Dear All, My mother-in-law is a excellent cook, and we have enjoyed many wonderful Shabbos and Yon Tov meals at her house. I recently noticed that her knives are all of a poor quality. I would like to buy her a good set of knives as a gift. I am familiar with the idea that according to Jewish tradition we don't give knives as gifts. I understand that it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange for the gift. I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on whether: - the practice of not giving knives as gifts is in fact a Jewish tradition; - the practice of not giving knives as gifts only applies to wedding gifts; and - it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange. If anyone could point me to a reference on the internet where this is discussed, that would be most helpful. Thanks in advance. Kind regards, David

My mother-in-law is a excellent cook, and we have enjoyed many wonderful Shabbos and Yon Tov meals at her house. I recently noticed that her knives are all of a poor quality. I would like to buy her a good set of knives as a gift. I am familiar with the idea that according to Jewish tradition we don't give knives as gifts. I understand that it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange for the gift. I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on whether: - the practice of not giving knives as gifts is in fact a Jewish tradition; - the practice of not giving knives as gifts only applies to wedding gifts; and - it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange. If anyone could point me to a reference on the internet where this is discussed, that would be most helpful. Thanks in advance. I have heard of this. At one time I made diligent search to find a source, but was unsuccessful. It appears to be a superstition, and not especially Jewish, since other cultures share such superstition. Some say the _object_ion is specifically to give a knife as a wedding gift, but not for other occasion. It is supposed that the knife will sever the bond between the bride and groom. In certain Oriental cultures, sending a knife to someone is understood as the sender requiring the recipient to commit suicide. See http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=105245 http://www.wintersteel.com/Weddings.html says, without citing a source, and therefore may be no more than a legend:      In the Jewish tradition, it's bad luck to receive knives as a wedding gift.      In case someone should give knives, the bride should transform the      exchange into a financial transaction by giving a penny or nominal      sum for the knives. In the same page:      Interestingly, popular superstition even has a method for a girl to      break off an engagement - she should present a knife to her      discarted suitor. To cut his throat with, the cynic might ask? Giorgies owning a large collection of kitchen knives, and having no need for gift of such. Wishing all a good Shabbath and happy Lag Baomer

My mother-in-law is a excellent cook, and we have enjoyed many wonderful Shabbos and Yon Tov meals at her house. I recently noticed that her knives are all of a poor quality. I would like to buy her a good set of knives as a gift. I am familiar with the idea that according to Jewish tradition we don't give knives as gifts. I understand that it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange for the gift. I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on whether: - the practice of not giving knives as gifts is in fact a Jewish tradition; - the practice of not giving knives as gifts only applies to wedding gifts; and - it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange. If anyone could point me to a reference on the internet where this is discussed, that would be most helpful. I asked for, and recieved, very good chef's knives from my best friend (and maid of honor) as a wedding gift. It was a minor scandal in the family which we laughed it off. Some of it goes back to common law in European countries that possession of a knife used in a crime was strong evidence of guilt - so you never accept a knife from somebody else as you may wind up paying for their crime. The planting a knife used in a crime in someone else's possessions was apparently a common thing. Adelle

My mother-in-law is a excellent cook, and we have enjoyed many wonderful Shabbos and Yon Tov meals at her house. I recently noticed that her knives are all of a poor quality. I would like to buy her a good set of knives as a gift. I am familiar with the idea that according to Jewish tradition we don't give knives as gifts. I understand that it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange for the gift. I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on whether: - the practice of not giving knives as gifts is in fact a Jewish tradition; - the practice of not giving knives as gifts only applies to wedding gifts; and - it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange. If anyone could point me to a reference on the internet where this is discussed, that would be most helpful. Thanks in advance. Kind regards, David It's a popular superstition with no halachic basis AFAIK.  That said, a set of Wusthof, Henckel, Kershaw or Sabatier cutlery will last a lifetime with reasonable care and make the work in the kitchen much easier.  It also make a kitchen a safer place, as accidents are far more likely to occur with dull knives than sharp ones. (Dull knives have to be forced, and a person doesn't have as much control over the blade when forcing a knife as when it cuts properly without the need for force.)   And it's much better to have a small set of quality knives than a large set of cheap ones. Eliyahu (Whose dear wife has delegated to him the responsibility for selecting and maintaining the cutlery...)

My mother-in-law is a excellent cook, and we have enjoyed many wonderful Shabbos and Yon Tov meals at her house. I recently noticed that her knives are all of a poor quality. I would like to buy her a good set of knives as a gift. I am familiar with the idea that according to Jewish tradition we don't give knives as gifts. I understand that it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange for the gift. I would be grateful if anyone could shed some light on whether: - the practice of not giving knives as gifts is in fact a Jewish tradition; - the practice of not giving knives as gifts only applies to wedding gifts; and - it is acceptable to give knives as a gift, if the recipient of the gift gives the other party a coin in exchange. If anyone could point me to a reference on the internet where this is discussed, that would be most helpful. Thanks in advance. Kind regards, David So have her give you a penny in payment! Then it is not a gift .