Passover
Passover, also known by its Hebrew name Pesach, is celebrated every spring. On this holiday we commemorate the deliverance from Egypt and becoming free men after hundreds of years of bondage. We celebrate Passover for seven days, during which there is a strict prohibition against eating leavened bread. The abstinence from leaven is in remembrance of the night when the Hebrews left Egypt so hastily that the bread they baked did not have time to rise. When visiting Judaica stores, some of the Pesach-related items include the Seder plate, Kiddush cup, and the Passover Haggadah, all of which make for great Passover gifts.
The Seder plate is a traditional platter placed in the center of the table. On it are six types of food that evoke ideas related to Passover and the Exodus. Seder plates are so popular that entire Judaica websites are devoted just for the multifarious types that exist.
As of late, stained glass Seder plates are becoming increasingly popular. For the glass-lovers, a great option could be a L16? x W14? greenish-blue glass and pewter plate with Hebrew writings. On outer layer of the plate are six small pewter boards engraved with Hebrew names of the six foods, each to be placed next to its corresponding name. In the middle of the Seder plate is a larger pewter board displaying the Hebrew word, Pesach. While the center of the plate is clear, as you near the rim you can notice the delicate blue and green colors interchanging.
There are many types of Seder plates, including silver, wood, and even gold. Prices of plates range from less than a hundred dollars to over a thousand. If you have many little children at the table it may be a good idea to get a Seder plate that involves childish themes, for instance cartoon Seder plates, animal Seder plates, and more.
The Kiddush cup is used every Shabbos and major holiday. We welcome the special day by performing the Kiddush ceremony and we depart from it by performing the havdalah ceremony, both of which involve reciting a blessing over wine. On Passover, however, the Kiddush cup often plays another important part: Ashkenazis fill the cup, symbolically, for Elijah the Prophet, who is believed to eventually come to announce the arrival of the Messiah. There are countless types of Kiddush cups, or Kiddush goblets, from Sterling silver, to bronze, ceramic and many more. Some cups are etched with images of Jerusalem or traditional Hebrew writings.
The Passover Haggadah consists partly of Midrashim, legends, psalms and prayers that we say on the first night of Passover. The Passover Haggadah is translated into many languages, and many Haggadahs are bilingual, written both in Hebrew and another language. Some Haggadahs are great even for children who cannot read, because they contain vivid, often extremely detailed illustrations. Even adults always enjoy experiencing the Ten Plagues visually illustrated on the page. Because there are so many types of them, Passover Haggadahs are great gifts for all occasions, be it a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a birthday, an anniversary or any other cause for celebration.