The Sukkah for Sukkot

Sukkot is all about living in and decorating your Sukkah, a non-permanent wooden hut, just like the Jewish forefathers. The Sukkah is a reminder of Heavenly protection, symbolizing the clouds of glory that protected the Jewish People in the desert during the exodus from Egypt. It also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of the world.

Make sure to be prepared and bring along a nice addition to gift and to love for your outside adventure:

Travel Candlesticks which can be used in the Sukkah and later for all your Shabbat journeys 

OR

Negal Vassa with Blessing for Ritual Hand Washing 

Lulav and Etrog

When we shake the lulav (a branch bouquet of palm, myrtle, and willow), one of the core traditions of Sukkot, it symbolizes sending out blessings to one and all and the unity of the Jewish people. The Etrog, believed to be our heart full of understanding and wisdom, is considered the most precious of all and is protected in a beautiful box.

Gift a premium etrog box to those you love:

Modern Etrog Box for the most precious of species – Protect your Etrog in style!

Inviting Ushpizin

During Sukkot, the seven founding fathers of the Jewish faith are said to visit the sukkah. Each supernal guest visits on a particular day and bestows his blessing and strengths. It is also customary to invite earthlier guests for every meal, including needy scholars. Maimonides remarked (Mishneh Torah, Laws of the Festivals 6:18):  “When one eats and drinks, one must also feed the stranger, the orphan, the widow and other unfortunate paupers. But one who locks the doors of his courtyard, and eat and drinks with his children and wife but does not feed the poor and the embittered soul—this is not the joy of a mitzvah, but the joy of his belly . . .”

Share the spirit of giving with this beautiful Judaica Gift:

A Luxurious Designer Wine Fountain Set with 8 Kiddush Cups 

Dipping Challah in Honey

Typically known as a Rosh Hashanah tradition, we continue to dip the Challah (bread) in honey throughout Sukkot to symbolize the sweetness of the new year. If you’ve already given honey pots as a gift, why not give a delightful plate for the honey dish? This also serves as a great décor accent for the table all year round!

Sterling Silver Honey Dish Plate

Simchat Torah 

At the end of Sukkot, we celebrate the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and begin reading the Torah anew.  This celebration, called Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of/with the Torah), falls out on the last day of Sukkot. It is accompanied by a lot of dancing and jubilation. To mark this special event, an elegant Torah pointer is a great gift.

Designer Silver Torah Pointer

A time of hope for the new year and of reflecting on the actions of the past year, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated by the Jewish community worldwide with beautiful traditions. The Shofar is blown early in the morning as one of the festival’s most important customs.

The Rosh Hashanah Meal

The Rosh Hashanah Holiday meal is traditionally eaten after sunset, by the warm glow of candlelight, lit to usher in the holiday. A fish head is placed on the table signifying the desire to be a ‘head’ and not a ‘tail’.  Round Challah (a round braided loaf of bread) forms a part of the festive meal. There are interesting connotations to the shape of the bread – some say it symbolizes the cycle of life while others call it a crown (reiterating that God is our King).

Freshly harvested fruit is a key element of Rosh Hashanah. Pomegranates, being one of the original species of the Holy Land and harvested during the time, is a key “New Fruit” at the meal signifying the hope for an abundance of good deeds in the new Jewish Year.

The most popular custom of the Rosh Hashanah meal is to eat apples dipped in honey. This is believed to set the tone for the rest of the year – that the new year be as sweet as honey.

Rosh Hashanah Gifts

The New Year is a time for all things new! People usually buy new things for their home, new clothes and jewelry for themselves and give gifts to loved ones. Jews all over the world excitedly prepare and plan thoughtful gifts for each other. To share the beauty and blessings of the holidays is important. Here are some beautiful gift ideas for Rosh Hashanah – you can get them for your home, for yourself or for family and friends!

Honey Dish

Honey Dishes feature high on the list of Rosh Hashanah Gifts for the home! Here is a hand-picked selection of sterling silver dishes from our collection:

Challah Board with Blessing

Rosh Hashanah Seder Plates

Personalized Rosh Hashanah Gifts

Personalized gifting is all the rage this year. It’s thoughtful, it’s personal and strengthens our important connections. Don’t we all love that warm fuzzy feeling when we glance at a meaningful gift given to us by someone close? An inscription makes it all the more special.

At Baltinester, we do personalized engravings on a wide variety of jewelry and Judaica. So, whether it is a blessing, a Hebrew quote, your names or a custom message, we can engrave it for you!

From all of us at Baltinester, we wish everyone a bright and happy new year – Shana Tova!

The Jewish holiday of love, Tu B’av falls this year on July 24. Popularly known as the Jewish Valentine’s Day today, Tu B’av was a day of match-making during the times of the Second Temple. Single young women, beautifully dressed in white, would dance around the vineyards in search of the perfect partner. Today, Tu B’av is celebrated with white-themed parties and exchanging gifts with the one you love.

Ani Ledodi Jewelry

One of the best ways to express true love is with a beautiful quote from the Song of Songs:  “Ani ledodi vedodi li” (I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine).

Handmade jewelry with an inscription of the Ani ledodi quote is a great gift option for Tu B’av. Available in rings, pendants and if you would like it custom-made, the Baltinester team is here!

Jewelry with a Heart!

The shape of the heart has always been an expression of love and is probably one of the most used symbols in the world. Needless to say, a piece of jewelry with the heart on it will be a sweet reminder of your love.

Silver, gold, diamonds, modern, classic, vintage – heart jewelry comes in all shapes and sizes…take your pick!

Ahava Pendants

The word ‘Ahava’ means Love in Hebrew. The word has its roots in the Hebrew ‘ahav’ – to give. After all, true love is all about giving each other love and commitment. This is the spirit behind expressing your love through thoughtful gifts for your partner.

If love is on your mind, express it with an Ahava love pendant – we have a variety of gold colors as well as diamond-studded options.

Gifts for Him

Men love gifts as much as women and there are so many things you can gift a man to show him how much he means to you. An accessory with a personal inscription makes a beautiful and thoughtful gift to cherish – a keepsake of your love. 

Cufflinks with his initials, diamond rings with inscriptions, and customised leather bracelets are wonderful options we recommend for Tu B’av. 

Budget or luxurious – we have all sorts of gifts to celebrate Tu B’av, the day of love. When a day means so much, celebrations are definitely in order!