Jewish Wedding
Mazel tov, they found each other. A Jewish wedding is one of the most joyful milestones in Jewish life, and the gifts that mark it help build the Jewish home the couple is starting. These ideas carry the weight and the joy the day deserves.
For a Jewish wedding, cash and checks are common and welcome, and many guests give in multiples of 18, since 18 is the numerical value of chai, the Hebrew word for life, making the gift a blessing for the couple's life together. There is no fixed amount, and guests commonly give based on their relationship to the couple. Gifts from a registry and meaningful Judaica for the new Jewish home, such as Shabbat candlesticks, a kiddush cup, or a mezuzah, are also treasured.
15 Ideas Worth Giving
JewSA Basic Tee
Punny, proud, and guaranteed to start exactly one conversation per family member.
View the idea →Quality Hanukkiah (Menorah)
The one gift that comes back out every single year, carrying your name with it.
View the idea →A Great Jewish Cookbook
The gift of Jewish food is the gift of culture, memory, and an excuse to invite people over.
View the idea →Wine for the Cups
You cannot do a seder, or a Shabbat, without it. Bring the good stuff.
View the idea →Quality Tallit
A prayer shawl chosen for him, not handed to him, carried through a lifetime of mornings.
View the idea →A Gift in Multiples of 18 (Chai)
Chai means life, and 18 is the number. Honest, traditional, and always the right answer.
View the idea →An Experience Gift
Experiences outlast objects. Build the gift around what they love.
View the idea →Pomegranate Dish or Artwork
As full of blessings as the pomegranate is full of seeds.
View the idea →Mezuzah for the Doorpost
The most Jewish housewarming gift imaginable, and it stays with the home.
View the idea →Kiddush Cup
Every Jewish home needs one, and a good one becomes an heirloom.
View the idea →Charitable Donation in Their Honor
Tikkun olam, repairing the world, made in someone's name.
View the idea →Shabbat Candlesticks
Candle lighting is the gateway to Shabbat, give the gate.
View the idea →Challah Board and Cover Set
Practical, beautiful, and used every single week, a gift that earns its place.
View the idea →Havdalah Set
The beautiful little ceremony that closes Shabbat, wine, spices, and a braided flame.
View the idea →Tzedakah Box (Pushke)
A small box that turns giving into a daily habit, the pushke.
View the idea →Common Questions
How much money do you give for a Jewish wedding?
There is no set rule. Many guests give in multiples of 18, the value of the Hebrew word chai meaning life, as a blessing for the couple. The amount usually reflects your relationship to the couple and, for many guests, the cost of attending. Give what is meaningful and comfortable for you.
Why give wedding money in multiples of 18?
In Hebrew, the letters of chai, meaning life, add up to 18. Giving in multiples of 18, such as 36, 180, or 360, turns the gift into a wish for a long and blessed life together. It is a cherished custom at Jewish weddings and other celebrations.
What are good Jewish wedding gifts?
Beyond cash or a registry gift, meaningful choices help build the couple's Jewish home: Shabbat candlesticks, a kiddush cup, a challah board, a mezuzah for their door, or a piece of Judaica they will use for years. Gifts that mark their new home together carry lasting meaning.
Is cash or a registry gift better for a Jewish wedding?
Both are appropriate. Cash, often in multiples of 18, is traditional and always welcome, while a registry gift lets you give something the couple has chosen. Many guests do a combination, or pair a meaningful Judaica item with a card and a chai amount.
What is a mezuzah, and why is it a good wedding gift?
A mezuzah is a small case holding a scroll with verses from the Torah, affixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. Giving one to a newly married couple is a meaningful way to help them establish their first home together, which is why it is a classic and beloved wedding gift.