interfaith question... please help me not screw this up

since this is the best place in all the world to be educated about things like this... i've come to you all.


from what i understand, in the jewish faith, you don't celebrate things before they happen. so, would it be considered bad taste if i gave someone his birthday present before his birthday?

i won't be seeing him ON his birthday. i'll be seeing him a few days before and a few days after (long story). i'm very willing to accept him not opening it until his birthday or afterwards, but i don't the gift to seem as an after-thought.

i hope that made sense. i really don't want to mess this up.

tia

Re: interfaith question... please help me not screw this up

I was brought up Jewish, but I'm agnostic now. For me, that was mainly for babies. Jewish people tend to not have baby showers before the baby is born. But I have never heard of it for birthdays, especially if the person is Reform of Conservative. For Orthodox Jews, it may be the case...I'm not sure. But growing up, I got birthday gifts from friends before my birthday if my birthday was a weekend and they weren't going to see me. I don't think it's a big deal. But that is just my experience.

Re: interfaith question... please help me not screw this up

It's primarily for babies. I've never had an issue with birthdays. In fact, a semi-religious friend of mine had her daughter's birthday party 3 weeks before her actual birthday- so I wouldn't worry about that.

Re: interfaith question... please help me not screw this up

ok! thanks

i did know, for a fact, about babies and baby showers. but something had come up in conversation about birthdays, and i didn't want to make a huge mistake.

i feel better now

Re: interfaith question... please help me not screw this up

That only applies to having baby shower/giving presents before a baby is born, and its just a superstition, not a law or anything. You can give any Jewish person, of any denomination, a gift before their birthday or whenever you want.