NOVEMBER 25 • 2021 | 17

4. GIFT FAIR-TRADE CHOC-
OLATE
Unlike traditional chocolate, 
fair-trade chocolate is a choc-
olate made with cacao beans 
that comes from farmers who 
are guaranteed a fair price for 
their crop.
With chocolate gelt being 
one of the most endearing 
Chanukah traditions, especially 
for kids, consider gifting fair-
trade chocolate instead for a 
sweet yet sustainable choice.

“We recommend 
Chocolove, Dagoba, 
Equal Exchange and 
Sunspire,” Hack says. 
You can also try mak-
ing your own gelt from 
a number of online gelt 
recipes, simply subbing in 
fair trade chocolate.

5. CREATE DIY GIFTS
Rather than buying something 
store-made or mass-pro-
duced, create your own DIY 
Chanukah gifts for loved ones 
that can prove to be just as 
memorable and heartwarming.
Some ideas include taking a 
photo and creating your own 
frame, knitting a scarf or hat 
or making your own beeswax 
candles.

6. DONATE TO 
A GOOD CAUSE
Rather than gifting Chanukah 
gelt or presents, ask loved ones 

if you can make a donation in 
their name instead.
Local emergency food pro-
viders and hunger relief orga-
nizations are both excellent 
choices during the holiday 
season, when many families 
struggle to put a hot meal on 
the table.

7. PRACTICE “EIGHT DAYS 
OF ACTION”
For the eight days of 
Chanukah, consider using this 
time to give back to the com-
munity (and planet).
“
A lot of local food pantries, 
if they don’t need volunteers, 
they certainly need food,” Hack 
says.
Small but meaningful steps 
can include volunteering for a 
night as Hack suggests, cook-
ing a meal for someone in need 
or setting aside family time to 
watch a film about food justice.

8. REUSE GIFT SUPPLIES
Instead of opening a gift and 
throwing away the bag or gift 
wrap, consider reusing gift 
supplies to help cut down on 
holiday waste.
Beautiful gift bags in partic-
ular can be reused a number 
of times, reducing your use of 
paper and plastic.
For homemade Chanukah 
gift bags and wraps that are 
reusable, Hack suggests visiting 
online retailer Etsy, which has 
a number of creative options 
for sale.

9. USE GREEN CHANUKAH 
DECORATIONS
Just a few small changes in your 
Chanukah decor can amount to 
big gains for sustainability. 
“Try crafting a dreidel out of 
recyclable materials,” Hack says. 
“
Also, as a family or community 
activity, make your own meno-
rah using recycled materials.” 

Use fair-trade 
chocolate 
for your 
Chanukah 
gelt.