Search results
Chai (חי) is the Hebrew word for "life." It also has the numeric value of 18. This is why many Jews typically give charity (and gifts) in multiples of 18 (e.g. 18, 36, 54, 72 etc.). We are thus symbolically blessing both the recipient and the giver with good, long lives.
The word, consisting of two Hebrew letters —chet (ח) and yud (י)— is a Jewish symbol, frequently appearing on pendants and other jewelry. Unlike the Indian tea chai, which is pronounced with the “ch” sound of “chocolate,” the Hebrew chai is pronounced with the same “kh” sound as in challah.
The Chai symbol can be worn by Jews as a medallion around the neck, similarly to other Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David and the Hamsa. [2] Jews often give gifts and donations in multiples of 18, which is called "giving chai".
Although normally pronounced as cha (commonly with an honorific prefix o- as ocha) or occasionally as sa (as in sadô or kissaten), Japanese also retains the early but now uncommon pronunciations of ta and da. Similarly Korean also has ta in addition to cha, and Vietnamese trà in addition to chè. [3]
11 lis 2012 · In its sense of “18,” chai was traditionally used in Jewish life almost entirely in the context of making donations or giving gifts, often stated in terms of multiples, as in, “He gave three...
But what does “chai” mean and why is it such a popular Jewish symbol? Chai is the Hebrew word that means “life.” The numerical value of its letters (eight for the letter chet and 10 for the letter yud ) is 18, which is why Jews frequently give monetary gifts and donations in multiples of 18.
The “chai ceremony” is an innovative ritual celebrating the life passage at age 18. Chai means “life,” and the young adults, having finished high school, are embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
