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