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Lancaster Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 8 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 JOn MarKs 38 Judaica gOes (WeLL) BeyOnd Menorahs, Mezuzahs and seder Plates andy gOtLieB WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Karma Agency Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday/Jewish Exp. Ad Number: 00070602 OUR KIND OF Holiday Glow Gifts you’ll love (and they will, too). The warm rush of Hanukkah starts here. KENDRA SCOTT, URBAN OUTFITTERS, KITCHEN KAPERS, BLUEMERCURY suburbansquare.com/holiday Name: Woodstone Custom Homes Width: 4.917" Depth: 10" Color: Black Comment: Winter holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070466 The Final Curtain Call Last Building Selling Out! 2100 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 MAIN PHONE NUMBER: 215-832-0700 PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE/ GENERAL MANAGER STEVEN ROSENBERG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOSHUA RUNYAN MANAGING EDITOR ANDY GOTLIEB NEWS EDITOR LIZ SPIKOL Act now and purchase a spacious beautifully appointed 55 + condominium in Meridian’s final building. Discover the true pleasures of turnkey maintenance free living and enjoy your new found freedom. Visit today before it’s too late. Wishing You All The Best This Holiday Season! SENIOR STAFF WRITER JON MARKS STAFF WRITERS RACHEL KURLAND, MARISSA STERN PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JENI MANN ART/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR LONNA KOBLICK GRAPHIC DESIGNER STEVE BURKE DIRECTOR OF SALES SHARON SCHMUCKLER EXCEPTIONAL 55+ CONDOMINIUM LIVING IN WARRINGTON, BUCKS COUNTY QUICK DELIVERY CONDOMINIUMS AVAILABLE Luxurious Condominiums From The High $300’s Furnished Model Homes Open Daily 11 To 5 Sales Office 215-491-7009 Please Visit Our Wesbite www.meridianwarrington.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN BARON, BROOKE KEYSER TAYLOR ORLIN, BRUCE WARTELL CLASSIFIED SALES NICOLE MCNALLY, JILL RAFF DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS CHERYL LUTTS FINANCE ASSISTANT MARIE MALVOSO Directions: From Willow Grove/PA Tpke. take Rt. 611 North 5-1/2 miles turn Right onto Valley Square Blvd. go a 1/4 mile turn Left on Alyssa Dr. then straight to Meridian Of Valley Square. SUBSCRIPTIONS JUNE HAMILTON Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact the sales office for the most current prices. 10 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Giant Foods/Ahold Financial Ser Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE/ Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070258 16 6 BE R 20 01 DE C CEM NEED HOLIDAY Inspiration? SUE OF IS IS H T T U O K C E CH giantfoodstores.com/savorymagazine y d eas h a n s e r f fa st, FUN & IVE F X E X S X T 72 CIPES RE ING Y-SAV MONE S INSIDE O FFE R STS ROA V ENTED REIN ITE S A V O R O UR F E A S I IEIE IE IEI EIE E R M A D E ES LAT K S A V O R Y R O M I D A Y H O L K I E C O a ara O v a g a n z a e x t rara rararara ra FIVE great BUYS FOR THE JEWISH MUSIC LOVER IN YOUR LIFE LIZ SPIKOL | JE STAFF There’s nothing like the balm of music to soothe a troubled mind — and given the collective angst generated by the last few months, now is the perfect time to indulge in the sweet harmonies of escape. If the music has a Jewish theme, well, it’s all the better as a Chanukah gift, whether your loved one is addicted to vinyl or only listens to songs online. Below, some music and related goodies that’ll bring a smile to any music-lover’s face. See Music, Page 14 12 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Joseph Levine & Sons Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070613 Music Continued from Page 12 Leonard Cohen, YOU WANT IT DARKER SpeCiaL edition NO DIRECTION HOME: BOB DYLAN 10th anniversary deluxe Box Set If Leonard Cohen has an American analog, it’s probably Bob Dylan, though Dylan once told Cohen he considered himself a better writer. The 2016 Nobel Prize committee apparently agreed, bestowing its prize for literature on Dylan — the first musician to receive such an honor. Now, to celebrate the 10th-anniversary release of No Direction Home, Martin Scorsese’s critically praised documentary about Dylan, a box set is available for purchase for Dylan completists. The box set includes a two-disc Blu-Ray edition and two-disc DVD edition in a deluxe portfolio; three 8x10 lithographic photo prints; and a special- edition Bob Dylan magazine featuring historical articles and photos. The Blu-Ray and DVD have an additional two-plus hours of never-before- seen footage, including classic Dylan perform- ances and an unused promotional spot. For those who don’t necessarily want all the mishegas — they just want to see the movie — it’s now available for viewing on iTunes for the first time. Either way, it’ll help explain that Nobel choice. 14 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 MORE LIFE, drake Here’s one for the young R&B and hip-hop fan in your life — a new project by Drake, the Canadian Jewish (on his mom’s side) heartthrob responsible for such earworms as “Hotline Bling.” The 30-year-old, who’s dating Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift (shikse alert!), last released a full-length album, Views, in 2015. His new project is reported to be a “playlist project” — at least that’s what Drake is calling it right now — with all original music, though details are scant and the release date is simply “sometime in December.” So far, three songs from More Life have been made available on iTunes, with more to come, so the best gift in this case might be a late-December iTunes gift card. BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL JOAN MARCUS Canadian Jewish singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen — best known for his songs “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire” and “Hallelujah” — had just released his 14th studio album before he passed away this month at 82. His vocal style had changed as he aged, but it was still a powerful instrument. Unlike so many cringeworthy late- career entries from legendary perform- ers (Sinatra and Elvis come to mind), Cohen’s new album is a stunner, full of rich, exquisite orchestration and haunting melodies. In a recent New Yorker profile, Cohen professed himself ready to die, and indeed the songs on this new album delve into mortal- ity and endings, sometimes from a very Jewish perspective. Yet the album, despite its title, isn’t dark. Rather, it feels filled with hope and love and longing. The perfect gift. BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL “So Far Away.” “You’ve Got a Friend.” “(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman.” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” “I Feel the Earth Move.” “Up on the Roof.” It’s hard to list all of the blockbuster hits that singer-songwriter Carole King — born Carol Klein — wrote over the years, both for herself and for other groups. The Broadway musical Beautiful chronicles King’s journey from the nice Jewish girl who comes to New York at 16 to the mature woman who transformed American music with her songs. The Beautiful soundtrack won last year’s Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and the show was nominated for seven WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Tony Awards. King herself has said the show is “effing awesome.” Treat the Brill Building fan in your life to a day trip to New York and two tickets to the show. $99 orchestra seats are available for select performances. yalebooks.com/book/9780300210910/barbra-streisand Name: Frey Boutique Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070536 BARBRA STREISAND: REDEFINING BEAUTY, FEMININITY AND POWER Speaking of Jewish songstresses, there’s no one who quite compares to Barbra Streisand — singer, writer, actor, director and activist. The longtime Democrat, who’s married to actor James Brolin, recently told Australia’s 60 Minutes she’d emigrate to that country or to Canada if Trump won the presidency. Such statements