Gift giving in Judaism comes throughout the year and connects to Jewish holidays. For Rosh Hashanah, pomegranate-themed gifts, honey pots, and items to renew your home for the New Year dominate. During Pesach, “mishloach manot” are gift bags of usually sweets, left clandestinely for their recipients, without acknowledgment.
But what about Hanukkah?
Surprisingly, Hanukkah is not a “traditional” gift-giving holiday. However, there’s no reason to avoid giving gifts. In fact, though we’re a bit biased, we think it’s a fantastic idea to give Hanukkah gifts.
Remember Jerusalem
On Hanukkah, being conscious about assimilation is even more important than other holidays. The conflation of Hanukkah and Christmas is one critical reason Jewish people must take special efforts to keep Hanukkah Jewish and not just “that other winter holiday.”
The Hanukkah story, in fact, serves as a warning tale of what happens when we the Jewish people forget Jerusalem or our identity. Help your friends and family remember Jerusalem with a Jerusalem gift. Wall hangings are the most popular, but Second Temple models, Jerusalem-themed Judaica, and artwork are also top choices.
Pro Tip: Use Hanukkah as a teaching moment to educate your children about the importance of retaining Jewish identity.
Celebrate the Miracle of Light
Hanukkah is the miracle of light, but it’s also a story about the miracle of the Jews and the endurance of the nation of Israel. Gifts that bring light, like menorahs, candlesticks, candles, and lights are particularly meaningful. Gifts from Israel can serve as a reminder that Israel truly is a light upon all nations.
Pro Tip: The more menorahs, the merrier! You can’t go wrong with the gift of a decorative functional menorah. Shabbat candlesticks are also a fitting gift.
Strengthen Our Faith
It was the convictions of the Maccabees that was so important to the Hanukkah story, and thus Hanukkah is a fitting time for gifts that help your loved ones observe theirs. Popular faith-based gifts for Hanukkah are Torah pointers, books on religious topics, kippot, tallit, and Judaica. Many of these items come in variations with a Jerusalem motif and are particularly appropriate for Hanukkah.
Pro Tip: If you’re not sure about someone’s observance, a suitable gift of faith could be a house blessing in Hebrew.
Celebrate Israel the Jewish People
Playing dreidel is a Hanukkah favorite and Hanukkah is a great time for games. Thus, a gift of games is an excellent choice for kids, families, and kids at heart. The winter school break is also an ideal time to bring new games into the home. Trivia games like JerusaleMix are a fun way to bring the whole family together to learn.
Pro Tip: Go for a Hanukkah-themed game – we offer a menorah puzzle, finger puppet Hanukkah set, or a menorah mosaic kit.
Gifts of Memory
With families living further and further away, a gift is more than just the object itself, it’s a reminder of the gift giver. It doesn’t have to big, fancy, or expensive to do the trick. For grandparents living far away, a gift is a great way to remind your grandchildren of you every time that they see it. A modest piece of jewelry, a fun t-shirt, a kids mezuzah, house decorations, or a kid-sized menorah can serve as a reminder of friends family who are far away. A framed picture is also unique; you can get a picture frame from Yair Emmanuel here.
Pro Tip: Ask mom or dad what the kids are into before you buy – they grow and change fast, so stay on top and just ask. And remembering goes both ways – sending grandparents a gift or a homemade “Happy Hanukkah” card is important too!
Some Last Thoughts
Gift giving is not mandatory for any holiday, but when done with thought and meaning, it certainly is valuable!
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