Chai Necklaces

Yes. There is no religious prohibition on wearing a Chai pendant. Chai is a word and a symbol rather than a ritual object, so it is not restricted the way items used in prayer are. It is widely considered respectful to wear one as long as you understand that it means life and carries real significance in Jewish tradition.

A Chai necklace is a pendant shaped from the two Hebrew letters chet and yud, which together spell chai, the Hebrew word for life. It is one of the most recognized pieces of Jewish jewelry and is worn as an affirmation of life.

Wearing Chai is traditionally understood as an affirmation of life and a wish for a long one. Because of its numeric value it is also strongly associated with good fortune, which is why it is such a common gift to mark a birth, a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a wedding, or a recovery.

In gematria, the Hebrew system that assigns a numeric value to each letter, chet equals 8 and yud equals 10, so Chai adds up to 18. This is why gifts of money in Jewish tradition are so often given in multiples of 18, and why a Chai pendant is given to mark a milestone.

Chai pendants are made in 925 Sterling Silver, 24K Gold Plated, and Rose Gold finishes, with selected designs available in solid 14K gold. All are handmade in Israel.

The collection includes classic polished Chai pendants, hammered finish designs with a textured surface, Chai pendants set with cubic zirconia, mini Chai pendants sized for layering, and combination pieces pairing Chai with a Star of David.

Yes. The Chai symbol is not gender specific. The collection runs from mini pendants made for layering through to larger, plainer pendants, so the choice is about pendant size and chain style rather than about who is wearing it.