tend to engender either rage or admiration among Streisand watchers, but there’s no question that the Yentl director is a fasci- nating personality. Though she doesn’t have a new album out, a recent biography by Neil Gabler (author of An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood) examines Streisand’s life through the prism of her Jewishness. “No one is better equipped to ponder the Jewish origins of Streisand than Gabler,” said Jewish Journal’s Jonathan Kirsch of the trim bio, which was published by Yale University Press. l Name: Rob Vahey Insurance - Geico Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday Ad Number: 00070446 Contact: lspikol@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0747 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 15 spin a gimel WITH THESE GREAT GIFTS FOR KIDS RACHEL KURLAND | JE STAFF Nothing’s more memorable than a bad gift. Themed holiday socks, a singing wall-mounted bass or basically anything you’ve ever seen on an infomercial at 3 a.m. can round out that list pretty well. And when it comes to what to get your young children, grandchil- dren, nieces, nephews and the like, you certainly don’t want to disap- point and make for a rather lackluster holiday. But finding the perfect Chanukah gift for kids doesn’t mean mega toy monster trucks or Tickle Me Elmos (remember those?). A truly meaningful gift combines the spirit of the holiday, a little bit of pizzazz and a dash of educational value (sorry kids, but your parents will agree with me on this one). MAKING THE MENORAH For the Lego generation — and those passing it on to their kids — Deforma Building Blocks (ages 6 and up) are a fun way to allow kids to create their own menorah. Shaping the menorah is educational, too, helping kids prac- tice problem-solving techniques and build motor development skills. Plus, who doesn’t love building blocks? The set is just over $20 and can be bought on Amazon.com. See Kids, Page 18 16 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Kids Continued from Page 16 TOY VEY Eli Kowalski, owner of Toy Vey Toys in Philadelphia, has been manufactur- ing “family tradition products to bring families back together” for about two years. Their main products feature Judah Maccabee, who is the headliner of their most recent 9-inch plush toy. Hanukkah in a Box comes with the plush toy, a book explaining the story of Chanukah and the Maccabees — which won Creative Child Magazine’s 2016 Book of the Year Award — and a refillable dreidel, all for $29.95. “The Maccabee Hanukkah in a Box is really what I would call the purest true story of Chanukah,” Kowalski said. It comes in variations, too, like a musical one that sings the dreidel song for $24.95, or the Maccabee on the Mantel, which is a Jewish nod to Elf on the Shelf. The Maccabee on the Mantel is great for interfaith families because Kowalski said “this is a great story where you can mix Chanukah and a little imagination together.” The company also makes kosher individually wrapped Chanukah fortune cookies for $7.95. “It’s fun, especially this year when Chanukah is falling on Christmas Eve and people like to have Chinese food for Christmas,” he laughed. Overall, Kowalski said Toy Vey Toys’ products convey the most accurate story of Chanukah for kids. “It’s great for grandparents to sit down with their grandchildren and read them a story,” he added, which also includes songs and blessings and explains how to play dreidel and how to light the candles. “It’s a fun read but it’s also a little educational experience.” Orders can be placed at ToyVeyToys.com. HOLIDAY SWEATERS It’s always nice to show up to a holiday party with a little swag, and nothing is cuter on kids than ironic Chanukah sweaters (right?). Etsy.com is the best place to go for just the thing, whether they’re “YOU SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND” onesies with cartoon dreidels, or your run-of- the-mill ugly sweaters that say “Happy Hanukkah.” Some people on the site even custom-make “My 1st Hanukkah” bibs and baby shower gifts. Some other personal favorite graphic tees: “Little Latke Lover,” “Jewish Christmas” featuring a Chinese takeout box, or the “Jew Chainz” shirt with long gold necklaces with a Jewish star and chai. BODY ART Now don’t get carried away, we’re not talking about tattoos and the like (your bubbe would have a conniption). But for those approaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah age — those delightful preteen years — temporary metallic flash tattoos will make their friends envious. Temporary flash tattoos have been all the rage in the past year — even for adults — and Modern Tribe creates Jewish ones like a hamsa, latkes, dreidels, menorahs and so on. They can be purchased at ModernTribe.com for $12.95. On top of that, nail art is super popular, and that means — you guessed it — people are painting latkes on their fingernails. But for those a little less artistically inclined, you can buy nail art stick- ers with images like Judah Maccabee, gelt or Chanukah candles. Chanukah season is officially on its way — and on your fingertips. Nail Decals are $11.99 at MidrashManicures.com. See Kids, Page 20 18 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: McCaffrey's Supermarkets Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070561 Kids Continued from Page 18 HOLIDAY BOOKS Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael, a local independent rabbi, has created a unique take on Jewish holidays with her book New Moon. “When my daughter was little, there were just no books like this, mother-daughter books, that sort of explored Judaism with a spiritual approach; learning traditions that had a strong message for Jewish girls,” she said. So she created her own story, which follows Rosh Chodesh, the celebration of the new moon, through the story of a young girl, Rose, and her mother. “My goal was to bring to life some biblical characters, holiday celebrations and integrated into a new format that links to music,” she added. The book is accompanied by music sung by Raphael. In the last half of the book, the pages are in black and white so kids can color it themselves. One mother told her that she’s going to have her daughter color a new page each month for a year during Rosh Chodesh to see how her art changes and develops. “There’s not many books out there that are aimed at young girls and mother-daughters or grandmothers and daughters,” she said. “It’s also a fun book for moms to read.” New Moon is available on Amazon.com. Name: Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy* Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070619 SAVE THE DATE JOIN THE CELEBRATION WEDNESDAY EVENING - MARCH 22, 2017 THE KIMMEL CENTER - PHILADELPHIA Keynote Speaker: Rabbi David Wolpe '76 - Distinguished Alum and America's Top Rabbi - Newsweek Musical Production: Performed by Barrack Students and Akiba-Barrack Alumni and Honoring Dewey Oriente, Head of Drama Department in Recognition of 30 Years of Distinguished Service Event Co-Chairs: Rabbi Gary & Laya Charlestein Dr. Jake & Linda Kriger Musical Production Co-Chairs: Michael & Debbi Bass P. Sherrill Neff & Alicia Felton gala@jbha.org for more information Exciting Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Limited tickets and seating available. 