Minnie Mouse dreidels and bed-
"We even have mugs with in-
room motion clocks with jump- terchangeable papers that kids
ing frogs and other animals. Soap can color for Rosh Hashanah,
dreidels, bagel candles and Chanukah and Passover. It's
matzah (beach) balls are among something significant for the
the shop's more whimsical items. holidays and also gives the chil-
Then there are the infamous dren something to play with,
black wrought-iron menorahs something of their own," Beer
which Goldman's husband, says.
Michael, schlepped all the way
Other items — great for house-
from Israel — a full two dozen of warming and shower gifts, she
them. "We went to a factory and says — include silk challah cov-
I spotted them," she recalls. "I ers hand-painted in Israel, Agam
never realized how heavy playing cards, Passover oven
wrought iron is. He practically mitts, Lucite matzah boxes with
got a hernia carrying them."
hinged tops, Havdalah sets and
Temple Israel's shop was en- rainbow candles.
larged and redecorated in an eye-
"We also have yads (the point-
catching contemporary motif two ers used to read the Torah)," Beer
years ago and is one of the largest notes. "They make nice bar and
synagogue shops in metro De- bat mitzvah gifts — people buy
troit. It carries hundreds of items, them ahead of time and the chil-
including sterling silver honey dren can use them."
cups, Lenox china menorahs and
For an appointment to view
kiddush cups, musical Chanukah items in the B'nai Moshe shop,
globes and ceramic heart picture 6800 Drake Road, West Bloom-
frames with sayings such as "I fi,eld, call (810) 788-0600.
Love Bubbe."
Temple Israel Sisterhood Gift
Shop, 5725 Walnut Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, is open 10:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday and
Wednesday; 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tues-
day and Thursday; and 9:30 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Or call the
temple for an appointment, (810)
661-5700.
By contrast, the Congregation
B'nai Moshe Sisterhood Judaica
Shop is contained in a single glass
display case, with lights illumi-
nating beautiful fused glass and
metal sculptures from the Rosen-
thal Collection Though small, the
wall unit showcases more than
100 items, ranging from novelty
pens for under $2 to $175 kosher
"There's no such thing as just
a gift item here — it has to have
some Judaic theme to it," says co-
ordinator Rosalie Beer as she
pulls out a velvet tray lined with
at least 50 different mezuzot and
kosher scrolls, including a wed-
ding mezuzah with a couple
standing under the chuppah.
Children's items are popular,
among them a dreidel bib, plas-
tic dishware, an Arctic animals
menorah dubbed "Chanukah on
Ice," holiday cookie cutters, a ce-
ramic bear, Hebrew songs on
tape and My Hebrew Dinosaurs
coloring book.
year, we started a new gift reg-
istry for bar and bat mitzvah so
the kids can come in and register
and their friends and family can
shop for them here."
The Judaica-only boutique fo-
cuses on all the holiday and life-
cycle events, such as births,
weddings, anniversaries ... you
name it. And, Anchill says, "We
encourage people to come and
purchase things for their own
homes as well as gifts for other
hand-crocheted and chenille ver-
sions to suede painted with fa-
vorite college emblems or Cat in
the Hat, Winnie the Pooh and
other kiddie characters. Make-
your-own Hebrew name neck-
laces also are popular.
Reflecting on the growth of the
boutique from its modest begin-
nings six years ago in a "back cor-
ner" of the synagogue, Anchill
says: "We wanted to bring the
idea of Judaica to synagogue fam-
workers. "That way they're get-
ting the complete package."
For the legions of dreidel col-
lectors in metro Detroit, the shop
stocks Lucite dreidel holders in
two different sizes. Shoppers also
will find such items as a music
box that fits traditional meno-
rahs; children's menorahs deco-
rated with dinosaurs, balloons or
hearts; porcelain seder plates;
various pieces from the Rosen-
thal Collection; and the Lenox
ilies. We especially wanted to
reach teens so maybe they'll
think of this as important in their
life. We've really gotten a good re-
sponse."
china Judaic collection, including
seder and Shabbat plates, meno-
rahs, mezuzot and candlesticks.
One of the shop's mainstays is
candy for children attending the
temple's Hebrew School. "We try
to have the shop open when
they're here. They buy lots of can-
dy and they're very generous
with their change," Freeman
says, pointing to a Jewish char-
ity box which benefits hunger al-
leviation. 'They put the rest right
here."
Right: Rosalie Beer displays an item
from the B'nai Moshe Judaica shop.
Below: Many children's items are also
available at the B'nai Moshe shop.
ANN Y $1'11)1404
FIR -T
HAMA Alj
OMNI
At Adat Shalom in Farming-
ton Hills, the Sisterhood Judaica
Boutique brims with items de-
signed to give gift givers fresh, re-
ligion-oriented options beyond
the old standbys, says coordina-
tor Jane Anchill.
"A lot of teen-agers would like
to have their own mezuzah for
their room or their own tzedakah
box, menorah or dreidel, perhaps
to start their own collections," she
says, pointing to a large variety
of each in the boutique's two long
showcases, prominently located
in the synagogue alcove. "This
people. A lot of people over the
years like to replace their seder
plates or may never have re-
ceived one. There are new styles
coming out every year."
Items are available in various
price ranges, such as baby kid-
dush cups in both sterling silver
and silver plate. Styles range
from Noah's Ark to the syna-
gogues of Europe. Also featured
are artsy collector's pieces, in-
cluding a stained glass Havdalah
set by local artist Danny Katsir.
There are headcoverings or kip-
pot for the whole family, from
Adat Shalom's Sisterhood Ju-
daica Boutique, 29901 Middle-
belt, Farmington Hills, is open
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday; 4:15
to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thurs-
day and other times by appoint-
ment. Call (810) 851-5100.
No wonder Barbara Grant
stops by Temple Beth El's gift
boutique for all her family's
mezuzah needs. The shop not
only carries more than 100 de-
signs, from inexpensive balsa
wood and car mezuzot to pricey
cut crystal and silver versions, it
also sends shoppers away with
the tacks to hang them up.
"If it's for a gift, we can wrap
and pack it, too," says Lois Free-
man, who coordinates schedul-
ing for the shop's 30 volunteer
Hours at Temple Beth El's
shop, 7400 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Hills, are 10 a.m. to
8:30 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6:30
p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10
a.m. to noon Thursday and Fri-
day; and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sunday. Call (810) 851-1100.
Please note: Hours at the
shops are subject to seasonal
change. Best bet is to call
ahead. ❑