As the resident member of the tribe on the R29 shopping team, I am pleased to present 21 crazy good present ideas for eight crazy (or mashugana, if you're still with me and playing along) nights.
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L'chaim To Wine!
Gift your loved ones a variety pack of minimally intervened, small-lot wines so you can raise a glass with them: to love, to friendships, to hardships overcome, to happy times, small accomplishments, to life! I've gifted Usual wines before and the single-serve bottles are always a hit.
Shop Usual Wines
Usual Wines 12 Bottles of Assorted Wines, $, available at Usual Wines
For The Love Of Bubbies
Photographer, author, and creator of the Advanced Style blog, Ari Seth Cohen, has a worthy trilogy of uplifting books capturing the style of the forever young. Ari was inspired to start the blog by his best friend, his late bubby Bluma whose energy and attitude towards life continue to influence him. Pick up his last release Advanced Love, to peep stylish couples from around the world that also offer relationship advice for all ages. There's always Advanced Style first edition, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser, and the charming Advanced Style coloring book.
Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Love, $, available at Amazon
The Miracle of Light
Legend has it that the Maccabees lit the Temple’s menorah with just one cruse of olive oil which — miracle of miracles — lasted 8 days. While this fancy-schmancy candle from NY-based high-art fragrance company D.S. & Durga only has a burn time of 60 hours, its notes of citron, cedar of Lebanon, incense, and floral olive lingers long after the light goes out.
D.S. & Durga Prime Chanukah Candle, $, available at D.S. & Durga
A Chanukah Bush
Here’s where this gift list gets controversial — enter, the potted Norfolk Pine. Is your Jewishness diminished by the appreciation of a fresh evergreen thriving in your home? I think not. Heck, we even have Tu Bishvat — a whole holiday in January just to celebrate trees. So why not bring that forward a month while the pines are aplenty and choose one that’ll last year round? This cheery little tree is cute enough to charm even the most skeptical members of the mishpacha and looks chic decked with subtle fairy lights if you dare. (Maybe hide the fairy light decorations if having the rabbi over for dinner.)
The Sill Norfolk Island Pine (Cream Grant Planter), $, available at The Sill
Oy Vey — Socks?
Yes, socks! The gift that nobody asks for but everyone can use. So practical! And this pair — have you seen? They're perfect for the person graduating from JV to varsity in complaining.
Kule Oy Vey Sock, $, available at Kule
Oy Vey — The Shirt!
And, if you really wanna spring for it, there's a pricier t-shirt version for that! Yep, this long-sleeve tee isn't cheap, but that's because it's a quality buy made by indie brand Kule, helmed by Nikki Kule, daughter of legendary garmento Eugene “Gene” Kule. Her thoughtful collection of preppy-happy clothes for the whole family is generations in the making.
Kule THE MODERN LONG OY VEY - NAVY, $, available at Kule
Now That's A Spread
Russ & Daughters has been an NYC institution for over 100 years. The original founder, Joel Russ immigrated from his shtetl in Poland to the Lower East Side and started from the bottom. In 1935 he made his three daughters full partners in his business (quite controversial at the time) and the rest is American history. Send the gift of a Jewish-style New York spread (bagels, lox, and a schmear of cream cheese) finished off with coffee and babka, to anyone who deserves to know what a real bagel tastes like.
Russ & Daughters New York Brunch, $, available at Goldbelly
Happy Challah Days
Send your fam a festive gift box filled will all the tried & tested ingredients, recipe, and easy instructions to make several delicious challah loaves. The Challah Box promises that your homemade challah will be moist, fluffy, and with just the right amount of sweetness that melts in your mouth. Your recipient doesn't have to be a master baker either, in fact, this gift is great for a family activity with children.
The Challah Box Challah Baking Box Kit, $, available at The Challah Box
Welcome, Stranger
I learned about HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) after the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The gunman was allegedly incensed by HIAS' mission to help rescue people whose lives are in danger for being who they are. HIAS offers free legal aid, advocacy, and assistance with U.S. resettlement, and treats refugees from all over the world with the dignity and respect they deserve. Give a donation in someone's name, here or grab a friend and become a volunteer for the organization.
Pay It Forward
Another organization that helps refugees is Choose Love, a store where you can purchase practical gifts that go directly to displaced families in need. If you want your gift to be in the name of someone you know, just download the gift card at checkout.
Choose Love Winter Warmers Pack, $, available at Choose Love
Festivus For The Rest Of Us
Okay, so this one's questionable. But, for those with a sense of humor who are more apt to bow down before the altar of Larry David than pray at all, this gift will light up their life.
