Judaica Archives - Smashing the Glass

Beautify Your Jewish Home with Heirloom Judaica from Avi Luvaton – Now Open in Cedarhurst, New York!

12/10/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

Seven Species Challah Cover

Your wedding is the perfect time to start (or continue) investing in heirloom-quality Judaica pieces that will grace your space forever after. And you can’t do any better than to check out the gorgeous luxury Judaica from Israeli artist Avi Luvaton. Plus, we’ve secured an incredible discount just for STG readers through the end of 2021: 30% off full-price items with the code smashing 30, and an additional 10% off already discounted items with the code smashing10!

Dor Tallit

Luvaton’s designs are the epitome of luxury – they’re absolute statement pieces, and each one is a work of art in its own right. The brand is committed to helping Jews perform mitzvot in a beautiful way – and do they ever succeed!

The Maayan Washing Cup

We’re obsessed with the way Luvaton’s designs blend tradition with modernity, bringing timeless Jewish rituals squarely into the 21^stcentury. And of course we love that most items can be customized to suit your unique needs and tastes – your Judaica, your way!

Brown Agate Challah Board

And now, in addition to Luvaton’s online shop and bricks-and-mortar locations in the heart of Jerusalem, in the David Citadel Hotel and at Mamilla Mall,, couples in the New York area can now shop in person at a brand new shop in Cedarhurst, New York, which just opened this past May.

The Jerusalem Plaque

Set Up the Jewish Wedding Gift List of Your Dreams with Contemporary Judaica

05/10/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

Raw Silk Hand Woven Small Tallit by Yair Emanuel and Modern Kiddush Cup and Plate in Silver by Nadav Art |Photo by Stuart Wood Photography from Bringing the Hamptons to the UK: Jewish Wedding Inspo on Osea Island

It’s no secret that Contemporary Judaica is my very favourite source for stylish, modern Judaica in the UK. But did you know that they also offer a fantastic wedding gift list service (complete with international shipping)?

Trace Chanukiah in Clay by Via Maris

Easy to set up and manage online, with a Contemporary Judaica gift list you’ll have an unrivaled choice of gifts from over 50 Judaica artists worldwide, not to mention full flexibility and exceptional service.

Acrylic Solid Challah Board and Magnetic Matching Knife

Offering kiddush cups, shabbat candlesticks, challah boards, mezuzahs, havdalah sets, seder plates, smash glasses for under the chuppah that can be turned into keepsake art, and so much more, a Contemporary Judaica gift list is the perfect way to ensure you receive Judaica gifts you know you’ll love, the kind that will enhance the Jewish home you’re building together for a lifetime.Continue Reading

Five Essential Items for All Jewish Newylweds {with aJudaica}

27/05/2021 by Karen Cinnamon

There’s nothing like surrounding yourself with beautiful Jewish ritual objects and art to infuse your home with a sense of spirituality. Especially as you begin building your new married life together with your partner, it’s the perfect time to invest in meaningful pieces the two of you both adore.

And how much more special is it when those special Judaica pieces come directly from Israel? That’s why we love aJudaica, a fantastic online source for the best in Israeli products shipping around the world. Whether you’re looking to purchase some unique pieces for yourself or are putting together a Judaica wedding wishlist, aJudiaca’s got you covered with their outstanding selection.

Oh, and did we mention that as a Smashing The Glass reader, you’ll receive a 12% discount on all purchases? Just enter the code “STG12”.

Read on for some of our very favorite Jewish home essentials from aJudaica…

Apollo Mezuzah Case by Laura Cowan

Mezuzah

Nothing marks a Jewish home like a mezuzah, a piece of parchment inscribed with two verses from the Torah, placed in a decorative case, and hung on doorposts. A mezuzah represents Divine protection and injects a drop of spirituality into the home right from the moment you enter. It’s also an eloquent reminder of the importance of the Jewish home as a center for growth, love, and the building of beautiful relationships – So it makes a fantastic wedding gift. Today, there is a fantastic selection of mezuzah cases available – of every material, size, design, and price point. We’re loving this sleek contemporary take by Laura Cowan. Whichever option you choose, don’t forget that for your mezuzah to bring you Divine protection, it must be certified kosher with the parchment and handwritten text meeting certain requirements. So, here’s wishing you a home filled with blessing and protection!

Moon Path Trio Tray by Laura Cowan

Shabbat Candlesticks

Every Jewish home needs a pair of Shabbat candlesticks. Kindling the Shabbat lights before dusk on Friday evening is one of the most beautiful Jewish rituals around, and such a fantastic way to infuse some spirituality into your week. And how cool are Laura Cowan’s multi-purpose Shabbat candlesticks?! This bright young Israeli artist, hailing from England, has designed a gorgeous, sweet dish to grace your table all week long. Come Friday, exchange the candies for tea lights and welcome the Shabbat to your home in style.

