On the hunt for holiday gifts

The number of local Judaica outlets has increased over the years.
ELIZABETH NIDER

It used to be that when a Jewish Vancouverite was about to embark on a trip to New York, Los Angeles or Israel they were bombarded with requests from friends and family to bring back some Judaica. We were hard-pressed to find anything in the Lower Mainland that was appealing and reasonably priced. But not so today: not only can one find Judaica locally, but there is a variety of sources from which to choose, each one selling selections of unique Judaica.

L’Chaim Party Supplies

For those who need decorations for a Chanukah party, no matter how extravagant, L’Chaim Party Supplies is the place to go. L’Chaim carries a variety of decorations and centrepieces for any simchah.

Owner Bonnie Bauer took over the business from her mother, who used to sell b’nai mitzvah and wedding invitations. Bauer acquired and expanded the business, in 1998, when her son Michael was young and it was time to start livening up the holidays at home. She kept up the invitations and personal cards, but decided to bring in Jewish toys, colorful party supplies and other Judaica, because she was having a hard time finding fun, yet inexpensive products in the Lower Mainland.

This year, at her home office in Richmond, Bauer will have a wide assortment of products in stock, including platters, dreidels (both plain and collectible), wrapping paper, candles and decorations. New products this year include “a glass vase shaped like a dreidel, which you could fill with dreidels or flowers,” and the No Limit Texas Dreidel game, which combines the best of dreidel and poker for an amusing experience, all for $19.95.

Bauer’s favorite products are the collectibles. Anyone can start a collection, but especially “as a young newlywed, it is fun to start collecting items like platters, fancy dreidels, serving pieces, menorahs or vases that can be added to each year.”

To shop L’Chaim Party Supplies or to order from the catalogue, appointments can be made in the evenings and on Sundays. Call 604-277-8571.

Mazal Judaica

Naama Laniado was once a busy working mom with young children, but she felt she was missing out on her children growing up. In 2000, she decided to start her own business – Mazal Judaica. “I am Israeli and I have a passion for Israel,” Laniado explained, which is why 99 percent of her products are from Israel. She orders directly from Israeli artists to keep her prices competitive, without compromising quality.

Mazal carries an extensive selection, including washing cups, decorative house blessings and hamsas, candlesticks, challah plates, Kiddush cups, tallitot and tablecloths. One item that is distinctive is the lemon blossom in a bottle. The way it’s made is fascinating – just before the buds of a lemon tree begin to grow, a bottle is placed over them. The buds grow inside the bottle, which is then filled with a liquid that maintains both the lemon buds and the fresh fragrance. For $10, this bottle works as an air freshener or can be used as besamim during Havdalah.

The stainless steel necklaces that come in a mezuzah, chai or Magen David design are especially popular with teenagers because of their Israeli-army design. For those who prefer more traditional styles, Laniado also carries ornamental jewelry.

For Chanukah, Laniado carries beautiful chanukiyot from Israeli artist Reuven Gafni. Gafni uses a unique style combining iron, natural stone and clay to create inimitable, eye-catching chanukiyot, as well as other artwork. Another Chanukah product is the Chanukiyah-in-the-Mail, which is exactly what it sounds like – a portable, foldable stainless steel chanukiyah – great for travelers or university students.

Laniado would love to open a store one day, and hopes that the demand for Judaica in Vancouver will continue to grow. For now, she sells her products through her website or at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Visit shopmazal.com or call 604-783-5455 for more information.

Pacific Judaica

While looking for a wedding present for her sister, Marnie Greenwald realized that it was difficult to find modern and funky Judaica locally. She ended up purchasing a gift through a friend with a business in Eastern Canada, who inspired Greenwald to open Pacific Judaica, in early 2000. “I like things on the funkier side, things that are colorful, artsy and different and I knew that there was a lack of that here and I thought that I could fill that niche.”

Pacific Judaica carries beautiful hand-blown glass chanukiyot, which are both functional and serve as pieces of art. Greenwald has acquired a large selection of chanukiyot “that pretty much sell out every year [and] they make great gifts.” But the best-selling products are the mezuzot, which come in hand-blown glass, pewter, various metals and fimo clay.

In 2007, Greenwald was visiting Israel and discovered Lalo, an Israeli company that makes candlesticks out of resin. “They are quite popular and quite fun, definitely on the modern side ... and pretty much indestructible, they won’t chip or break.” They must be hard to find, since she recently got an order from New Jersey for a pair of Lalo candlesticks.

Greenwald also carries the Box of Questions series (in Shabbat, Passover and Chanukah editions) from a company called the Box Girls. Each box contains question cards (ranging from simple to thought-provoking) that generate dinner conversation. Greenwald noted, “It’s not really traditional Judaica [but] they make great gifts because they are [engaging and] only $25.” Visit pacificjudaica.com or call 604-738-1854.

Temple Sholom Gift Shop

“You name it – we’ve got,” Marion Cassirer said about the Temple Sholom Gift Shop that she has been managing for 10 years. The shop has an extensive selection of mezuzot, CDs and DVDs, tallitot for men and women, candlesticks, kippot, sterling silver and 14-carat gold jewelry from Israel, Kiddush cups, seder plates and more. Cassirer, who has been in the Judaica business for more than 20 years, particularly appreciates the book selection, which contains books for children and adults, cookbooks (both local, such as Susan Mendelson’s cookbook, and from elsewhere, such as books by Norene Gilletz), Tanachim and books on the Holocaust.

Cassirer warned that at Chanukah time the candles and chanukiyot sell out fast. The shop carries beautiful, dripless candles from Safed, Israel, and sells about 50 different types of chanukiyot. Customers can also choose from decorations, such as electric lights; a huge selection of dreidels, including crystal; Chanukah toys, games, puzzles and books, milk and dark chocolate gelt, Chanukah baby bibs, cookie cutters and gift wrap.

“Chanukah is big around here,” said Cassirer. “It’s the busiest time of the year, especially the two weeks before, but the smart ones come early.” The gift shop has extended hours during the month of December. Call 604-266-1957 for more information.

Elizabeth Nider is a freelance writer living in Richmond.