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Dec. 9, 2005
The lighter side of Chanukah
Humorous gifts for everyone in your life are a mouse click away.
PEARL SALKIN
Got enough drama in your life? Unless you live in la-la land, there
is more than enough gloom and doom to go around: Economy ready to
take a tumble; Global warming – killer mosquitoes will be swarming.
If the cold weather doesn't send a chill down your spine, today's
headlines will.
Even those of us who valiantly maintain a Pollyanna perspective
on managing personal problems have a hard time keeping the Chicken
Little crowd from scaring us into a depressive paralysis.
In a fantasy battle between those two fictional characters, I give
the girl with the curls a thumbs up and I call a foul on the fowl.
After all, it's almost Chanukah, a time to rejoice during this festival
of overcoming the odds. So, as the old song says, "forget your
troubles, c'mon get happy." Spread some cheer. Share a chortle.
And lighten up.
This year, give those you love, those you like and even those who
make your life less than blissful a chuckle in the morning, a laugh
in the afternoon or a just a few moments of fun, no matter what
time of day or night. Tell your serious side to take a hike and
hibernate until spring, and bring on the punching rabbi puppets,
silly CDs and other stuff that can put a smile on anyone's face
and some sunshine in their outlook.
Finding your happy place, or at least some guffaw-inducing gifts,
takes a bit of searching. But don't fret. I have done the legwork
(a fingertip task, actually) and come up with a collection of present
possibilities that are fun, funny and fit for the folks on your
Chanukah list.
Toys, books, music, clothes, accent pieces, accessories for people
and their prized pets – Jewish-flavored offerings that are
sure to tickle your funny bone range from subtly whimsical to in-your-face
hilarious. And since there's always a 50 per cent chance that the
pundit-predicted, tough economic times really do lie ahead, I've
put a $50 US cap on the cost of suggested gifts, excluding shipping.
If you have to shell out more to buy a giggle, that's not funny.
The first places to scout out during holiday, simchah or ritual
needs shopping trips should be temple gift shops and area Judaica
stores. If you don't support your local Jewish community, who will?
After those initial outings, grab a hot cup of coffee, cocoa or
tea, then hit the virtual street. And have plenty of paper napkins
on hand. This year's online offerings are so cute, clever and downright
hysterical, you might just plotz (explode with laughter).
Ready, set, shop:
• alljudaica.com
– If you click on the Toys and Games tab near the top of the
opening page, then select Dolls on the left, you'll see the punching
rabbi puppet with a long white beard, boxing gloves and a tag that
proclaims, "Fighting for wisdom for 3,000 years." Since
he does look a bit lonely, why not buy him a bride, Yetta the yenta,
a musical dancing doll? She sings "If only I had a rich man,"
and I hear she makes great latkes. If you were able find the doll,
you should have no trouble locating the site's vast variety of humorous
book offerings and comedy CDs.
• jcolstore.com
– Select Holiday Store from the drop-down departments menu
on the right, then Chanukah and, finally, Fun Gifts. How about the
"Oy vey!" wall clock, a timepiece with scrambled hour
indicators, for the Henny Penny in your life; the Schmootz doormat
for your sister-in-law, Mrs. Clean; or the "No kvetching"
mug for just about anyone on your list who doesn't know when to
stop whining?
• shop.thejewishmuseum.org
– The Jewish Museum in New York City not only houses wonderful
collections, it is a great place to shop. Stop by the online site,
explore all of the gift possibilities and consider Chanukah on Planet
Matzah Ball, a DVD full of wacky characters, clever animation and
charming tunes that will amuse kids aged four to 10. And for anyone
of any age, Now That Sounds Kosher, a CD compilation of cuts –
music and schtick – by Jewish comedians, is a winner. A nice
selection of humorous books containing Jewish jokes, wit and wisdom
is available, too.
• jewishfunnybone.com
– Take a funny motif, and run with it! Make posters, coasters,
greeting cards, boxers, baby bibs, barbeque aprons, tote bags, T-shirts,
tank tops, sweatshirts, throw pillows - you name it, this site has
it. The Chanukah designs are especially clever, guaranteed to kick
your holiday spirit into high gear.
• oytoys.com
– In addition to all sorts of gifts for the humans in our life,
this site has gifts for our favorite animals. Although our pets
don't really celebrate holidays, they do know how to enjoy toys.
For your best canine or feline friend, go to this site's pet pages.
Choose from among these best bets for cats and dogs – squeaky
Chanukah gelt; Lox the fish; Trayf the mouse and Bagel with cream
cheese.
What was my favorite gift last Chanukah? A long-distance laugh.
My friend Renee sent me a Sedaka box, something she made from a
small cardboard cube, colorful dreidels she cut out of wrapping
paper and photos of Neil Sedaka, our former neighbor in Brooklyn
– following the instructions she found in the book Judaikitsch.
This adorable tzedakah box, now filled with lots of coins, sits
on the desk next to my computer and makes me smile every day.
Pearl Salkin is a freelance writer based in Florida.
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