Apples and Honey Gift to Israel for Rosh Hashanah 2026

Sending apples and honey to Israel for Rosh Hashanah is the sweetest way to wish family, friends, employees or clients a shanah tovah u'metukah — a good and sweet new year — with a kosher honey gift box that's delivered locally, with no customs for the recipient. Apples dipped in honey are the defining symbol of the Jewish New Year, a custom that reaches back at least to the 7th century. At Hibuk Otef every box is curated from named producers across Israel's north and south, so your greeting also helps rebuild the communities behind the honey — see our guide to Israeli gifts that support real producers.

Hibuk Otef — The Story Behind Every Gift

Hibuk Otef (“Enveloping Embrace”) is a unique boutique gift initiative that brings together products from the communities of the Gaza Envelope and Israel’s southern and northern frontier, alongside works of art that commemorate the beauty of the region. The project was founded to support local producers, farmers and entrepreneurs who were affected. 60% of revenues go directly to producers from the affected communities, and 10% to ‘Latet’ — the humanitarian aid organization.

Why Apples and Honey for Rosh Hashanah?

On Rosh Hashanah, Jewish families dip apple slices in honey and ask for a shanah tovah u'metukah — a good and sweet year. The custom is ancient: by at least the 7th century, honey was the most common sweetener in the Jewish world, so it became the natural symbol of the hope for sweetness in the months ahead. Rosh Hashanah 2026 runs from sundown on Friday, 11 September to nightfall on Sunday, 13 September, and diaspora families usually send their gifts one to three weeks before. An apples-and-honey gift turns that blessing into something real on a loved one's table, even from thousands of miles away. A jar of single-origin Israeli honey does more than sweeten the holiday — it carries the taste of one specific hillside and supports the family that keeps the bees. That is the difference between a generic honey pot and a gift with a story.

What Goes Into a Rosh Hashanah Honey Gift Box

A Hibuk Otef Rosh Hashanah honey gift box is built around jars of boutique Israeli honey and rounded out with the flavours of the season — dates, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, olive oil and often a boutique wine. Prices run from ₪50 for a compact greeting box up to ₪200 for a generous family box, all shown VAT-inclusive for private customers (Israel's VAT is 18%). Every item comes from a named Israeli producer, and the honey specifically is drawn from working apiaries in the Galilee and the Gaza-border south — the regions hit hardest by the wars of the past two years. Boxes are kosher under local rabbinate supervision, most Badatz. You can add a personal greeting card in Hebrew or English, and mix several box tiers in one order so each recipient gets exactly the right gift. For the wider picture of what to send each holiday, see the Jewish-holiday gifting calendar.

Choose Your Rosh Hashanah Honey Box by Budget

Every box below is ordered cheapest to most generous, priced in shekels and VAT-inclusive for private customers. Each one is honey-led and kosher, and each supports the named producers behind it.

Idan Rosh Hashanah Box — ₪50

The simplest way to say shanah tovah: a compact box with Israeli honey and a sweet treat, ready to send with a New-Year greeting. A lovely token gift for a colleague, neighbour or client. View the Idan Rosh Hashanah box.

Liraz 'A Little Sweetness' Box — ₪60

Honey paired with a small selection of Galilee and southern treats — a thoughtful, desk-side gift that still feels personal. See the Liraz box.

Nevo Holiday Box — ₪88

Honey, olive oil and holiday sweets from producers in both the north and the Gaza-border south — a balanced mid-range gift for family or a valued client. Explore the Nevo holiday box.

Hadar 'All the Good of Israel' Box — ₪120

A fuller spread of Israeli honey, artisan spreads, dried fruit and chocolate — the box to send when you want the gift to feel abundant. View the Hadar box.

Alexander Premium Box — ₪200

The generous family box: Golan boutique wine, several honeys, Galilee chocolate and more — a centrepiece gift for the holiday table. See the Alexander premium box.

The Apiaries Behind the Honey — North and South

The honey in these boxes isn't anonymous supermarket honey — it comes from three named, working apiaries, two in the northern Galilee and one on the Gaza-border south. Each keeps producing under difficult conditions, and each jar tastes of its own landscape. When you send one of these boxes you are, quite literally, buying a season's harvest from a family that needs the order. Read more about the apiaries and farmers we work with.

Manot Honey (Western Galilee). A small boutique apiary in Moshav Manot, where the bees forage on Galilee wildflowers — anemone, sage, hops and lavender. The result is a dark, aromatic honey that carries the taste of the Galilee hills in a single jar.

Ayelet HaShachar Honey (Hula Valley). A veteran apiary in Kibbutz Ayelet HaShachar, whose honey — drawn from Golan and Hula Valley blossoms — is considered one of the finest “northern” honeys in Israel. The kibbutz sat on the front line during the war in Lebanon and has kept its hives working throughout, understanding exactly what a border means.

Erez Apiary (Kibbutz Erez, Gaza border). Founded in 1950, Erez is one of the oldest apiaries in Israel and pioneered sustainable, disease-free beekeeping long before it was common. Its honey arrives in beautifully designed jars with the deep aroma of Negev and Mediterranean bloom — the taste of the resilient south.

Delivery, Kosher and Timing for Rosh Hashanah 2026

Because Hibuk Otef packs and ships from inside Israel, a gift sent to an Israeli recipient clears no customs and no import VAT — the single biggest advantage over posting a parcel from abroad. Nationwide home or business delivery is a flat ₪45 before VAT, arriving in roughly 3–8 days by location; self-pickup from our packing centre in Shilat, near Modi'in, is free. Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, 11 September, so single boxes are safe to order in the first week of September, while large corporate orders are best placed in August. Every box is kosher under local rabbinate supervision, most Badatz. And because 60% of each sale goes directly to the producers and 10% to the humanitarian organization Latet, your Rosh Hashanah greeting also helps rebuild the communities behind it. For the full seasonal picture, see our Rosh Hashanah gift guide for Israel. We also ship worldwide when you'd rather receive the gift yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you deliver apples and honey gifts anywhere in Israel?

Yes. We deliver to homes and businesses nationwide for a flat fee of ₪45 before VAT, arriving typically in 3–8 days depending on location. Self-pickup from our packing centre in Shilat, near Modi'in, is free.

Are your Rosh Hashanah honey boxes kosher?

Yes. Every box is kosher under local rabbinate supervision, and most items are Badatz. We can match specific kosher requirements on request.

When should I order for Rosh Hashanah 2026?

As early as you can. Single boxes usually ship within a few days to a week; large corporate orders need more lead time. Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on 11 September, so ordering in August is ideal for bulk gifts.

Can I send gifts to several addresses in one order?

Yes. We coordinate both consolidated deliveries to one point and individual shipments to many recipients — useful for family lists, employees or clients.

Can I add a personal greeting or company branding?

Yes. You can add a personal card in Hebrew or English, or brand the box with a company sticker or greeting card, for a small add-on.

How to Order

Ready to send a sweet new year? Browse boxes on our website, message us on WhatsApp at 054-2207955, or email netalc24@gmail.com and we'll build a Rosh Hashanah gift — single or in bulk — around your budget and list.

Written by Neta Lin Cohen — founder of Hibuk Otef, architect and Bezalel graduate, with 30+ years of experience in culinary gifting.