20 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM While you’re in that same aisle, pick up a copy of the Jewish Old Maid card game, too. If your child prefers stuffed toys to board games, Bed Bath & Beyond also sells the Dancing Hanukkah Puppy for $19.99 — “a plush dachshund dressed in a blue winter scarf and knit cap, carrying a Hanukkah menorah on his back” that plays music and dances — or the $29.99 Hanukkah Bear with 20 mini lights, a bow tie and kippah. You can’t go wrong with any of these options for the Festival of Lights. l Contact: rkurland@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0737 SWEET TOOTH Kids don’t want just any chocolate. They want cool chocolate — er, right? The popular Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City (and several other locations across the country) has decadent sweets for the holiday, ranging from your typical gelt and chocolates to decorative themed Chanukah cookies. You also can’t go wrong with Mensch Mints or the Mensch Hanukkah Cookie, featuring that signature Jewish beard. Or really just chocolate works, am I right? Check out DylansCandyBar.com to order. JOKE BOOKS For kids, nothing is funnier than replacing average text with the word “boogers.” And with Hanukkah Mad Libs, that laughter never has to end. The notorious fill-in-the-blank stories have 21 options to rewrite the lighting of the menorah and the spinning of the dreidel — more than enough to occupy eight nights of Chanukah. You can purchase the book on Amazon.com. GAMES AND CUDDLY THINGS To get kids away from phones and video games to enjoy a little more family time, try a simple board game. But not just any board game: Kosherland. Kosherland — yes, the “O” in Kosherland is a bagel — is a beginner’s game for Jewish kids, following Jewish themes, culture and tradition. You can buy it for $12.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 21 SHINY NEW BOOKS THAT MAKE GREAT GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAY LIZ SPIKOL | JE STAFF There are so many good books out right now, and coming out in the next few months, that it’s almost impossible to pick just a few — especially with so many fantastically talented Jewish authors. The Heavy Hitters Some of the biggest names in contemporary fiction — both in the U.S. and in Israel — have new books out all at the same time, only one of which is in paperback. That’s OK, though: Hardbacks make better gifts anyway. Easier to wrap. Start with the latest from Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn; Fortress of Solitude), whose new book, A Gambler’s Anatomy: A Novel, tells the suspenseful story of Bruno Alexander, a backgammon hustler who travels the world from Berlin to Berkeley with his parasitic manager. Vogue called the novel “delightfully weird,” which is sort of Lethem’s M.O., while the Chicago Tribune described it as a “strange and wondrous” act of channeling Thomas Pynchon and Ian Fleming. If you want to get more serious, try the newest from Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay; The Yiddish Policemen’s Union). Moonglow: A Novel is based on an experience from Chabon’s own life, when he visited his grandfather on his deathbed in Pittsburgh. Here, the unnamed grandson hears stories of his grandfather’s life, from early 20th-century Jewish South Philly to a penal colony in upstate New York to a retirement home in Florida. Obsessed with spaceships, World War II and postwar, posttraumatic survival, Moonglow was named by Amazon Best Book of November 2016, whose reviewer called it “an intensely personal story uplifted by the shifting 22 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM tectonic plates of truth and memory.” Chabon will be at the Philadelphia Free Library’s main branch to read from Moonglow in December. While Chabon’s book reflects on Jewish biography, it’s not nearly as marinated in the Jewish experience as Here I Am, the latest by Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything Is Illuminated; Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), whose very title references the story of Abraham and Isaac in the book of Genesis. The doorstop-length novel, now out in paperback, tells the story of a Jewish family in crisis, and the way their Jewish identity, religious beliefs and connection with Israel informs their lives. Author Lev Grossman, writing for Time, compared Here I Am to Middlemarch, while other critics have likened the author to Roth, Bellow and Malumud. As Safran Foer reflects on the Amer- ican Jewish responsi- bility toward Israel, one of the Jewish state’s most impor- — VOGUE tant writers, Amos Oz, has just pub- lished his own new novel, Judas — his first full-length work since A Tale of Love and Darkness. The novel, which centers on three misfits living in a mysterious old house in Jerusalem in 1959, serves as an allegory, of sorts, for the evolution of the state of Israel, and offers a new spin on the biblical story of Judas. “One of the most triumphant novels of his career,” said the Forward. Along with Oz, the famed Israeli author of the novel A Pigeon and a Boy also has new work out. In his latest translated work of fiction, Two She-Bears: A Novel, Meir Shalev writes of a schoolteacher in pres- ent-day Israel who’s trying to unravel a mystery that took place on a moshava in 1930, in early British Palestine. According to official accounts, three farmers commit- ted suicide in the same year. But were they all suicides, really? What is the truth about these men living in rural Israel? Elaine Margolin, writing in the Jerusalem Post, called Two She-Bears “a masterful work that explores with great insight the myster- ies that surround male closeness.” Name: Pasha Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday Ad Number: 00070440 “delightfully weird” Name: Gladwyne Pharmacy/KZ Enterprise Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Winter Holiday Guide/JE Ad Number: 00070374 HOLIDAY GIFT ITEMS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST... ...we have a Baby Boutique too! The Graphic Thinkers There was a time, before Art Spiegelman came along, when people thought graphic novels were just collected comic strips: frivolous and light. Then Spiegelman wrote Maus, about the See Books, Page 24 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 352 Righters Mill Rd. | Gladwyne, Pa | 610.649.1100 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 23 Books Name: Stupp Furs Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Holiday Guide • Restyling Appraisals Repairs • Cleaning • Storage Ad Number: 00070275 Continued from Page 23 Exciting 2016 collections featuring furs by • • • • • • Michael Kors YSL Zandra Rhoads Bisang Dena Lyons de Carlis and more... 379 Lancaster Ave. Haverford, PA 610.896.6662 261 N. Old York Rd. Jenkintown, Pa 215.885.4747 www.stuppfurs.com 24 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 “fun to read” — no mean feat given the subject matter. Holocaust, and the medium proved its worth for exploring even the most difficult topics. — THE NEW YORK TIMES Now there are a plethora of weighty, meaningful graphic novels by Jewish authors, many of whom were recently featured in a panel called “Ink Bleeds History: Reclaiming and Redrawing the Jewish Image in Comics” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. One of the panelists was Miriam Libicki, author of Toward a Hot Jew. Libicki grew up Orthodox, went to Jewish day school, and then joined the IDF and wrote a graphic novel about it. In her newest collection of illustrated essays — rendered with graphite, inkwashes and watercolor — Libicki reflects upon Jewish identity, from black-Jewish relations to the Israeli soldier as fetish object. The book is richly nuanced and philosophical, and could open the eyes of both Israelis and American Jews. Another of the panelists, Amy Kurzweil, also has a new book out: Flying Couch. In this graphic novel, Kurzweil tells the story of three Jewish women: her, her mother and her grand- mother, a World War II survivor who disguised herself as a gentile to escape the Warsaw Ghetto. She juxtaposes her own experience as an anxious, preoccupied child with her grandmother’s harrowing life, told in her own words. Meanwhile, her mother, a very American psychologist, is the intermedi- ary in this story of intergenerational trauma. Though she takes on serious topics, Kurzweil’s cartoony style makes for an enjoyable, compulsive read, calling to mind graphic novels by Roz Chast and Alison Bechdel. Finally, for a much lighter touch, consider the new book by the beloved co- star of Broad City Abbi Jacobson, a Wayne native. Carry This Book is not a graphic novel; rather, it’s a series of drawn set pieces in which Jacobson imagines what famous people (Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Bernie Madoff) and fictional characters (Homer Simpson) carry in their purses and briefcases. Philadelphia’s Questlove, of the Roots, said of the book: “Looking at these illustra- tions and trying to guess who they belong to is like an inside-out game of  Where’s Waldo?” Refinery 29 said, “This is the next best thing to being BFFs with Abbi Jacobson.”  