There's a feeling that creeps in every late summer, no matter how many years you've lived abroad. The chag is coming, and with it, the same question: what do I bring as a guest, what do I send Savta and Saba in Israel, and what should they send the grandkids this year? A good Hebrew book answers all three.
Tishrei is the busiest gift-giving stretch of the Jewish year. Between Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah, most of us end up buying for someone, whether it's a grandchild, a host, or a sibling on the other side of the world. And most of that shopping happens around one holiday in particular: Rosh Hashanah, when "Jewish New Year gift ideas," "Shana Tova gifts," and "Rosh Hashanah gifts" become some of the most searched terms of the season, months before anyone thinks about Sukkot.
Rosh Hashanah usually falls somewhere in September, which gives you a real window to plan ahead, especially if your gift needs to cross an ocean. Below, we've put together a guide for the situations we hear about every year: buying a gift for someone nearby, and sending one to family in Israel.
A Different Kind of Rosh Hashanah Gift
Most Rosh Hashanah gift guides look the same: honey dishes, shofars, challah boards, apple-shaped everything. They're lovely, and plenty of hosts collect them happily. But if you've bought your in-laws three honey dishes already, or your grandkids have outgrown the "cute Judaica" phase, a book solves a real problem: it's personal, it's useful, and it doesn't compete for shelf space with the ones you gave last year.
That's really the gap Pashoshim fills. We're not another Judaica shop. We're a Hebrew bookstore that ships worldwide, with everything from picture books for the youngest cousin to the newest Israeli thriller for the reader in your life who's already read everything else. It's also one of the easiest ways to keep Hebrew alive in a home outside Israel, one bedtime story at a time.
Four Easy Picks for Any Family Member
- 1For the youngest reader: a colorful Hebrew picture book that makes Saba and Savta kvell.
- 2For the tween or teen: a fast-moving Hebrew novel that doesn't feel like homework.
- 3For the adult reader: our newest pick from the thriller shelf, always a safe bet.
- 4For "I have no idea what they'd like": a Pashoshim gift card, so they can pick exactly what they want.
Invited for the Chag? Skip the Flowers, Bring a Book
If you're invited to spend the chag at someone's home, whether that's in Los Angeles, New York, or anywhere else you live, you already know the drill: you can't show up empty-handed, and by the second or third meal, everyone's kitchen counter is covered in the same wine and chocolate. A well-chosen Hebrew bestseller stands out precisely because it isn't consumable. It sticks around long after the holiday ends.
The trick is picking something the host will actually read. A thriller for the host who devours mysteries, a business book for the one who's always got a podcast on, an original Hebrew novel for the one who reads "real literature." It takes two minutes to think through, and it shows a lot more than a bottle of wine ever will.
Shop Hebrew books for the holiday →
Kosher Cookbooks for the Holiday Table
If you're the one hosting this year, the gift you actually need might be for yourself. A good Hebrew cookbook takes the pressure off reinventing the holiday menu from scratch, whether that's a new take on the classics or a whole new cuisine to try on the table this year.
It also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone else doing the cooking, a parent, a sibling, a friend hosting their first Rosh Hashanah on their own. Our kosher cookbook collection covers everything from home-style Israeli cooking to baking, holiday menus, and international cuisines, all in Hebrew.
Browse kosher cookbooks →
Sending a Holiday Gift to Family in Israel
If you live in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, or anywhere else outside Israel, and you want to surprise parents, grandchildren, or close friends back home with a gift for the chag, ordering a Hebrew book straight to their door is one of the simplest ways to do it. We ship directly to any address in Israel, so there's no need to route anything through a relative who's already busy cooking for twelve. Since Rosh Hashanah tends to land in early-to-mid September, we'd recommend ordering about a month ahead to give the package plenty of time to arrive before the holiday rush. Running behind? We also offer fast express shipping for anyone ordering at the very last minute.
Not sure exactly what they'd want, or worried it might arrive a day or two late? An e-gift card lands in their inbox instantly, no shipping timeline required, and lets them choose their own book once the holiday calms down. For a lot of readers, that's honestly when they'll actually get to enjoy it.
Shop gifts to send to Israel →When You're Not Sure, Send a Gift Card
Sometimes you genuinely don't know what to get. Maybe you're not sure what your grandkids are into these days, maybe your host already has a full bookshelf, or maybe the chag snuck up on you and there's no time left to ship anything physical at all. A Pashoshim gift card solves all three at once: it lands by email in seconds, works across our entire catalog, and lets the person on the other end pick exactly what they want.
It's especially useful for the trickiest gifting situation in this guide: sending something to Israel when you're not sure what your parents, siblings, or friends already own. No shipping window to plan around, no guessing, and no risk of it arriving late. Just an easy, always-right answer to "what do I get them?"
Send a Gift Card →Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship Hebrew books to Israel?
Yes. We ship directly to any address in Israel, so you can send a Rosh Hashanah gift straight to family or friends without routing it through anyone else. Standard delivery within Israel takes 5–12 business days, and express shipping takes 2–5 business days for urgent, last-minute orders. Every order ships with a tracking number, so you can follow the package the whole way.
Do you ship worldwide, or only to specific countries?
Yes, we ship worldwide, including to the United States, Canada, France, the UK, Germany, Australia, and many other countries. For orders shipped to the US, shipping is free on orders over $150, and a flat $15 on orders between $120 and $150. Every order ships with a tracking number, so you can follow the package the whole way. If you're not sure whether we ship to your area, reach out and we'll confirm.
How far in advance should I order for Rosh Hashanah?
For orders to the US and Europe, we recommend ordering about three weeks before the holiday, and for the rest of the world, about a month ahead. For orders to Israel, two weeks ahead is enough for standard shipping. If you're ordering later than that, express shipping is available, just check the estimated delivery time at checkout, or send an instant e-gift card that arrives the same day with no shipping wait at all.
What's a good gift to bring if I'm invited to someone's home for Rosh Hashanah?
Unlike wine or flowers, a book doesn't need to be kosher-checked or find a vase, and it's still there long after the meal is cleared. If you don't know the host's taste well, a Pashoshim gift card is the safest bet, it lets them pick something they'll actually enjoy once the holiday rush is over.
Can I send a gift card instead of a physical book?
Yes. Our gift cards arrive by email instantly, work across our entire catalog, and let the recipient choose exactly what they want. It's a good option whenever you're not sure what someone already owns, or when there's no time left for shipping before the holiday.
Do you have Hebrew books for kids of different ages?
Yes. Our children's collection ranges from picture books for toddlers to first reader books for kids just starting to sound out Hebrew on their own, all the way up to novels for teens and young adults. It's one of the easiest ways for grandparents abroad to keep grandkids connected to Hebrew, one book at a time.
Free shipping to the US on orders over $150
Order a few weeks ahead to make sure your gift lands before Rosh Hashanah. If the holiday snuck up on you, choose express shipping or send an instant gift card instead.
