Best Shiva Gift Baskets: A Complete Kosher Gift Guide
Last updated May 2025 · TheShivaPage
When someone you know is sitting shiva, sending a gift is one of the most meaningful things you can do. The challenge is knowing what is appropriate, what is kosher, and how to get it there in time. This guide covers everything — from the most-ordered baskets to trees planted in Israel — and explains exactly what to look for when choosing a shiva gift.
Quick Answer: What to Send for Shiva
- →For a traditional family: A kosher certified basket ($88–$148)
- →For a meaningful gesture: A tree planted in Israel ($18–$165)
- →For large gatherings: A fruit platter or dessert platter
- →For fast delivery: Order from TheShivaPage — ships next business day
Why Kosher Certification Matters
Many shiva families keep strict kosher, as do many of the visitors who come to offer comfort. Sending food that is not kosher certified can put a family in an awkward position — they may not be able to serve it to their guests. Kosher certification ensures your gift can be enjoyed by everyone. TheShivaPage's gift baskets and packages carry kosher certification, making them appropriate for families of all observance levels — from traditional to modern.
Our Top Picks
Shiva Comfort Basket
Most Popular$88
Most ordered. Crackers, honey cake, dried fruits, herbal teas, and chocolates. Beautifully gift-wrapped.
Order This Gift →Complete Shiva Package
Best Value$148
Best value. Comfort basket + seasonal fruit platter + baked goods — the complete chesed gesture.
Order This Gift →Memorial Tree in Israel
$18
Most meaningful. A living memorial planted in Israel. Personalized certificate mailed to the family.
Order This Gift →Memorial Grove — 3 Trees
$54
Three trees planted together in Israel — a growing tribute for generations.
Order This Gift →Circle of Five Trees
$75
Five trees in a meaningful circle — a generous living memorial in the Land of Israel.
Order This Gift →Orchard of Ten Trees
$165
Ten trees planted in an orchard — a grand and enduring memorial tribute.
Order This Gift →What NOT to Send
A few things to avoid when choosing a shiva gift:
- Non-kosher food — always verify the certification, or choose fresh fruit if unsure
- Flowers — not traditional in Ashkenazic communities; food or a donation is more fitting
- Alcohol — not appropriate in most traditional shiva homes
- Highly perishable items — the family is hosting many guests and can't always refrigerate immediately
Shiva Gift Etiquette
When to send: Ideally within the first three days of shiva. Sending on day one or two ensures the family has what they need when the house is busiest with visitors. You can also send during shloshim — the 30-day mourning period — or even later. A gift sent weeks after shiva can be especially meaningful, as it shows the family they haven't been forgotten.
The card: Keep it simple and sincere. "May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem" is the traditional phrase. Or simply: "We are thinking of you." Address your gift to the mourner directly, or to "The Family of [deceased's name]."
Trees in Israel: A Uniquely Jewish Gift
Planting a tree in Israel in memory of someone has long been a meaningful tradition in the Jewish world. It creates a living, growing memorial in the Land of Israel — something that endures far beyond the mourning period. Many families frame the certificate and display it in their home for years.
TheShivaPage offers four options, from a single tree ($18) to an orchard of ten ($165):
- Memorial Tree (1 tree) — $18
- Memorial Grove (3 trees) — $54
- Circle of Five Trees — $75
- Orchard of Ten Trees — $165
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a shiva basket?
A shiva basket is a gift basket sent to a Jewish mourning family during shiva — the seven-day mourning period. It typically contains kosher foods such as crackers, dried fruits, honey cake, teas, and chocolates. Unlike a general sympathy basket, shiva baskets are curated specifically for Jewish mourning customs and are kosher certified.
What is the best shiva gift to send?
The most meaningful shiva gifts are kosher certified gift baskets, fruit platters, and trees planted in Israel. TheShivaPage's Shiva Comfort Basket ($88) is the most-ordered option — kosher certified, beautifully wrapped, and ships next business day. For a lasting memorial, a tree planted in Israel ($18–$165) is uniquely meaningful in Jewish tradition.
What food do you bring to a shiva house?
Traditional shiva foods include deli platters, lox and bagels, fruit, rugelach, cookies, brownies, and kugel. If the family keeps kosher, all food must come from a kosher-certified source. A fruit platter or baked goods basket from a certified kosher establishment is always appropriate.
Is it appropriate to send flowers to shiva?
In traditional Ashkenazic Jewish communities, flowers are not the standard shiva gift. Food, kosher gift baskets, or a meaningful gesture such as trees planted in Israel are more appropriate. In Sephardic or more modern communities, flowers may be accepted.
What is a kosher shiva gift?
A kosher shiva gift is a food item or basket that carries kosher certification, meaning it meets Jewish dietary laws. TheShivaPage's gift baskets are kosher certified, making them appropriate for families of all observance levels.
Can I send a shiva gift after shiva is over?
Yes. It is always appropriate to send a thoughtful gift even after shiva has ended. The shloshim (30-day mourning period) and even the first yahrzeit are meaningful times to show continued support. A tree planted in Israel is especially appropriate as a lasting memorial gesture.
How much should you spend on a shiva gift?
Shiva gift baskets typically range from $40 to $165. A memorial tree starts at $18. A comfort basket runs $88. A complete package with multiple items is $148. There is no "correct" amount — the gesture matters more than the price.
What does it mean to plant a tree in Israel as a memorial?
Planting a tree in Israel in memory of someone is a deeply meaningful Jewish tradition — it creates a living, growing memorial in the Land of Israel. TheShivaPage offers trees planted through certified programs, with a personalized certificate mailed to the mourning family.
Ready to send a shiva gift?
Kosher certified baskets and trees planted in Israel. Free shipping. Ships next business day.
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