In other words, it’s the perfect gift for the Jewish millennials in your life, all of whom — trust us — do want to be best friends with Jacobson. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM The Lives There are a ridiculous number of memoirs and biographies out right now by and about Jewish people. But now might be the perfect time to gift The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan by Sebastian Mallaby. Mallaby, the Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Econo- mics at the Council on Foreign Relations, has been praised for presenting a balanced view of Greenspan, from his childhood with a single Jewish mother in Washington Heights to his role as Nixon advisor to his leadership of the Fed, an insti- tution of which he was deeply suspicious. Mallaby naturally examines what and when Greenspan knew in the lead-up to 2008’s crash, and the conclusions he draws illuminate that time period and the role of regulation overall. Ben Bernanke has said the book is “highly recommended” for “anyone with an interest in postwar U.S. economic and political history.” The New York Times said it’s “fun to read” — no mean feat given the subject matter. If you want to go from macro to micro on the subject of Jews in American business, pair The Man Who Knew with Lloyd Handwerker’s Famous Nathan. The book’s subtitle says it all: “A Family Saga of Coney Island, the American Dream, and the Search for the Perfect Hot Dog.” Handwerker, who is Famous Nathan’s grandson, wrote the story of his Jewish immigrant grandfather with Gil Reavill, starting with the illiterate Nathan’s arrival at Ellis Island, when he didn’t speak a word of English and had only $25 stuffed in his sock, to a thriving business on Coney Island that helped the hot dog become iconic. “It all comes done to I did this, and I did that.” That’s how Robert Gottlieb sums up his new book, Avid Reader: A Life. Gottlieb spent his life as an editor, at The New Yorker, Knopf and at Simon & Schuster, and worked with some of the most fascinating personal- ities in 20th-century American letters, from Toni Morrison, John Cheever, Doris Lessing and Joseph Heller to Lauren Bacall, Nora Ephron, Bill Clinton and Miss Piggy. His memoir is filled with publishing world gossip and also reveals much about his Jewish New York boyhood. Dwight Garner, of The New York Times, wrote that Gottlieb’s memoir reveals him as “a kind of Zelig of American publishing.” That’s precisely what makes his book so much fun. l Name: A. Brandt + Son Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" at y ANTIQUE Color: plus one AND ESTATE JEWELRY a g Gre id Black Ho o l ppin ACCESSORIES Comment: Winter VINTAGE Holiday Guide/JE Sh Ad Number: We 00070250 buy Gold, Silver and All Precious Metals A.Brandt+Son We appraise and purchase jewelry from estates 223 Haverford Avenue, Narberth 610 617 0993 www.abrandtandson.com Name: Revivals Boutique Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Jewish Exp. Winter Holiday Ad Number: 00070255 Contact: lspikol@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0747 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 25 ‘stocking stuffers’ CHANUKAH EDITION MARISSA STERN | JE STAFF W H I L E N OT A PA R E N T M YS E L F, I C A N I M AG I N E T H AT C H A N U K A H P R E S E N T S A U N I Q U E C O N U N D R U M I N T H AT I T M E A N S E I G H T N I G H T S O F G I F T- G I V I N G , W H I C H I S A LOT. But without worrying about the risk of spoiling your child (that’s what grandparents are for), the eight nights can be a way to give little gifts that may be small but just as meaningful as one big gift. So if you’re looking to give eight presents that aren’t Barbies or Legos, here are some gift ideas that are fun and, most importantly, easy. Stocking optional. NIGHT ONE: TRADITIOOOON, TRADITION What would Chanukah be without gelt and dreidels? On the first night, set the tone of the holiday by sticking with tradition and give little gifts that remind us of why we celebrate Chanukah to begin with — and it’s not because it’s the Jewish substitute for Christmas. You can also add in some Chanukah candles and oil for significance. While not exactly traditional, you can also have some fun and give a Mensch on a Bench, the Jewish answer to Elf on a Shelf. The stuffed character is accompanied by a book about Moishe the Mensch, who helped Judah Maccabee. So as much as it’s a wacky retail product, it also has an educational component. Win-win. N I G H T T WO : B O O K S , BOOKS, BOOKS Speaking of books, I might be biased but books are one of the best gifts to both give and receive during the holidays. The best part about them is there is something for everyone. If you’re looking for a children’s book that is a fun read and also educational and inspiring, look no further than actress Amanda Peet and friend Andrea Troyer’s Dear Santa, Love, Rachel Rosenstein about a young Jewish girl determined to celebrate Christmas and what she learns about different religions along the way. Philadelphia-based novelist Jennifer Weiner has two new books out that would be perfect for many generations in your family. Her first middle grade book, The Littlest Bigfoot, about two little girls who feel out of place in their respective worlds, is perfect for 8- to 12-year-olds (though this 23-year-old enjoyed it). Weiner’s collection of personal essays, Hungry Heart, will satisfy the more mature members of your family as she tackles everything from body image to parenting. For the HGTV fanatic, Fixer Upper’s dynamic duo (and #rela- 26 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 tionshipgoals) Chip and Joanna Gaines have released their Magnolia Story, which is available now. Or if you’re looking for a gift for the funny girl in your family, actress and hilarious Twitter favorite Anna Kendrick’s new memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody, should do the trick. Or honestly just go with Harry Potter, since there’s so much to choose from: There’s the script for the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child published in July; the screenplay for the recently released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the original Hogwarts “library book” the movie is based on comes with Quidditch Through the Ages); or the shiny, new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. NIGHT THREE: FOR STUDENTS If you have someone in your family who’s in school, there are a few little gifts that will make their night. If they’re in college, give them the gift of caffeine, whether it’s a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts gift card or a box of individual coffee cups. It will be much appreciated, trust me. Since Chanukah falls around New Year’s this year, a 2017 calendar or planner is a perfect gift so they can chart their schedules. To help the older students take a load off, pick out a fun flask. A personal favorite includes one engraved with a line from Game of Thrones: “I drink and I know things. That’s what I do.” Or maybe only my family gives flasks as gifts? N I G H T F O U R : C OZ Y U P. Pajamas! Chanukah falls in the dead of winter this year, on Christmas Eve to be exact (Happy Chrismakkuh!). What better little gift to give than a nice flannel pajama set? You can get these sets anywhere, in department stores or places like Old Navy. Or if pajamas aren’t really doing the trick, go with a few pairs of fuzzy socks. Everyone loves fuzzy socks. For students, try a comfy sweatshirt or pair of sweatpants representing their school. This way they can show school spirit without spending any money, for which they will thank you. NIGHT FIVE: BUNDLE IT UP Giving eight gifts also presents a prime opportunity for those who are creative-minded and not afraid to get a little crafty. