Jewish Gifts make the World Go ‘Round

Jewish Gifts: A Symbol of Love

Our culture places relationships on a hero sized pedestal, but for the wrong reasons.  The ever growing popularity of “trading up” stems from a systemic obsession with the idea that we enter into relationships to be completed and find fulfillment. We ask questions like “What am I looking to get out of this relationship?” We need to pull a sharp u-turn.

Love in Judaism is about giving.

The Hebrew word for love is Ahavah, the root of which is “Hav”, which means to give. This is amazing, because it turns out societal concept of love on its head. Instead of the love-affair our culture maintains with the feelings of love, which is based in the feelings that the other person is giving us, Jewish love calls us to focus on how we provide.

When to Give

There are moments when our hearts are open wide and it’s easy to give. We gladly give party favors when throwing a wedding or Bar Mitzvah for a child. When the Shabbat comes, we set the table with glittering finery and cook up lavish meals. But sometimes we need to give when it we who are receiving.

Specifically when we are someone’s guest do we find ourselves needing to show our gratitude. This is based in a deep Jewish concept: God is all good and wants to bestow it. But to receive free gifts without any effort would eventually be embarrassed. Getting something for nothing is sweet for a while, but eventually the sensation spoils, turning sour. That’s why God gave us a way of life filled with stuff to do. The eventual reward and divine goodness that we receive will have been earned and therefore all the more satisfying.

Giving from the Source

Fine, you’re in. You’re ready to give. Where do you start? Jewish gifts should be rooted in the history and culture of Judaism. The Mishna teaches that the world is broken into different zones of increasing levels of holiness, like concentric circles around a target. Israel is holy, Jerusalem is holier, the temple mount is holier yet.

The concept of holiness in Judaism stems from that with gives meaning and life. Thus, the focal point of all spirituality in the world rests at the center of the ancient temple. Why? Jewish tradition maintains that point of the big bang, the infinitesimal point from which all the universe sprung forth was right there.

In short, the holiness of Israel – the Holyland – in latent in it being the plane on which the world was given by God to man. Tremendous.

This is why when choosing where to buy a Jewish gift, it should be a gift from Israel. In their spiritual essence, gifts from Israel encapsulate the ultimate energy of all giving that has ever been: The gift of life itself that was given to man from Above.

Where do I Purchase Jewish Gifts from Israel?

The best place to buy your Jewish gifts from Israel is from our online Judaica store. We carry the entire spectrum of Judaica and Judaica gifts for all occasions. Siddurim,other Jewish books and so much more is waiting for you inside the Miller Judaica web store.