Mother's Day Presents that Celebrate a Mom's Jewish Faith

If your mother is Jewish either by faith or by ethnicity, you have many gift options besides flowers, candy and a special dinner out. Give her a gift that will last for many years. A gift specifically related to Judaism will remind her every time she sees it that you love and care for her.

A "Four Mothers" serigraph by Mordechai Rosenstein (www.judaism.com, $300) would add a beautiful decorative touch to your mother's home. The artist was inspired by the blessing Jewish fathers often speak over their daughters on Sabbos requesting that they become like the four matriarchs of the Jewish faith. This would also make the perfect gift for fathers to give to their daughters if the daughters are mothers themselves.

"Miriam's Dance" by Michael Bogdanow (www.judaism.com, $125) depicts Moses' sister's dancing with the Israelite women after they cross the Red Sea. The joy of the women is a striking testament to the joy and hope of faithful women. The beauty and simplicity would complement most decors.

Imagine the delight on your mother's face when you present her with a hand-painted wooden pomegranate honey dish (www.alljudaica.com, $45) from Israel. A glass dish for the honey is included.

Another special Mother's Day gift for a Jewish mom includes making arrangements for her to go on retreat. If there is a retreat center that she enjoys, make arrangements for her to go on a retreat there. Other possibilities include The Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center (isabellafreedman.org) in Falls Village, Connecticut and Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center (www.pearlstonecenter.org) in Reisterstown, Maryland. Freedman offers meditation retreats and senior adult programs. Pearlstone includes environmental retreats in its programming.

Jewish moms who love to read would enjoy a copy of Israel Through my Lens: Sixty Years as a Photojournalist by David Rubinger and Ruth Corman (www.Judaism.com, $35). Published in 2007, the book is the autobiography of Rubinger, a Israel Prize winner and Times contributor.