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM A cute gift bundle mixes multiple items that can go together. For example, get some bags of popcorn and boxes of candy and pair them with a gift card to go to the movies (that is, if Netflix hasn’t completely destroyed that medium by now). Or since it will be cold out (assuming global warming doesn’t give us mild weather), find a cute mug on Etsy or at a local store and fill it with wintery goodies like hot chocolate mix. For the artistically inclined, adult coloring books are all the rage and have health benefits, so pick up a few of those and a set of coloring pencils and crayons and package them together. Bookstores like Barnes and Noble sell coloring books with pictures of everything from pop culture favorites like Harry Potter or Disney to ones with flowers or stained glass windows to fill in. Name: John Neill Painting Celebrating Over 40 Years of Excellence Width: 4.917" Are the colors in your home Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one in need of updating? Comment: JE/Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070354 The Sign of Craftsmanship ® Interior Painting Color Consultations Wallcoverings Decorative Painting Fine Paints of Europe Cabinet Refinishing Finish Carpentry Remodeling NIGHT SIX: GAME NIGHT Whether it’s a board game or even tickets to a sporting event, you can make the theme of one night of gift-giving around playing with the family. Interactive games like Scene It? used to be a big hit in my house since the trivia game can center around specific shows or topics, like Seinfeld or Disney. Giving games like these is a gift not just for those you’re giving it to, but also yourself since you get to play, too. Or get tickets to a Flyers game. Buy some Flyers gear to go with it and make a night of it. N I G H T S E V E N : M OV I E N I G H T If sports and games aren’t your thing, movies are always a foolproof gift and are — bonus — easy to wrap. Does the person you’re giving the gift to love fellow member of the tribe Seth Rogen? Get two or three of his movies and package them together to make a little box set. Though, his recent Sausage Party might be a little too graphic for people of any age. N I G H T E I G H T: E V E R Y T H I N G B U T T H E K I TC H E N S I N K You made it to the last night! And you’re probably running out of ideas. Here’s where you can probably just throw some things together that don’t necessarily have a theme. Nail polish, candy, magazines — little things like that are easy to put together and are always good to have around. l 2016 Give yourself the gift of a fresh new look. “We couldn’t have been more pleased with the quality of the work and how professional everyone from John Neill Painting was. The work was completed on time and looks great.” -Jeff Reinhold, Center City Philadelphia 610-664-5555 www.johnneillpainting.com Name: Foulkeways at Gwynedd Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE Holiday Guide 2016 Ad Number: 00067303 Discover the Good Life Whether it’s dining on the terrace, a feature film, or a bike ride, there’s always an opportunity to make new friends. Discover Foulkeways Retirement Community today. Retirement Living Rediscovered foulkeways.org 215-283-7010 Contact: mstern@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 1120 Meetinghouse Rd Gwynedd, PA 19436 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 27 Giv e THE GIFT OF Experience HILARY DANAILOVA | JE FEATURE 28 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM My friend Jennifer was recently surprised with birthday tickets to a magic show. Weeks later, she couldn’t stop raving about how the magician produced drink after drink, perfectly concocted, from the same spigot, based solely on what the audience members called out. “A White Russian. Coconut water. Small-batch bourbon. It was amazing!” she recalled. “I have no idea how he did it.” The most amazed one was probably her boyfriend, who’d wondered whether a pair of tickets would be as well received as the usual jewelry or cashmere. But as it happens, her boyfriend had tapped into our shifting zeitgeist: More and more people favor experiences over objects, a trend that is growing more pronounced with the millennial gener- ation, which famously eschews cars in favor of vacations. So this year, consider a Chanukah gift that won’t take up space in a closet, tarnish or require yet another irritating charger cable. Give an experience like one of these — and get ready to savor the stories. BABY DISCO, STANDUP AND STORYTIME, PLUS A WHOLE YEAR OF JEWISH MUSEUM-GOING. The best Chanukah party this year just might be the family- centric Christmas Day extravaganza at the National Museum of American Jewish History. That’s because this year, Dec. 25 is also the first day of Chanukah — so the $90 family membership, which includes party entrance, is an ideal first-night gift. And it’s a crazy bargain, because the whole family gets free admission the rest of the year. They also get two additional guest passes, discounts at the store and cafe, member exhibition previews, invites to family programs, and special holiday shop- ping days … in case they’re still scrambling for those last couple of nights. See Give, Page 30 Perfect for Gifts, Offi ce or Home Name: Cup Grinders Mix & Match K-Cups® Width: 3.625" Depth: 3" Choose from Over 400 Varieties!!! Color: Black plus Create one Your Own Box Coffees • Teas • Cocoas • Cappuccinos • Iced Drinks Comment: Largest JE Winter Holiday Prices Guide Selection-Cheapest Anywhere! Decaf Flavor Ad Number: 00070485 Specialists PHOTOS BY MARIO MANZONI Above: A membership to the National Museum of American Jewish History is a gift that lasts the whole year. Facing page: Michael Solomonov fans can take classes with the chef and his team. Name: Pink Daisy Width: 3.625" Depth: 3" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070544 Gift Boxes and Gift Certifi cates Available Yes, We Ship! • All Products Kosher-Certifi ed Grant Plaza I (next to Rita’s), 1703 Grant Ave., Phila., PA 19115 215-676-CUPS • www.cupgrinders.com All Major Credit Cards Accepted • Open 7 Days JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 29 TAKE THEIR INSTAGRAM PAGE UP A NOTCH. With smartphones and filters, everyone’s a photographer — but for truly standout shots, you still have to go to a professional. Philadelphia-area photogra- phers like Jordan Cassway, a favorite for Jewish weddings and B’nai Mitzvahs, said photo sessions are a classic gift, but he’s seen some modern twists lately. Take the maternity shoot, in which pregnant women document their bump and show off the glow. Or the baby cake-smashing shoot, a frosting- smeared rite of passage popular for 1-year-old birthdays. At Cassway’s studio, $350 buys a photo session and a print, though the cake is optional; family portraits and senior yearbook pictures are still going strong. 22. (If the spots fill up, organizers will reserve the experience for next year.) The Player Experience ($4,895) lets would-be Sandy Koufaxes suit up in a custom uniform, hang it in a personalized club locker and take the field against the Legends (former Phillies), with daily coaching at practice. The General Manager Experience ($3,890) lets you scout and draft right from the dugout; if you’re content to be a Phan, that Experience ($1,785) gets you VIP seats and clubhouse lunches. All three packages include lodging and meals, mingling and photo-ops, auto- graphed swag and a once-in-a-lifetime thrill they’ll boast about for years to come. What if the giftee is an Eagles fan? This year, aspiring Carson Wentzes can huddle with the greats at the team’s first-ever Fantasy Camp, which takes place right here in Philadelphia from April 6 to 8. For $2,750, your temporary Eagle gets personalized team gear and a locker, daily practice and training with the pros, opportunities to hang with Carson and Connor, and behind-the-scenes access at Lincoln Financial Field. PHANCY A PHANTASY, PHILLIES PHANS? Jewish representation is pretty poor in the Phillies dugout these days, but come January, you can change that. Long after the World Series, for