Slide Magnet Hanukkah Menorah By Laura Cowan

Hanukkah Menorah

A menorah makes a fantastic wedding gift. Its glowing lights during the festival of Hanukkah, with one more kindled each day, are an enduring symbol of Jewish faith, spiritual strength, and the courage to survive.

These days, there’s such a vast choice of menorahs on the market. Whatever your style – traditional or modern, whimsical or minimalist – there’s bound to be a perfect fit for you. For a sleek modern style, we’re loving Laura Cowan’s Slide Magnet Hanukkah Menorah!

Register for the Judaica of Your Dreams with the Jewish Museum Shop

26/02/2020 by Karen Cinnamon

In Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club, we’re constantly fielding questions about where to register for beautiful Judaica that suits your style. Your bridal registry is a perfect opportunity to begin your new life together with unique and beautiful Judaica, and while there are so many options out there these days, it’s not always easy picking out pieces that work with your lifestyle and aesthetics – not to mention finding a one-stop shop where you can register for all the Judaica you might need to round out your collection.

Enter the Jewish Museum Shop. Located inside New York City’s Jewish Museum, on the Upper East Side’s Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum Shop specializes in Judaica and gifts that fit all tastes and lifestyles, from traditional, to contemporary; from formal for special occasions to casual and modern – and they offer international shipping, too. They also do gift cards, which are just the thing to give or get as wedding presents!

Their tastefully curated selection makes it a pleasure to pick out the pieces that are right for you – and the Jewish Museum Shop’s universal registry, which can by synced with registries from other retailers through MyRegistry.com, makes the process convenient and seamless. And best of all, every purchase supports the Jewish Museum – total win-win.

Shabbat Shalom

So what kinds of Judaica do Smashing The Glass couples love to register for? With the Jewish Museum Shop, the sky’s the limit, but items to enhance your Shabbat table are a much-loved place to start. Shabbat is a beautiful end to a busy week, and a meaningful way to bring Judaism into your home, and the Jewish Museum Shop has an incredible selection of candlesticks, kiddush cups, and challah plates, knives, and covers.

Gear Up for the Holidays

You can also make sure you’re covered for all of the holidays:

Purim’s just around the corner (it starts the evening of March 9!), and whether you’re in the market for a fun grogger, some adorable hamantaschen earrings, or artsy masks for easy costuming, there’s a super fun selection.
And before we know it, Passover will be here! Seder plates, haggadot, and matzah plates, covers, and bags are all wonderful ways to beautify your holiday.
For Rosh Hashanah, grace your table with a special honey dish – maybe even a dipper too!
Come Hanukkah time, the Jewish Museum Shop’s got menorahs aplenty – whatever style you could possibly wish for, it’s a pretty sure bet they’ve got it.

Our Top Judaica Finds for Hanukkah 2019 and Beyond

12/12/2019 by Karen Cinnamon

Hamsa Hand Watercolor Painting by BRITcolors

In honor of Hanukkah coming up in just a couple of weeks (yep, the first night is December 22 – mark those calendars!), we wanted to share with you some of the Judaica pieces Team STG is lusting after right now.

Though we’re normally pretty narrowly focused on bringing you the best of the best when it comes to wedding-related goods and services, we’re always keeping an eagle eye out on the latest and greatest in Jewish art, design, and beyond (NB: if you’re into this, join our Smashing Life membership for life after the wedding) so we’ve put together this post as a snapshot of what we’re loving as we head into 2020.

The Chosen One Game

Whether you’re looking for an heirloom to pass down through the generations or just a fun last-minute Hanukkah gift, we’ve got you covered.

Hanukkah

Acyrylic Oil Chanukiah by Apeloig Collection from Contemporary Judaica | £245

How cool are these colorful acrylic menorahs from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Contemporary Judaica? You can even customize the placement of the shamash!

PSA to all you brides and grooms reading this: Contemporary Judaica offers wedding gift list services, either through their own site or through The Wedding Shop at Selfridges in London

Delightful Dreidel by Melanie Dankowicz | $145

This magnificent stainless steel dreidel from Smashing The Glass Recommended Vendor Melanie Dankowicz, featuring the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey, and shin tucked in amidst the design, is a true work of art.

Hanukkah High-Performance Leggings from ModernTribe | $40
(Take off an additional 10% discount if you’re a member of Smashing The Glass Brides Club)

How cute (and cozy) are these leggings, adorned with menorahs, dreidels, and Stars of David? Even better, STG Brides Club and Smashing Life members get an automatic 10% discount at Modern Tribe. Not yet a member? Join here for Brides Club and here for Smashing Life!

Shoshi Dreidel Studs by Ariel Tidhar | From $36

This Hanukkah, dreidels aren’t just for playing with, thanks to these fun acrylic stud earrings, handmade in New York City.

The Ultimate Hanukkah Sweater by Sefira Creative | $49

A Hanukkah sweater, but not cheesy.

Shabbat

Farah Challah Cover in Gold Bordeaux by AHYIN | $350

Micaela Ezra of AHYIN creates truly stunning ethically crafted challah covers – each one is hand-embroidered by artisans in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.