Judaic a Cti fats

Chanukah gift offerings are classic and unique.

DEBBIE WALLIS LANDAU

Special to The Jewish News

Vit Nether your
gift giving
style salutes
tradition or gives a nod to
trends in art, design or music,
local merchants and artisans
have many Judaica gifts
perfect for Chanukah.
Creative interpretations of
Judaica have never been
more plentiful. What's dif-
ferent is the degree to which
custom work and personaliza-
tion of gift items are
available.
If you're treasure hunting
for friends and family
members, the following selec-
tions may give you some new
ideas.
Borenstein's Book and
Music Store in Oak Park has
endured as an emporium of
everything Jewish for almost
a century in the Detroit area.
Among the eye-catching
items featured in the store
this season are lovely Israeli
wall tapestries. The pieces
measure approximately 36 x
24 inches, come in four
designs and retail for $65.
They also carry a design
which does double duty as a
Chanukah menorah and
Shabbat candlesticks! The
gold and silver plated crea-
tion boasts eight candle-
holders flanked on right and
left by Shabbat candles.
A great teacher's gift or
conversation piece for the
grown-up who never outgrew
dreidels is the glass designed
dreidel filled with different
colored liquids.
If you have a doctor or
lawyer on your gift list,

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 1991

Avram Borenstein might
recommend a 12 x 15 inch
wall plaque bearing either
the Maimonides prayer for
physicians or the creed for
lawyers. Both are printed in
Hebrew and English.
As always, the selection of
books, tapes and puzzles is
generous. New story titles in-
clude Just Enough is Plenty,
Latkes and Applesauce and
the cassette tape/book set en-
titled Each and Every
Miracle.
At Continental Exclusives
in Southfield and West
Bloomfield, the international
flavor reflects both the
heritages of its staff and their
appreciation for work from
other cultures. Some ex-
amples of Judaica, which
owner Edith Klein-Berman
and manager Shirley
Douville showcase, are stun-
ning porcelain designs by
Moroccan-born Israeli artist
Danny Azoulay. Both the
scent box for Havdalah
ceremonies ($169) and the
mezuzah ($189) make
beautiful gifts.
American-born, Israeli ar-
tist Yaacov Heller is known
for his dramatic sterling
silver artistry. Pieces by him
are unquestionably collectors'
items, and if you own one, you
will have something in com-
mon with the White House:
President Gerald Ford was
presented with Mr. Heller's
famous David and Goliath
statue in the 1970s.
Besides his jewelry and
mezuzot, Continental Ex-
clusives carries numerous
statuary and other art pieces.
One that is notable is the pair

of Adam and Eve candlesticks
(Eve is holding an apple and
the couple are flanked by a
tree design.)
Emery's Creative Jewelers
in Farmington Hills can have
shoppers undecided between
the wide choice of Stars of
David or "chai" designs
marketed these days. One
Star of David has a chai
superimposed on the design.
Emery or Robert Weinberger
can customize a Star of David
with an initial or name in
English or Hebrew. There is
a Star of David with the word
"love" worked into the design
of the six pointed star.
Custom-name necklaces,
bracelets or wedding rings
with Hebrew names or in-
scriptions are popularly re-
quested and can be custom
designed for gift giving.
Especially for Chanukah,
the store has paper mezuzot
by local artist Karen Dubrin-
sky, who integrates multi-
colored paper tubular shapes
into a finished mezuzah. A
ceramic menorah by Oak
Park artist Sondra Herman
comes in different designs
and can be special ordered.
Needlepointers or friends of
them will find numerous
keepsake items to stitch at
both Rachel's Needlepoint in
Southfield and Accents in
Needlepoint in West
Bloomfield.
Rachel, a lifelong artist
herself, carries easy-to-finish
items such as plastic dreidels,
bookmarks and mezuzah
covers — or ambitious projects
such as ketubah frames and
chuppahs. Pillows with
modernistic or traditional