Shopping for Chanukah gifts

KYLE BERGER REPORTER

There are many opportunities throughout the Jewish community of Greater Vancouver to buy a wide variety of unique Chanukah gifts.

From Judaica shops selling chanukiyot and dreidels to local artists creating personalized holiday wares, you can find almost anything if you look hard enough.

The Bulletin did some looking of its own and came up with this list of some of the local stores and artists that might help conquer a Chanukah shopping list.

• The Judaica shop at Beth Israel synagogue has everything from jewelry to door mats. They offer the works of local artists, as well as many items from Israel, such as candles, challah covers, kiddush cups, Shabbat candlesticks and other holiday items. Some of their featured Chanukah gifts include five different type of candles, traditional and modern stained-glass chanukiyot, scented candles and a large variety of dreidels. The shop also has a wide selection of children's items such as coloring books and plush toys. The store is located at 4350 Oak St. and can be reached at 604-731-4161.

• The Temple Sholom Gift Shop also has a wide variety of Judaica year round. Specifically for Chanukah, they have 45 different styles of chanukiyot, sterling silver, ceramic, wood and plastic dreidels, Chanukah tableware, decorations and latke platters. They also sell toys, music, videos, books, cards, candles and chocolate gelt for the children.

The shop is located at 7190 Oak St. and can be reached at 604-266-1957.
• At The Perfect Gift, Barbara Smith runs what she called, "the gift store that sells everything." For Chanukah she has a large selection of chanukiyot. Located at 1854 West 57th Ave., The Perfect Gift can be reached at 604-261-1501.

• Patrona and Company on the North Shore offers imported Israeli products such as jewelry and silverware, as well as many other gifts. The store is located at 1534 Marine Dr. in West Vancouver. Call 604-986-1024.

• Presents of Mind, at 3135 Granville St., has one of the most unique selections of Judaica in Vancouver, featuring glass, wooden and ceramic menorot, as well as seder plates, kiddush cups and picture frames. Call 604-736-6463.

• Abraham's Books at 1721 Grant St. has the best selection of used and rare Judaica books in Western Canada. If you're looking for something specific for the reader on your Chanukah list, call 604-253-1952.

• At Adina Priel Flowers you can find plenty of, well, flowers. But that's not all. Priel's store also has glass trays with assorted kosher foods, and everything you would need for a colorful Chanukah party, such as tablecloths, paper plates and decorating ideas, as well as a variety of chanukiyot. Priel's store is located at 3720 Oak St., and can be reached at 604-738-7673.

• For the art enthusiast on your shopping list, Linda Lando Fine Art, at 2043 West 41st Ave., offers historical Canadian investment art ranging in price from $300 and up. You can shop online at www.lindalandofineart.com or by calling 604-266-6010.

• Shlomo Yekutieli sells carpets that are made in Afghanistan, as well as tablecloths with wood block art designs. For Chanukah he has specially made tablecloths with holiday patterns and designs. Yekutieli can be contacted at 604-738-1304.

• Jeff Doctor sells usable art he buys from an Israeli exporter called Kakadu. Described as Israeli folk art, Kakadu includes items such as vases, trays, CD racks and cushions that feature colorful pictures of different animals. The Kakadu products can be found at various stores throughout Greater Vancouver, such as Patrona and Co. on the North Shore and The Perfect Gift in Kerrisdale. Doctor can be contacted at [email protected].

• Anat Basanta designs and makes her own jewelry using mostly silver, gold, copper and brass. Basanta will sell her wares at the Granville Island market Dec. 5 to 8. She also sells her work from home and can be contacted at 604-322-4057.

• While it may not sound like a typical Chanukah gift, Aviel Barclay hand makes ketubot, Jewish marriage contracts. A ketubah might be a unique gift for the couple planning a wedding on your Chanukah gift list. Barclay can be reached at 604-762-6778.

• Michael Braude can help you give someone the gift of sleep with his custom-made, painted pillows. Using acrylic paints, Braude can customize his work for any holiday or event and he also makes challah covers. For more information, call 604-873-1974.

• For those who like to shop online, Metegbooks is a great way to find a book and support the Jewish community. Located on the Web at www.meteg.com, they donate 70 per cent of their proceeds to the community.

• At Krayna's Kreations, Krayna Feinberg makes personalized items such as bibs, comfort blankets, placemats, towels, pillows, jewelry boxes and challah covers in Hebrew for all gift-giving occasions. For Chanukah, she has large, stuffed dreidels that can be used for a child or even as a Chanukah table centrepiece. Feinberg can be contacted by calling 604-267-7190.

• If you're looking for something shiny at Chanukah, Simie Schtroks sells a wide variety of sterling silver Judaica such as kiddush cups, menorot, dreidels, Havdalah sets, Shabbat candles, seder plates, mezuzah covers and kiddush fountains. Schtroks sells her wares at home parties, community events and from her home. Call 604-541-4111.

• At Yoffi Creations, Myra Samet makes decorative platters and plates with Jewish and non-Jewish themes that can be personalized. She also custom makes photo albums for special events, such as b'nai mitzvah and weddings. For more information, call Samet at 604-737-9940.

• Naama Laniado imports a variety of gifts from Israel. They include jewelry, silver kiddush fountains with eight small cups, silver bread knives for Shabbat, mezuzot and unique menay bissamim (lit. different kinds of smells) – small bottles that contain a flower inside alcohol, used for Havdalah. For Chanukah, she has large, silver-plated chanukiyot that run between $50 and $60. Laniado can be reached at 604-710-6602.

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