less than the weekly salary of a major league player, you can indulge the long-held phantasies of your favorite Phillies phan. There’s still space available at the annual Phillies Phantasy Camp, which takes place in Clearwater, Fla., from Jan. 18 through IS YOUR BELOVED MORE OF AN ASPIRING MICHAEL SOLOMONOV? Do you know someone who loves to host Passover, but could use some chametz-free inspiration? There’s no shortage of Philly-area cooking classes, and one sure bet is a gift certificate to COOK, the Rittenhouse kitchen-studio that’s a partnership between local Jewish restaurateur Audrey Claire Taichman, Philadelphia Magazine and Foobooz. Give Continued from Page 29 Name: Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070586 30 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Solomonov himself has been known to share his secrets for Israeli cuisine there, and the chef team behind his popular Abe Fisher restaurant are regulars. Jewish cooks can choose from more than 20 classes each month, including workshops for major holi- days, as well as evenings devoted to wine, pizza, food allergy cooking or knife skills, to name just a few. The average price of $160 includes gratuity and drinks; what’s left over can apply to the purchase of cookbooks like the best- selling Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking, from James Beard winner Solomonov (books are discounted 15 percent the night of a class). ARE THERE PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST WHO BRAKE FOR DEER AND RESCUE SPIDERS? For the animal lovers in your life, you might be mulling a puppy as a gift, but there’s a lower-commitment, higher-thrills option: going behind the scenes at a local zoo or aquarium. At the Philadelphia Zoo’s “Behind the Scenes” program, $150 buys two people the opportunity to hand-feed fish to the Humboldt penguin, hang with the alligators in the Reptile and Amphibian House, or see lions, pumas and jaguars in the big cat area. Each Behind the Scenes experience is about 20 minutes long, suitable for ages 5 and up, and allows additional guests for $50 apiece. But you’ll have to reserve in advance — tigers reportedly like some notice. Across the river, Camden’s Adventure Aquarium sells “encounter vouchers” for up-close-and-personal experiences with watery fauna. The $135 penguin package includes a photo shoot with 20 African penguins; if the shots come out blurry, it’s OK because the penguins also paint a canvas you can take home. Older kids and adults can opt for the Shark & Ray In-Water Humboldt penguins always are popular at the Philadelphia Zoo’s “Behind the Scenes” program. Encounter ($185), a two-hour activity that includes a short snor- keling lesson, a look at the sand sharks, and a swim and lunch with New Jersey’s friendliest stingrays (OK, you feed them lunch, but who’s counting?). And for the faint of heart, there are always the sea turtles. l Hilary Danailova is a longtime contributor to publications of the Jewish Exponent. Name: Development Corporation for Isr This Hanukkah Width: 7.5" Give Gifts of Depth: 4.75" Israel Bonds Color: Black plus one Comment: 11/24 Holiday Magazine Ad Number: 00068416 This Hanukkah Give Gifts of Israel Bonds israelbonds.com Development Corporation for Israel 2700 East Main Street, Suite 103 Columbus, OH 43209 513.793.4440 • cincinnati@israelbonds.com Invest in Israel Bonds israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA israelbonds.com Development Corporation for Isreal Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director Sharon Richman and Susan Schiffrin, Registered Representatives 1500 Walnut St., Suite 1302 Philadelphia, PA 19102 philadelphia@israelbonds.com • 215.545.8380 • 800.752.5671 JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Invest in Israel Bonds israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 31 Name: Camp Lee Mar Width: 4.917" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Magazine Ad Number: 00070649 Camp Lee Mar LISTINGS CAMP LEE MAR 215-658-1708 • ari@leemar.com • www.leemar.com CAMP RAMAH IN THE POCONOS 215-885-8556 • www.ramahpoconos.org Camp Ramah in the Poconos is an overnight summer camp located in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains for kids and teens in grades 2-10. Ramah’s mission is to create lifelong Jewish connections, one happy camper at a time. Brand new Tikveh (special needs) residential program opened in summer 2016. RAMAH DAY CAMP 215-885-8556 • www.ramahdaycamp.org g Jewish connec tions ng lifelon i t a e r C Name: Camp ap Ramah in mp the er Poconos a c a t y a p t ime! e h Width: on 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: 11/24 Holiday Mag Ad Number: 00068393 Ramah Day Camp is a fun and dynamic summer camp experience for children in Pre-K (4 yrs.) through 7th grade, and a CTT program for 8th-10th graders, taking place in an enriching Jewish environment. June 20-August 12th, 2016. Special needs inclusion program, transportation, lunch and extended care options. URJ CAMP HARLAM 610-668-0423 • harlam.urjcamps.org Camp Harlam, a Union for Reform Judaism residential summer camp, offers programs for children in grades 2-12 in sessions of 10 days, 3 1/2 weeks and 7 weeks. Over 57 summers, Harlam has earned its reputation as one of the finest Jewish camps in North America. URJ HARLAM DAY CAMP 610-668-0423 • URJHarlamDayCamp.org Through a program that is exciting, meaningful, fun and challenging amidst a Jewish setting. URJ Harlam Day Camp creates experiences that foster Jewish identity, build community and inspire personal growth. 32 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 RAMAH DAY CAMP OV ERNIGHT CAMP T IKVAH RESIDENT IAL PROGRAM Pre K-7th grade 2nd-10th grade Ages 12-17 215-885-8556 • www.ramahpoconos.org • info@ramahpoconos.org RAMAH IS FOR EVERYONE! The Tikvah Residential Program at Camp Ramah in the Poconos offers campers ages 12-17 with special needs the complete scope of Ramah’s activities. 2 and 4 week options available. WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE w w w. j e w i s h e x p o n e n t . c o m 2017 Dates: June 24-August 11 Camp Lee Mar’s unique program combines all the fun traditional camp activities — basketball, kickball, boating, fishing, soccer, arts and crafts — with academics, speech and language therapy, and daily living skills. The Lee Mar L.I.F.E. (Living Independently Functional Education) Program continues to prepare our older campers for the future with our fully furnished apartment including a full kitchen, 2 bedrooms, washer, dryer, 2 bathrooms, etc. JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: URJ Camp Harlam Overnight Width: 3.625" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Magazine Ad Number: 00070650 Name: Jewish Fed. of Greater Phila. ( Width: 3.625" Depth: 9.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: SS-OneHappyCamper Ad Number: 00070664 THEY SEE FREE SWIM. YOU SEE FRIENDSHIP. WE SEE ONE HAPPY CAMPER. Start your child’s “summer of a lifetime” at Jewish overnight camp. From ziplines to waterskiing to singing under the stars, at camp your child can discover who they are while having a total blast. Campers are bunkmates and team players, artists and athletes, creative problem-solvers and blossoming leaders, developing indepedence and communication skills they can use their entire lives. Find your perfect Jewish camp today and you might be eligible for $1000 off the cost of camp when you enroll. jewishphilly.org/camp JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 33 LETS KIDS EXPERIENCE THE TRUE HOLIDAY MEANING OF GIVING JON MARKS | JE STAFF SO WHAT KIND OF HOLIDAY GIFT DO YOU GET FOR THE PERSON WHO SEEMS TO HAVE EVERYTHING? Maybe it’s an opportunity for them to realize — if they don’t know it already — how truly fortunate they are compared to others. Rather than jewelry, a gift card to a store or restaurant, a video game or tickets to a show, why not give them a holiday reminder of just how lucky they are? Why not let them try to share some of their good fortune with someone else, maybe somebody they don’t even know? 34 