Jewish brides..... Need your help!

My FI is Jewish and I'm Cathloic. We have decided to be married by a unitarian minister and neither one of us is going to convert. We like and respect eachother's religious backgrounds and have noticed a lot of similarities in the customs.

Now, I have been thinking long and hard about a wedding gift for him. He is a man that has just about everything he wants or needs so it's tough. To make it even worse, his father is a jewler so the idea for an herloom gift (watch, cufflinks, etc) is a little redundant since he has it all.

However, I was thinking that I want to give him something that would incorporate his religion in the gift to let him know that I respect his differences and will support him throughout our lives. What I need from you ladies is to give me an idea of a Jewish symbol, custom, etc. that I can use. I thought I could have his father make a nice piece of jewlery with the symbol in it that he can pass along to our kids.

One more thing---- he's Sefartic Jewish so something that is a part of that culture would be best.

Thank you for any suggestions on such a difficult task!

Kelly

Re: Jewish brides..... Need your help!

Are you going to sign a ketubah? Maybe you can surprise him with one (they sell really nice ones at Yussels in Merrick and on some websites) and incoporate the signing into your wedding ceremony.

Re: Jewish brides..... Need your help!

you could always get him a necklace with the star of david or chai on it (your jeweler will know what that is). or a nice mezzuzah for your home together (it goes on the door frame). you can get that at judaica stores too.

Re: Jewish brides..... Need your help!

I got my husband a talis that I had engraved with our wedding date. We were wrapped in it at the ceremony (a tradition that not all Jews decide to do, but it is VERY beautiful). If you don't want to be wrapped in it, another option is for him to wear it during the ceremony or even to drape it over you chuppa.

If you don't know what a talis is, let me know and I'll explain...

Re: Jewish brides..... Need your help!

I think a star of david would be nice or a mezzuzah for the entrance of your house.

Re: Jewish brides..... Need your help!

That's a really sweet idea!! They sell Mezzuzahs in every Judaica store and some speciality stores, but this weekend I just bought the cutest one. It is a ceramic-painted bride and groom mezzuzah. I got it at a store called 'A Little Different' on Lex @ 85th Street. Something like that would be a nice compromise because you are giving him a gift that incorporates the wedding and his religion, with out it being too religious looking!!.
Oh, I have also seen some really nice interfaith Ketubahs (if you are signing one) at the Jewish Museum (but again, many Judaica stores probably carry them).
Good Luck