By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews
Looking for something just a bit different? Maybe something more gratifying than additional toys to litter the play room? We’ve got a few out-of-the-ordinary gift ideas that you may not have thought of and some that actually help others. Give them a shot!
The war on malaria
Yes, they’re God’s creatures, but we swat at them anyway. The mosquitoes that get away, however, at least in Africa, tend to cause more harm than good, which is why the Union for Reform Judaism has embarked on a campaign, called Nothing But Nets, to fight malaria in Sudanese refugees. Teach tikkun olam this year by giving a $10 gift, which will help provide these refugees with insecticide-treated bed nets.
According to the URJ, the disease causes more than 1 million deaths and infects 500 million people around the world each year. These bed nets have been found to be one of the most effective mechanisms of halting the spread of malaria in Africa.
To order, visit www.urj.org/nets.
Foot (and heart) warmers
They’ve got red stockings that hang over the mantle. We’ve got Hanukkah-themed socks that moisturize and warm your tootsies. Which would you prefer? Sock Grams have three Hanukkah themes available in many different sizes, and they can be delivered anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Nothing says “I love you” more than insinuating your loved one’s toes are ugly!
Order Hanukkah or several other styles at www.sockgrams.com.
Judaica to support Israel
Jewish National Fund, the keepers of Israel’s land trust and the organization that’s working to make the desert green, has many different Judaica items for sale, including stained-glass mezuzot, a kid’s growth chart, and a Bar or Bat Mitzvah certificate that plants a tree in the recipient’s honor.
JNF, of course, is known for its tree-planting program, but in response to the worst water crisis facing Israel in more than 80 years, the non-governmental agency is also selling water certificates. These certificates will go toward water resource projects such as dam and reservoir building, as well as for research. Finally, since it’s Hanukkah, you can also get your candles from JNF, which come from the Jacob Rosenthal Judaica collection. Visit www.jnf.org/store.
Who’s your great-great-
granddaddy?
Amateur genealogy has become something of a contact sport in recent years. Family members comb databases and paper records to find details about their ancestry, not only in the hopes of claiming their rightful place in some long-forgotten royal family, but also to learn more about who they are. Family Tree DNA takes the process one step further: They carry a complete line of DNA tests to match your genetic makeup against others’ DNA in their data banks. Their list of more than 85,000 surnames includes a comprehensive collection of Jewish lineages.
Basic tests start at $129 and go up from there. Your own personal genealogist will thank you profusely. Visit www.familytreedna.com.
Keep “Be kind” on your mind
Yeah, some jerk cut you off on your way to work. And you really could have gone without waiting an extra two hours so the cable company could get you your Colbert fix. But such is life, which is why the Judaica Press developed its A Kindness a Day desk calendar: So we can see past those daily annoyances, and perform even small acts of kindness for our loved ones or even strangers.
Each day of the year has a quote from a traditional Jewish source that suggests concrete ways of performing acts of kindness. The calendar costs $11.95 and is available from
www.judaicapress.com.
For dipping or cooking? You choose
Chances are, the olive oil in your house is one of those half-gallon jugs that comes from Costco. That’s decent stuff, but produced in those quantities and kept in plastic, olive oil purists would never call it high quality.
So why not try some Peace Oil? Produced in a joint venture between Israelis and Palestinians, this hand-pressed extra virgin olive oil is the good stuff. Plus, it helps get the 10th graders of Temple Beth Am’s religious school to New York for their covenant renewal trip. Only $15 a bottle. Call 206-525-0915 or stop by the temple to pick some up.
Halachically permissible tattoos
Admit it. You’ve seen some pretty groovy tattoos in your day, but you don’t want to be kicked out of the Jewish cemetery. Maybe a hamsa on your wrist, a Magen David above the ankle?
Well, CarTatts has finally come up with a way of getting a tattoo that any rabbi will pronounce kosher — though they may question your taste. That’s because we’re talking about menorahs, dreidels and other holiday images that you can stick on your car to turn them “into holiday and winter extravaganzas,” according to the company’s press release.
If you don’t like their car tattoos, upload your own. And when the holidays are finished, peel them off without damaging your paint job. You can’t get that with a real tattoo! Order at www.cartatts.com.