A gift that recognizes a person's adherence to his or her religion is guaranteed to get you closer to their heart, and to instantly make them feel good about themselves. You don't even have to be of the same religion to bestow or attain this honor. Such a gift is guaranteed to be a success and treasured as a symbol of affection, since it is in a class by itself. Religious gifts are very special to the giver and the taker.

A Gift of Love

Particularly acceptable are specialty foods that a person may not be able to find so easily in his or her own residential area. To adherents of Judaism, the foods they eat year round are very important to them. Those committed to following what God has written for them must only eat kosher food items. There are many dietary laws, and as such there are many different foods that must be prepared in accordance with certain rules in order to be lawful.

Jewish holidays are times when kosher foods are particularly appreciated; more so if they are specifically for the holiday in question. Passover, for example, is the time of year when dietary laws become the most important to Jews everywhere. This special time is to commemorate the passage of the Prophet Abraham and his people out of bondage in Egypt. Leavened bread in any form may not be eaten at this time, so special food items that will fill the place of leavened bread, and which are referred to as matzos, will be most welcome.

Passover Items

Be aware that kosher food items that are fine for the rest of the year will often not be kosher during the time of Passover. Items considered chometz will be anything containing barley, wheat, rye, oats or spelt, with the exception of matzoh meal, which is flour and water mixed together and baked in the correct time. This should be less than 18 minutes, and should be carried out under rabbinic supervision. Anyone eating chometz, which is forbidden during Passover, will be punished with premature death according to the Jewish scriptures.

If the recipient of your gift is a of Eastern or Western European descent, he or she will also not eat legumes such as soy, peanuts or peas, corn, rice or mustard flour. These common ingredients are often included in a long list of supermarket foods, so shopping for Passover becomes a very difficult task for many Jews. Often, even the type of oil used in the preparation of foods is an issue, since so many foods today include corn syrup, corn oil, or the oil of some other legume. Sephardic Jews will not have a problem with these items, only Ashkenazi, as already mentioned.

Certified Kosher Foods

Helping your brother or sister, or a treasured friend to follow Jewish dietary laws will secure a special place in their heart. The rules are so complicated that often only foods certified as having been produced under rabbinical provision can safely be assumed to be kosher for the Passover. Jews can never merely assume that a food is okay for use during Passover; they must ascertain this fact from what is on the label or from the food's source.

Purim is an easier feast to buy for, and indeed, giving gifts of food and drink during Purim is a requirement for Jews. These acts of charity are referred to as shalach manos, and are very special. This holiday is a time of much merry making for Jews everywhere, and has been referred to as the Jewish Mardi Gras.

Celebrating Purim

Note that if you are determined to celebrate Purim as it is supposed to be celebrated, in addition to being supremely joyous and sending out gifts of food to everyone you can think of, you also need to read or hear every single word of the Megillah. While giving to the needy is something that should be committed to on a year-round basis, at the time of Purim it is especially recommended.

However, giving gifts of special food is a great way of getting closer to someone at any time of the year, and not just on these special occasions. Jewish families very much appreciate kosher food for all their occasions, from condolences to birthdays and wedding feasts. Many of the Jewish food items you can find have become specialties in their own right and are, in fact, even popular with non-Jews.