A Mid Summer’s Day Chupa

Posted by Ulana Illiano on July 21st, 2008 — in Jewish Weddings | Click here to comment

My daughter is attending a one week sleepaway camp on the North Fork of Long Island. For those of our customers who are not from the tri-state area, that is the north

eastern part of Long Island — across from the famous Hamptons — and home to some of the most beautiful wineries anywhere.

On my way back from dropping Paige off at camp, I decided to take a look at one of the larger wineries on the North Fork, as a possible venue for an upcoming family wedding. I drove up the winding gravel driveway and parked my car on the open grass. Thinking I would grab some brochures and take a quick peek around, I took a few steps toward the main house.

I glanced around the gorgeous property and was simply stopped in my tracks by a small wedding going on in the distance in an open green field. The bride and groom

stood under a chupah, (sometimes spelled huppah or chuppah), made of four birch branches and topped with a span of white gossamer cloth which was billowing playfully in the summer wind. The bride and groom, young and joyful, were taking their vows before a crowd of maybe 40 people.

The birds seemed quiet, I couldn’t hear any voices and the wind seemed to whistle sweetly as I watched.

The group was still, taking part in this simple, yet age old tradition. It could have been any time period — forty, fifty, even a

hundred years ago.

In the distance I heard the glass break under the groom’s foot and I was startled back to reality. I saw the bride and groom seal their vows with a kiss while the onlookers descended on them with a rush of love and good wishes.

On my long drive home, I thought about the ceremony, the bride and groom, and the chuppah with its lovely fabric dancing and fluttering like angels

wings.

What a gorgeous tradition — so fully of meaning and symbolism and so visually stunning.

At JewishGiftPlace.com we sell so many beautiful items that would make the perfect Jewish gift and wedding gift, and some of

my favorites are the ones that include the symbolism of the chupah. Some of our new Seeka pieces convey the meaning of the chupah in a dramatic way.

This Seeka tzedakah box would be a lovely wedding gift as a artful container for a monetary gift or to remind the bride and groom of the richness of their lives and the importance of keeping this most important of mitzvahs.

That special moment under the chupa is also commemorated in so many of Gary Rosenthal’s broken wedding glass pieces. We sell the glass for breaking in beautiful jewel tones as well as many artistic uses for the glass such as this incredible Gary Rosenthal Wedding Glass Heart Kiddush Cup.

Perhaps you have a wedding coming up or a first anniversary party to attend. Any of these lovely designs inspired by the symbolism of the chupa would be so well received and a much appreciated gift. The Jewish gifts we carry are carefully and lovingly selected to be something you would be proud to give.

Sex and the City Makes Judaica Stylish

Posted by Ulana Illiano on June 6th, 2008 — in Jewish Style, Jewish Weddings | Click here to comment

The premiere of the hotly anticipated Sex and the City movie has theaters everywhere experiencing sold out shows like never before. It is a phenomenon. Fans across the world are flocking to see it and its debut broke the record for best opening day ever for a romantic comedy.

Each fan of the show has a favorite among the ‘girls’ and Charlotte York, Jewish convertee, definitely is one of my favorites. WASPy Charlotte, after years of unsuccessful relationships and one failed marriage, meets Jewish lawyer, Harry Goldenblatt, and falls in love.

Charlotte is a traditional girl and immediately takes on the traditions of Judaism with a joyfulness and hilarity that is such a part of the show. She is seen preparing challah bread and matzo-ball soup, and serving potato kugel and brisket.

As Carrie Bradshaw says at the beginning of the movie, people come to New York for the two L’s: love and labels. The show has always been all about style and there is no doubt that Charlotte York would love the stylish Judaica that we carry at Jewish Gift Place.

Charlotte York is an art dealer on the show, so it would be no surprise if her character were drawn to the amazing handcrafted Judaica that we carry and the new artists we are adding everyday.

We never get to see the wedding band that Charlotte selected for Harry, but with her exquisite taste it would definitely be something like our beautiful hebrew wedding band called the soul mate ring.

Charlotte’s wedding was one of the highest rated episodes of the show ever and fans of the show remember when Harry could not break the ceremonial glass underfoot. Maybe if he was breaking a Gary Rosenthal Jewish wedding glass he wouldn’t have had that problem!

Charlotte and Harry tried for so long to have children and finally adopted adorable little Lily Goldenblatt. Charlotte is a romantic and she decorated her daughter’s room all pink and girly just as we would expect from Charlotte! The Gary Rosenthal Baby Girl Tzedakah Box would be something we could expect to find in that little pink princess room!

Since Charlotte has an eye for the unique and classically simple, a nursery mezuzah like the Emily Rosenfeld pewterNoah’s Ark mezuzah would fit right in as something that would hang in the nursery of brand new baby Rose Goldenblatt.

We know that Charlotte and Harry’s love will stand the test of time! What would Charlotte give Harry for their 25th wedding anniversary? Why, maybe an Jewish gift something like our Eduardo Milieris modern copper watch, of course! Elegant and so artistic!

If you are someone who is looking for stylish Judaica that would make even the Sex and the City divas proud, check out our collection. You will find a label you love!