Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Flowers in the Jewish tradition are only for happy occasions--I'm not sure why. They do die, of course.
Food is traditional; any kind (cheese and fruit are kosher). A donation to a charity or a hospital in memory of the deceased is wonderful.
That said, we're Jewish and when my grandpa died some people sent flowers. We weren't offended--they were lovely. We gave them to a courthouse where weddings were being held.
It's very thoughtful of you to ask.
Most cheeses are not kosher. Stick to fruit or packaged goods that have an OU kosher symbol.
I don’t think people outside an observant Jewish person’s community should try to send food at all. You don’t know about how they keep kosher or what their allergies or diets are like.
And I’m not sure this is the best time to pay to plant trees in Israel on behalf of someone if you don’t know anything about that person’s politics.
So, if it were me, I’d make the donation on the person’s behalf to the Jewish Federation or equivalent organization in your community. Or, to the person’s synagogue, if you know what synagogue the person belonged to.