Finding a meaningful gift for someone in the middle of converting to Judaism — or celebrating becoming Jewish — can feel unexpectedly tricky. (Or for this person at Hanukkah!) You want to honor the moment, mark their hard work, and choose something that actually fits their life… but you’re never quite sure what’s appropriate, what’s useful, or what they might already have.
That’s where this gift guide comes in.
In the video below, I walk you through 60+ practical, thoughtful gift ideas for every budget — from classic Judaica to cozy self-care gifts to heartfelt DIY options. These aren’t random suggestions pulled from the internet. They’re the kinds of things real converts actually use, appreciate, and remember long after the holiday season ends.
Whether your loved one is just starting their journey, deep in the process, or celebrating their mikvah, you’ll find ideas here that feel respectful, supportive, and genuinely meaningful.
Let’s make it easy — and let’s make it special.
Transcript below.
Transcript:
It’s almost Hanukkah.
You know someone who’s completing or is in the process of converting to Judaism, you wanna mark the moment with something special, but you’re not sure what’s appropriate or useful.
This gift guide offers practical, meaningful gifts for every budget.
From traditional Judaica to heartfelt DIY gifts.
The first category: Jewish Life Basics.
If you’re not sure where to start, go with the basics.
These are the items that help shape everyday Jewish living. The things that bring Shabbat, holidays, and blessings into daily life.
Simple, classic, and always appreciated.
They’re touch points for memory and meaning.
Helping a new Jew turn their home into a space that feels sacred and lived in. The thing to be cautious about here is they may already have one, and are you running the risk of duplication?
Maybe you know they have a very basic version and you wanna get them a nicer, more expensive version.
Or maybe you know that they’re using something that’s not specifically Judaica to fulfill the task, and you’d like to replace it with something that is specifically Judaica. These are the kinds of gifts that usually require a little more coordination with the gift receiver or that you have seen these items in their home and daily life.
Shabbas candlesticks.
I would usually stay away from these, but I feel like the list would be incomplete without them. Most people already have a set. People develop really deep relationships with them, and they’re also very subject to taste.
So in general, I would advise people to upgrade their own candlesticks rather than having someone buy them for them, unless it’s a situation where they’ve made like a gift list or they’ve explicitly told you that they want a specific set or from a specific artist.
Next. Mezuzah scrolls are really useful ’cause they’re very expensive if they don’t already have them. But also the decorative mezuzah cases. The cases kind of run the same problems as the candlesticks.
It’s a good team buy, buying together.
A Netilat Yedayim cup and you may want to include a matching bowl depending on people’s traditions on how they do Netilat Yedayim.
If they don’t already have two handled cups. That’s a really good and practical gift in general because people will usually want at least one for every bathroom and the kitchen sink.
A Havdalah set. A lot of beginners don’t have a specific Havdalah set. They’re just cobbling together pieces within their home.
You could go with a specific Judaica Kiddish Cup or a kiddish fountain set.
Challah board and knife. I have found that it’s quite hard to shop for traditional Judaica style Challah boards on Amazon. So that may be one that you would wanna source from a specialty Jewish store.
Challah covers in a nice design are always a good choice, but you don’t want too many of them.
A Seder plate is something that beginners are unlikely to have already, especially a nice one.
A piece they are almost guaranteed to not have is an apple and honey dish set. Is it required? No. Is it nice? Yeah.
If you wanna go more practical, a Shabbos clock or a Shabbat lamp.
A clock that has Hebrew letters instead of English letters. It’s a nice decoration.
A shtender if you don’t already know those. They are little book holders. Extremely practical, and I think they’re underappreciated when you are early in your journey. They’re also pretty pricey.
The next category is books and similar resources. We’re the People of the Book. Of course this is its own category! Learning will be separate down below.
Books make wonderful gifts for any stage of Jewish life: before, during, or after a conversion.
They offer perspective, companionship, and inspiration long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Whether it’s a cookbook, a collection of essays, or a classic on Jewish thought, Judaism is a tradition built on words: study, stories, and sacred questions.
An obvious natural choice: Cookbooks.
Obviously there is no shortage of Jewish specific cookbooks, which will be extremely helpful to the new Jew, who is also learning a culture as well as a religion. But it doesn’t have to be Jewish cookbooks. Vegetarian and vegan cookbooks are usually extremely useful for kosher cooks.
Basically anything that isn’t all bacon and all shrimp all the time.
And remember that there are general cookbooks, but there’s also specialty cookbooks. For instance, for a specific ethnic background like a Persian cookbook. And also holiday specific cookbooks. A Passover/Pesach cookbook is worth its weight in gold because that is a hard holiday to prepare for.
Books on Jewish communities, Jewish parenting, or living a meaningful Jewish life.
Pick a topic and there is a Jewish book about it.
Books on Jewish thought, halaka, or history. Biographies of Jewish figures, teachings of specific leaders, topical halakha books like on Lashon Hara or Pesach Prayer, Ethics, Business Ethics.
Again, pick a topic and you’ll find something out there for it.
Prayer books, Machzors, Bentchers. All extremely useful.
Memoirs or biographies of converts or of a similar background of your friend or family member.
Lots out there about different ethnic backgrounds, Jewish women, et cetera.
And don’t forget Jewish fiction and poetry.
Category three: learning and spiritual growth.
Conversion does not end their learning. It just deepens it.
