.
When it comes to selecting desserts, only some bakeries across the United States adhere to strict kosher guidelines and make sure that all ingredients are certified kosher. Kosher bakery cakes, cookies and sweets are typically made from scratch and with kosher dairy products. Kosher bakeries may also provide proof of kosher certification that states all products are made under strict rabbinical supervision.
Finding and buying kosher food has become easier than ever with the vast online selection of products, gift items and candy available from hundreds of vendors around the country. Whether you're searching for gourmet candy and toffee for gift giving, or searching for a special cake for the dinner table, you can search online to find a large assortment of gourmet food items from kosher kitchens across the U.S.
Written by Sabah Karimi