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM That’s the theory behind the Mitzvah Menorah that will be put together in early December by the boys and girls in the religious school at Main Line Reform Temple (MLRT) in Wynnewood. By collecting various items ranging from books and clothes to video games and brand-new sheets, then placing them in bins resem- bling candles, they’ll eventually gather enough to bring every- thing people in need. “I grew up in Northern Virginia,” said MLRT Associate Rabbi and Educational Director Kevin Kleinman, who’s heading the project, after organizing a similar one at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park. “My synagogue coordinated a number of synagogues that volunteered at a soup kitchen. “I went with my parents to do that. And my family ‘adopted’ a Russian Jewish family and helped them acclimate to America. My dad help the father find a job.” The message was passed on to Kleinman, who wants the next generation to carry on the tradition. By collecting various items ranging from books and clothes to video games and brand-new sheets, then placing them in bins resembling candles, they’ll eventually gather enough to bring everything to people in need . “When I was pre-Bar Mitzvah, it stuck with me,” recalled Kleinman, who plans to teach such lessons to his three young children. “The synagogue can help families develop their own sense of doing justice as a Jewish value. “During the holiday season, we’re looking at items we can give instead of get. So when people are purchasing items, we’re reminded we have more needs than just providing for our families.” While the concept of tikkun olam and tzedakah are by no means exclusive to the Reform movement, no other denomina- tion has used Chanukah as the focal point for performing such mitzvahs. Some prefer doing it during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Broomall synagogues Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid and Temple Sholom join forces for Thanksgiving. And the Reconstructionist movement, while embracing the idea, hasn’t yet formalized it. In fact, while Kleinman’s Mitzvah Menorah is tailored for the JEWISHEXPONENT.COM The Main Line Reform Temple Mitzvah Menorah is comprised of donation bins that resemble Chanukah candles. Philadelphia community, the Reform movement as a whole has created Ner Shel Tzedakah: the Candle of Righteousness. The sixth night of Chanukah — presumably after everyone’s received the bulk of their gifts — has been designated as a special night, which even has its own blessing. “Families and individuals devote the sixth night of Chanukah to learning about the problem of poverty,” the project is explained on reformjudaism.org. “They donate the value of the gifts [or the gifts themselves] that otherwise would be exchanged on that night to organizations that assist the poor, locally or globally. “By making donations on the sixth night of Chanukah, families help the Jewish candle of righteousness glow brightly for those in need. Don’t let the light go out.” Among their suggestions for ways to participate include making donations in honor of others to help poor families keep the heat on during the winter, inviting a welfare agency to match your family with a local family in need, joining a local Meals on Wheels program to deliver hot meals to homebound individuals, or volunteering at a hospital, shelter or soup kitchen. Beyond that, Kleinman wants to specifically involve the chil- dren at MLRT in a more personal way. See Menorah, Page 36 Henning’s Custom Catering Perfect For All Functions • From Private to Corporate • All Inclusive Meals • All Food Cooked on Premises by our In-house Chefs • Set Up & Service Available • Meeting & Party Room Up to 60 Guests Your Caterer For... 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Place your order now to ensure your loved ones – and community members in need – have a Thanksgiving and Chanukah filled with light and happiness. Menorah Continued from Page 35 “We have a contest to see who can bring in the most items,” said Kleinman, who’ll wait until after Thanksgiving before start- ing the project. “We have volunteers from each grade level, maybe 300 kids from K to 6, so they get the experience of doing it hands-on. “Then I take a group every year to a homeless shelter. Once they get a tour and experience where these families are living and see the area where the kids get to play, they realize how much they have in comparison.” Such an eye-opener, especially at an early age, is something you can’t fully appreciate unless you see it. “That may inspire them to take items they might not be using anymore or new items and give them away,” Kleinman said. “The Mitzvah Menorah is a vehicle to connect them [and] to educate them about what it might be like for kids their age 5 miles away. “So we’ll build a menorah out of a collection of bins. Each bin will represent a candle. And each candle will go to a family in a homeless shelter.” The Religious Action Committee’s blessing for this occasion says it all: “As we light this ‘Ner Shel Tzedakah’  tonight,” it begins, “we pray that its light will shine into the dark corners of our world, bring- ing relief to those suffering from the indignity and pain that accompany poverty. “May our act of giving inspire others to join with us in the fight against the scourge of hunger, homelessness, need and want. Together, let us raise our voices to cry out for justice, and may that clarion call burst through the night’s silence and declare that change must come.” l Contact: jmarks@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729 Call today - 215.635.4774 All proceeds benefit the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Rabbi Kevin Kleinman and Liz Sussman, director of Reform Congregration Keneseth Israel’s preschool. 36 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Rabbi Rayzel Raphael Width: 3.625" Rabbi Rayzel Raphael Depth: 1.75" Color: Black www.Shechinah.com 1211 Ansley Ave. Comment: Rabbi Melrose Rayzel Park, Raphael PA 19027 Bus Card Ad Number: 00070549 215-237-2955 cell 215-782-1221 home RRayzel@Shechinah.com Name: PREMIER RESIDENTIAL STAFF Width: 3.625" Depth: 1.75" Color: Black Comment: Premier bus. card Ad Number: 00070648 Name: Luda's Judaica Width: 3.625" Depth: 2.25" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - Winter Holiday Magazine Ad Number: 00070651 319 York Rd. 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Name: filler Name: Irma Brook- stein Width: 1.687" Depth: 3.75" Color: Black Invitations Comment: Irma Stationary Brookstein bus card Calligraphy Ad Number: 00070537 Gifts Les Femmes 157 Manor Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 215-938-1440 Fax: 215-938-0421 610-258-2959 Name: The Fabulous Susan Shpielkes Watts Width: 1.687" Depth: 3.75" Color: Black Comment: FABU- LOUS SHPIELKES Award-Winning Ad Klezmer Number: Music 00070639 Music For All Occasions (610) 389-6036 www.phillyklezmer.com susan@susanwattsonline.com Elaine Hoffman Watts Walk-ins Only Mon-Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-3 Name: Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop Width: 1.687" Depth: 3.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: Holiday Guide Ad We Number: feature gourmet items such as fresh caviar, coffee, 00070512 chocolates, and much more... not to mention hundreds of imported and domestic cheeses. We pride ourselves on creating unique gourmet baskets and gifts boxes, custom made for every occasion and budget, plus a Cheese of the Month subscription service. 