After the mikvah, most converts find themselves craving guidance that’s personal and sustainable. But once the formal learning for conversion ends, you can feel a little unmoored. You’ve lost your routine and a kind of organizational purpose for what you should study and when.
These gifts can help fill the gap and support that next chapter of Torah study, prayer and spiritual reflection.
Books, classes, and small tools that support their ongoing Torah study and spiritual life.
Study journals or planners. Just a basic journal is sufficient.
Subscriptions to a learning platform or a podcast.
Online or in person Hebrew, Ladino, or Yiddish classes.
Print or digital magazine subscriptions.
Personalized notebooks.
A membership to a language learning app.
A framed quote or a favorite Torah verse.
And if you like the idea of putting together a kind of basket, you could do a Jewish study starter kit. Notebook, tea, nice pens in different colors, a used book, and maybe even a playlist.
Fourth category: celebration and sentiment.
Becoming Jewish is a milestone worth marking.
Not because it’s the end of a journey, but because it’s the beginning of one.
These gifts celebrate that transformation with memory and meaning.
Whether it’s something beautiful to display,
something to wear proudly, or something that simply says, “you did it and I’m proud of you!”
Even a small, thoughtful gift can make the moment feel real- a tangible reminder of how far they’ve come and how much beauty still lies ahead.
You don’t have to throw a party, though you could. That was some of the best gifts that I got for my own conversion.
But these ideas are just as meaningful, even if they’re in a slightly quieter way.
Jewelry with Hebrew or Jewish motifs.
Custom jewelry or an engraved pendant with their Hebrew name.
A framed Shehechiyanu or other blessing. A Jewish art print, especially if it’s something that you really love and you can tell a good story to go with why you chose it.
There’s hand lettered or printable art available on Etsy. You can commission a piece, and it’s pretty affordable to do so.
A home blessing sign or print.
And any kind of home decor Judaica. You know, the classic like “Shalom Y’all,” sign, things like that.
Category five: self-care and integration. Conversion is usually really intense.
Full of study, deadlines, heavy emotions, a lot of life changes, and a lot of new expectations.
After months or usually years of learning, it’s easy to forget that Judaism doesn’t just celebrate action.
It also sanctifies rest.
These gifts are for the recovery phase. Cozy, grounding, and a little reminder that rest is a mitzvah too.
Again, you can make a little basket idea: a set with tea, a candle, and a cozy blanket. Not all these gifts have to be explicitly Jewish.
Bath and spa supplies.
Coffee or tea samplers.
Kosher restaurant gift cards. Or take them out for dinner yourself.
Home baked Challah. We love this.
A honey jar labeled “for a sweet Shabbat.”
A playlist of calming or Jewish music.
Category six: DIY and other heartfelt gifts. You don’t need a big budget to give something meaningful. It’s the thought that counts, as they say. But it’s true.
Some of the most meaningful and cherished gifts are made by hand.
And they don’t need necessarily a lot of time or supplies.
Conversion is such a personal emotional journey, and a handwritten card, recipe, or a spice pouch can be every bit as meaningful as a store-bought gift, sometimes more so.
The time and heart you put into making something by hand can turn an ordinary object into an act of blessing.
Because not all gifts come from the store.
You can write a heartfelt letter about how their journey has inspired you, and why that person is important and meaningful to you.
A recipe card for your favorite Shabbat dish, or print up a couple of your favorite recipes and staple them together even. Doesn’t have to be fancy, it is the thought that counts.
If you wanna be fancy, put them in a simple three ring binder. Take a sheet of printer paper and draw or cut out paper, or otherwise just decorate the front. Easy peasy.
You could make an entire cookbook that way, and if you’re really nice, you’ll include tabs so that they can add to it over time and make it into a full personal cookbook.
Pressed flower art like bookmarks or a printed quote or verse.
A handmade Havdalah spice pouch, especially if you know some of their favorite scents.
A Jewish life scrapbook or a small photo album.
Because the best gifts aren’t about the price tag.
They’re about presence, thoughtfulness, and connection.
Category seven: gift cards and services. When in doubt give flexibility.
It’s not easy to guess what someone already has, especially after a conversion when you gather things really helter skelter.
Gift cards and experiences take the guesswork out of giving.
And it gives them the freedom to choose, whether that’s a new mezuzah, a kosher cookware upgrade, or a haircut before the holidays.
Sometimes the kindest gift is the one that takes something off their to-do list. It’s practical, useful, and guaranteed to fit.
Judaica Store or Judaica website gift cards. Amazon gift cards.
Gift cards for a kitchen store. Or something like Target or Walmart.
Which is especially useful for setting up that kosher kitchen, which is one of the most expensive things that a conversion candidate does.
Gift cards for Jewish clothing stores, especially for women.
Gift certificates for personal services like babysitting, cooking a meal, mowing the yard. The options are truly endless.
Gift certificate for Hebrew or Yiddish or Ladino lessons.
And haircuts and spa services like manicures, pedicures, massages.
So whether you’re shopping, crafting, or just showing up with kindness, every gift here is a small way to say, “I’m proud of you and I love you.”
Again, a conversion or Chanukah gift does not need to be expensive. It just has to be thoughtful, and the fact that you’re watching this video shows that you are putting a lot of thought into this gift.
Whether it’s a kiddish cup, a calligraphy blessing, or homemade challah, what you’re really giving is recognition. That their Jewish journey matters and is worth celebrating.
Chag sameach!