Dynamite Shirts Seinfeld Prayer Candle, $, available at Etsy
Call Your Mom
"Alexa, call mom and tell her that no, I don't know how to set up that electronic picture frame she won from the sisterhood prize night fundraiser."
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen), $, available at Amazon
Better Yet, Write A Letter
This box of cards was dreamt up by Rabbi Yael Buechler of Midrash Manicures and illustrated by New Yorker Cartoonist Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell. It reflects 2021’s manic spinning dreidel-like experience.
Midrash Manicures Spinning Class Hanukkah Cards - Box of 6, $, available at Midrash Manicures
Tikkun Olam
The English translation of Tikkun Olam is "repair the world," a concept that's interpreted differently depending on what denomination of Judaism you follow. For the sake of this gift guide, and in my own secular-leaning ideologies, I'm keeping it literal with the suggestion of afforestation. Over at the Arbor Day Foundation, you have the option to send evergreen seedlings, gift-a-tree cards, a tree nursery, or Arbor Day coffee — all of which have proceeds going back to our national forests and other tree-planting efforts around the world.
Gelty Pleasures
Those foil coins that come in yellow plastic mesh sacks are cute to play dreidel with, but have you ever eaten one? Feh! Step it up a few notches with this deluxe box of gourmet treats — including rich milk chocolate gelt from the food wizards over at Mouth.
Mouth Hanukkah De-Lights, $, available at Mouth
Gelt Free
Or you can go the fashion route with a 14K gold-plated coin earring set from the sustainable direct-to-consumer jewelry brand, Ana Luisa.
Ana Luisa Michelle Earrings, $, available at Ana Luisa
Get Lit
You'd never know that there was a 5-pack of pre-rolled hemp CBD Js discreetly concealed in a decoy pack of Chanukah candles. Each one comes with a dreidel!
Dad Stash Chanukah Candles 5 Pack Dad Stash, $, available at Dad Stash
Seltza
It's true — Jews love seltzer. Our zest for carbonated water goes way back to the nineteenth century when Jewish entrepreneurs peddled the filtered sparkling beverage as a high-end but affordable alternative to spirits and questionable drinking water. I remember the siphoned bottles of seltzer being delivered to my grandmother's house in Bensonhurst every week back in the '80s but the business of seltzer delivery is nearly extinct. Now, you can still get the fresh taste of effervescent water at home with less waste than a value pack of LaCroix with Israeli company SodaStream. If your giftee already owns a seltzer maker (zei gezunt), give them a set of natural flavor-enhancers to mix it up a bit.
SodaStream Soda Press Original Variety Pack, $, available at SodaStream
Supreme Queen
Not only did the honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg grow up a stone's throw from my childhood home in Brooklyn, but she also shared my love of jewelry, the arts, and respectfully sticking to one's guns. (She had a knack for combining all three passions in one snazzy dissent bib, too.) Take a page from this Zazzle seller and spread the joy of Resistmas with class. Add in some sufganiyot while you're at it.
P.S. You can get 20% off this mug with code ZHOLIDAYSHOP — ends soon!
Pen & Letter Ruth Bader Ginsburg Merry Resistmas Mug, $, available at Zazzle
Bern, Baby, Bern
Another chip off the old Brooklyn, block — Bernie. Whether you bro out over this progressive Tzadik's economic policies or just want to gift a soothing way to meditate the remaining days of 2021 away, this coloring book is (Amazon) prime ready to be sent off to a loved one. P.S. Sanders would probably prefer you buy this coloring book from Bookshop.org instead.
Scribble Press A Bernie Sanders Coloring Book For Adults, $, available at Amazon
Let It Burn
Homesick presents a candle with top notes of butter, apples, potatoes (questionable), and base notes of vanilla and musk.
Homesick Latkes and Lights Candle, $, available at Homesick
Byrning Down The House
And finally, my pièce de résistance in the category of "burn" puns, David Byrne and Maira Kalman's artful book of prose relating to American Utopia. It's pretty, it's giftable for children or adults, and should fit perfectly under your Chanukah bush.
Bloomsbury Publishing American Utopia by David Byrne & Maira Kalman, $, available at bookshop.org
Primed for gifting
If the free two-day shipping, free Kindle e-books, unlimited photo storage, and exclusive access to deals didn't get your technology-averse parents on board with Amazon Prime, then perhaps the third season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will. You can give the gift of Prime starting at three months for $39, here.
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