8509 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 Facebook.com/TheChestnutHillCheeseShop Twitter.com/CHCheeseshop Instagram.com/ChestnutHillCheeseShop T : 215-242-2211 | F : 215-242-4301 E : chestnuthillcheeseshop@yahoo.com W : www.chcheeseshop.com FOLLOW THE JEWISH EXPONENT AND NEVER MISS A STORY. #JEWISHINPHILLY facebook.com/jewishexponent | twitter.com/jewishexponent JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 37 a c i a d Ju Goes (Well) Beyond Menorahs, Mezuzahs and seder Plates ANDY GOTLIEB | JE MANAGING EDITOR n days past, those wishing to purchase Judaica were limited to a narrow selection of conventional items at synagogue gift stores or, if you lived in a heavily Jewish neighborhood, the local Judaica shop. Some Judaica shops have since closed their doors and they and synagogue gift stores now compete against online sellers, but the vari- ety of Judaica-themed gifts available appears greater than ever. In other words, you’re not confined these days to menorahs and mezuzahs. And if you look around, you can find Judaica in nontradi- tional places, including stores and websites not mentioned here. “People like to mix it up,” said Sherry Tillman, owner of Past*Present*Future (past-present-future.com), an Ardmore gift shop that offers a variety of handmade crafts. “They want their gift to be unique.” Of Tillman’s sales, Judaica represents about 30 percent, a figure that’s stayed consistent over the years. Above and below: A selection of Jewish-themed gifts available at Past*Present*Future. People like to mix it up. They want their gift to be unique.” SHERRY TILLMAN OWNER OF PAST*PRESENT*FUTURE Some popular items these days include a glass box with “MAZEL TOV” written across it, bride and groom candles, a Yiddish mug, keychains, wooden boxes with laser-engraved sayings and “Jews glasses,” which are juice glasses featuring famous Jews from all walks of life. “How many Jewish stars can you have?” Tillman said, referring to the eternally popular Bar and Bat Mitzvah gifts that some See Judaica, Page 40 Name: Carol Schwartz Gallery Width: 7.5" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: SS-Holiday Guide Ad Number: 00070670 Jordan Matter Pia DiGirolamo MF Cardamone Fine Art Holiday Sale All fine art & vintage g p posters at a special p sale p price CAROL SCHWARTZ 30 % OFF G A L L E R Y 101 Bethlehem Pike, Chestnut Hill, PA 19118 215-242-4510 www.CarolSchwartzGallery.com CarolSchwartzGallery@gmail.com Tuesday – Saturday 10a-5p or by Appointment JEWISHEXPONENT.COM All art including: How ard Watson Nancy Beck Dr. Seuss Israeli Artists WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE Pino K athleen Gallagher Fazzino and many others NOVEMBER 24, 2016 39 Judaica Continued from Page 39 believe are trite. “People try to go beyond that.” On a much larger scale is the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) Museum Store (judaicashop.net). Store Manager Kristen Kreider said the store sells some tradi- tional items, but its patrons — both in-person and online — are looking for something different. “It’s more often they’re happy to see some- thing they haven’t seen before,” she said. “We do push the envelope a little. We try to have more personality in the items we carry.” Those items range from a pewter flask emblazoned with “L’CHAIM” to Orthodox Chews saltwater taffy to a Ruth Bader Ginsburg mug. One popular example Kreider cited is the “YO SEMITE” T-shirt, whose designer was “inspired by her day job at a Jewish summer camp near Yosemite National Park,” according to the museum website. Also popular are ahava (Hebrew for “love”) items, which include necklaces, T-shirts, tote bags, earrings, bracelets and rings. We do push the envelope a little. We try to have more personality in the items we carry.” KRISTEN KREIDER STORE MANAGER, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY The YO SEMITE shirt is among the top-selling items available at the National Museum of American Jewish History Museum Store. 40 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 The word is written in the same style as Philadelphia’s famous “LOVE” statue by Robert Indiana. The artist created a 13-foot “AHAVA” statue outside the Israel Museum in Jerusalem in 1977, a year after the “LOVE” statue went on display here. Proceeds from ahava items benefit both the NMAJH and the Israel Museum, Kreider said. Other big sellers include handbags by Kent Stetson. One features WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM the brightly illustrated words “KVETCH KVETCH KVETCH,” while another features mahjong tiles. (Other handbags have more secular themes, such as marijuana leaves or vinyl records.) Fans of the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs can buy a team hat with the name spelled out in Hebrew letters. Phillies hats are also available, as are (gasp!) those for the Yankees and Red Sox. No Judaica selection would be complete without some food- related items, and Kreider said the inexpensive ($7.95) Bagel Whizz, which scoops out bagel innards, is popular. And of course there are a few nods to nostalgia, including a replica key fob for the gone-but-not-forgotten Grossinger’s resort in the Catskills. Some of the museum’s top-selling items aren’t really Jewish at all, such as jewelry fashioned out of piano wire. “We joke that it’s made out of the strings of Irving Berlin’s piano,” Kreider said, noting that the jewelry is crafted by a Jewish artist in Atlanta. And while this article isn’t about the old standbys such as menorahs, Kreider said she expects to sell lots of travel meno- rahs this year since Chanukah begins on Christmas Eve. One particularly clever travel menorah is an Israeli-made 7-inch piece of anodized aluminum with a sleeve that opens each This handbag is among several available from artist Kent Stetson, who individually signs each one. Another handbag is emblazoned with mah jong tiles. See Judaica, Page 42 Name: Hot Foot Happy Holidays Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE Winter Holiday Magazine Ad Number: 00070668 WINTER HOLIDAY SALE! Name: Foodarama Caterers Width: 3.625" Depth: 4.75" Color: Black plus one Comment: JE - WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE Ad Number: 00070685 OUR NEW LOCATION Justa Far r m Shopping Center Farm 1966 County Line Rd, Huntingdon Valley, V alle y, P PA A 19006 Valley 215-969-9626 HOT-FOOT-BOUTIQUE.SHOPTIQUES.COM In-Store Boutique CALL FOR YOUR FREE MENU AND PARTY PLANNING GUIDE 215-633-7100 888-309-3800 WWW.FOODARAMA.COM JEWISHEXPONENT.COM WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 24, 2016 41 Judaica Continued from Page 41 day to reveal another candle holder. It’s available in silver, pink, purple, turquoise and cobalt. Given the store’s significant local following, Kreider said the product mix is constantly evolving. “To keep things changing, I’m sometimes improvising,” Kreider said, pointing to the nine iron, copper and steel candle- sticks she grouped together as the Northern Tribe Hanukkah Menorah. Kreider said 78 percent of the store sales are made at the museum, with the remaining 22 percent coming in online — which she described as a high percentage. Online vendors are another source of not-your-usual Jewish- themed items. A search for “Judaica” on Amazon.com turned up more than 58,000 results, although the vast majority are conventional in nature. Interesting items in the first few pages of the search results included a kosher bone plush dog toy with squeaker, a “mah jongg tiles guest soap set,” “SHALOM” door mats and a CD titled Aleph Bet Boogie by Rabbi Joe Black. Another option is moderntribe.com, which offers both rever- ent and irreverent gifts. Irreverent gifts include a “Jewdolph Knit Koozie,” with Rudolph’s antlers depicted as a menorah; “Jew Jitsu” knee-high socks; a Jewish pet bow tie; “Star of David Kosher Kubes” ice trays; and “Hanukkah Fortune Cookies,” to name a few. l Above: The Bagel Whizz, which scoops out bagel innards. Below: An AHAVA necklace and a bracelet made out of piano wire. Bottom: An Israeli-made 7-inch travel menorah Contact: agotlieb@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0797 42 NOVEMBER 24, 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY MAGAZINE JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Name: Jay Roberts Jewelers Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: HG 11/23- Inside Back Cover Ad Number: 00069280 515 Rt. 73 South, Marlton, NJ 08053 856-596-8600 www.jayrobertsjewelers.com Name: Jay Roberts Jewelers Width: 7.5" Depth: 10" Color: Black plus one Comment: HG-11/23-back cover Ad Number: 00069279