Chapter I
What it means
Chai is simply the word for “life” in Hebrew, and Judaism places life at the centre of its values: the Torah calls on its readers to “choose life”, and saving a life overrides almost every other commandment.
Because the letters add up to eighteen, the number itself has become a blessing. Gifts for weddings or bar and bat mitzvahs, and donations to charity, are often given as eighteen, thirty-six or other multiples, a wish for life to the receiver.
Chapter II
Where it comes from
The letters of the word appear on amulets from the Middle Ages, but chai as a stand-alone emblem became popular in the 20th century, especially in North America and Israel, in jewellery and decoration.
Chapter III
Where you see it today
Chai pendants are among the most popular Jewish jewellery, often given to children. The toast L’chaim, “to life”, is heard at every celebration.