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Dec

20

Everything You Need To Know About Kosher Giving

Kosher GivingJewish holiday traditions celebrate faith, family, long-standing traditions and kosher food. Important aspects of some Jewish holiday traditions include gift giving and following stricter than usual kosher dietary laws.

Why Give Kosher for the Holidays?

For busy families, eating kosher is not possible at every meal. During the holidays, some families make a concerted effort to follow Jewish holiday traditions and eat kosher meals and give kosher gifts. Kosher giving shows respect for Jewish spirituality and overall health, and it pays homage to Jewish holiday traditions. Consuming kosher also teaches us to respect other living animals. It also teaches us self-discipline.

Kosher 101

When looking for kosher holiday gifts, keep in mind the three kosher categories of dairy, meat and pareve. Dairy and meat may not be consumed together or prepared together. Keep this in mind when looking for kosher gifts, as any product containing both meat products and dairy products would not be kosher.

Pareve is neither meat or dairy and can be eaten with either dairy foods or meat products.

Identifying Kosher Food Gifts

Kosher food gifts bear a "hechsher," or a symbol that ensures the food item meets the kosher standards of a supervising rabbi. One common hechsner is the OU of the Orthodox Union. The Star-K is another kosher symbol found on foods that you can find on products when shopping for kosher holiday gifts.

Kosher Gift-Giving Holidays

Kosher Holiday Gifts for Hanukkah

While it's usually children who receive gifts for Hanukkah, you can still partake in kosher giving at your family's or friend's Hanukkah party. In addition to the ceremonial menorah lighting, serving a dairy-based not meat-based meal is also becoming a popular Jewish holiday tradition for Hanukah. Because meat and dairy cannot be served or eaten together and remain kosher, a holiday with a kosher dairy-based meal is the perfect holiday to give the kosher gift of Enstrom's almond toffee.

Because the sweet treat is dairy based, it can be enjoyed without having to wait six hours after you've eaten the main meal to dive into the sweet kosher gift, as would be true with a meat-based holiday meal.

Remember to burn the used menorah's wicks or wrap them properly before discarding them.

Shavuot Kosher Giving

On Shavuot, Jewish holiday traditions historically include dairy-based meals. A top kosher gift for Shauvot would be some OU-certified kosher cheese. Another nice touch would be to give aromatic flowers with lush greens, for decorating the home.

Kosher Ideas for Tu B'Shvat

Tu B'Shvat is "New Year for the trees." Jewish holiday traditions for Tu B'Shvat involve eating seven different fruits for which the Land of Israel is praised. A top kosher gift idea would be to assemble a simple basket containing honey, olives, figs, pomegranates, grapes, barley and wheat. Kosher foods with those ingredients would also make tasty kosher gifts.

Top Kosher Gifts for Purim

Purim brings some of the most festive Jewish holiday traditions into our homes. The Book of Esther is at the heart of the holiday.

Purim is also a holiday with fun costumes, revelry and wine, balance the day with healthy kosher gifts. A Jewish holiday tradition on Purism includes giving charity to at least two people. Also give two ready-to-eat kosher foods to friends, to symbolize kinship. Consider sending spicy salsa, guacamole, mixed nuts, gourmet dried fruits or a homemade bean salad, all kosher.

Written by Pam Gaulin

 

Dec

17

Researching Kosher Gifts

Kosher GiftsSelecting the proper kosher gift for special holidays is always a great adventure. Whether buying for yourself or honoring the religious beliefs of close friends or relatives, bear in mind it takes a little bit of research to ensure the kosher food gifts are certified; however, the recipient will appreciate the fact that the time and care was taken to select such a special gift. There is a wide variety of kosher food gift items from which to select for the many holidays that adhere to Jewish dietary laws appropriate to the recognized holidays including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukkah, Pesach, Sukkot and many others.

If planning to honor a friend on a specific holiday and presenting a bottle of wine is your preference, do the research to ensure the wine selected has in fact honored the agricultural laws to make kosher wine. Visit Kosher Wine Report to do a little research prior to purchasing the bottle of wine and try to select a wine appropriate to the holiday. For instance, a great recommendation for kosher wine for Rosh Hashanah is Recanati Petit Syrah. Made from a combination of 70 percent petit syrah and 30 percent zinfandel, the delicious wine is an Israeli blend that is a fragrant and spicy red wine. The retail price for a bottle of Recanati Petit Syrah is approximately $16.99.

Beer - Kosher GiftsShiner Hefeweizen Beer is another excellent gift to give when visiting friends throughout the Jewish holidays, though finding the beer locally may be a challenge. If you plan in advance you may still be able to get your hands on the popular product by ordering kosher products online. Shiner Hefeweizen is brewed in Shiner, Texas, and it doesn't bear the Va'd symbol on the label; however, it is under the supervision of the Va'd in Detroit, Michigan, and it can be found online at Sam's.

Enstrom's makes an incredible almond toffee that meets the certification for kosher dairy products and offers a variety of kosher candy from which to select ideas for gift giving. The selection of kosher candy available includes milk chocolate, dark chocolate, toffee squares and toffee petites. Available in 4- or 5-pound boxes as well as in gift tins, the delicious toffee can be purchased from the official Web site.

If in doubt as to certification when purchasing a kosher food gift item look for the OU seal. When purchasing in a shop, ask the shopkeeper. Another excellent way to stay informed about kosher gift giving particularly as it pertains to food items is to visit the Web site OUkosher.org, which provides a wealth of information regarding kosher certification including newly certified products. Ensure that the kosher gift you give for the holidays is certified and take pride in doing the research to enjoy the act of kosher gift giving.


Written by J. Rica Middlebrooks

 

Nov

17

Last-Minute Gift Ideas

Rushing last minute to find that special kosher gift for a friend or loved one? Gift baskets make great last-minute options. All you need is a basket and a group of kosher items that go together. It's a good idea to personalize the gift to the person you're giving it to. One way to do this is to take a general idea and then throw in something that the recipient enjoys. For instance, if you are doing a last-minute gift basket with a kosher chocolate theme and you know the recipient likes to eat chocolate during movies, throw in a pair of movie tickets as well. The great thing about a last-minute gift basket is that the ideas are endless and they can be compiled quickly.

Kosher Toffee and Chocolate Gift Basket

Almond toffee and chocolate are the perfect complementary gift basket confections. A mixture of different types of chocolates and toffee is a good idea. This way, the gift recipient will not tire of the treat. Chocolates and toffee are an easy gift to create at the last minute. To be sure you are purchasing kosher confections, always check the label. Enstrom's is a great company that makes both toffee and chocolate. All of of their confections are certified kosher under the Scroll K / Vaad Hakashrus of Denver. For a last-minute option, Enstrom's accepts orders 24 hours a day on their Web site and offers a variety of shipping options that include two-day and even next-day service.

Kosher Gourmet Gift Basket

Another great last-minute gift basket is one that contains assorted gourmet foods. Some suggestions include wine, crackers, cheese, salami, olives, oranges, apples and pecans. Just as with the confections, remember to make sure all items are kosher. KosherWineReport.com is a great place to learn about kosher wines and cheeses. This way your selection, even at the last minute, can be an informed one.

Kosher Bath Care Gift Basket

Many people enjoy gifts they can use in the bath. Kosher bath salts and oils are one idea. Others may include kosher shampoo, conditioner and soaps. Kosher lotions, body spray and candles are also good for last-minute kosher gift baskets. Raffia is great on the inside of the basket for holding these small items in place, as well as creating a decorative look.

 

Written by Momie Tullottes

 

Nov

6

Top 10 Kosher Gifts

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