Where Do I Hang a Mezuzah?

Can you name off the top of your head all the doors in your home that would require Mezuzah cases? Sorry for the pop quiz. The answer is: it's complicated. We'll try to give you a hand, if you're confused, interested, or both.

A general rule to remember is that every room except the bathroom needs a Mezuzah. As always, there are exceptions. The doors of dressing rooms can also do without one. Any completely open room without a door doesn't need one either. And if the room is smaller than 36 square feet, don't bother.

Some unlikely doors qualify for a Mezuzah. Garage doors, sliding glass doors, and french doors are all fair game. Like we said, it's complicated.

Not everybody gets around to hanging Mezuzot -- did you know that the plural of Mezuzah is Mezuzot? -- in their home, but it's a fun tradition, one that blesses the home and teaches kids something about their heritage. If you decide to add Mezuzot to your home, remember that we've got a great selection of Mezuzah cases in our Mezuzah shop. We also sell the Kosher scrolls that go inside. 

Our cases have designs that range in style from classic to modern to fun: we even have a Hello Kitty Mezuzah case. Can't decide on whether you want a traditional or eclectic design for your room? In the end, compromise isn't a bad idea: the slanted position of mezuzot on a door frame is the result of rabbis compromising on whether mezuzot should be aligned vertically or horizontally. If compromise was good enough for them, it should be good enough for us, right?

As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments, gripes, or good wishes.

New York International Gift Fair Finds - Day 1, 2012

New Stuff Spotted at NYIGF today.

Today I attended New York's Newest and NYIGF. I always love to visit the newbees. I'm looking for fresh products, of course. Often the items are debuted at the show, like the very cool new menorah I found. I also enjoy seeing how first-timers set up their booths. Some get it right and fit it perfectly. Others, not so much. No matter, the vendors are friendly and eager, and lovely to chat with!

DIY SOUVENIR KIT

The designers I enjoyed chatting with most today were from Bottle Brooklyn. Tell me what you think of this: they've created a product called "DIY Souvenir Kit". I love DIY stuff for ModernTribe because, I like to imagine, my community are DIY kind of folks. This product is a glass tube with a piece of blank white canvas inside. The idea is that, instead of buying (or giving) a-little-something-by-which-to-remember, make it. One makes the souvenir by "dirtying up" the canvas.

It's conceptual, maybe too much so for most buyers. My feedback to them was, "you need a video!" They're working on one.

I HEART GUTS

The next line is totally gutsy. It's called I Heart Guts and is a line of plush internal organs. Here's Large Liver and Heart on the Brooklyn Bridge.

It doesn't fit with ModernTribe... but I do like them and think they'd sell well in a fun gift boutique. "Testicle" and "Ovary" may be cute gifts for the right occasion.

I found colored fabric covered electrical cord for my friend Joel Silverman from NUD Collection. Yes, they will sell you only the cord and it comes in over a dozen colors.

FINGERLESS GLOVES
What do you think of these? I've been wanting to offer gloves for a Hanukkah gift and found these today. They are fingerless gloves made of soft cotton, comes in many colors on the inside fold, with black on the outside layer. They are reversible too. They sell for about $24 a pair.

LIPSTICK & MOUSTACHE PERSONALIZED PRINTS
These would make a good addition to our Jewish Wedding Gift collection.

ModernTribe Needs Temporary Space Oct-Dec 2012

Dear ModernTribe customers, friends, and family,

As the summer is coming to an end very fast (school starts in 10 days?!), ModernTribe is figuring out its options for Holiday 2012.

We've Outgrown Our Basement

Last Hanukkah was -- Ridiculously Uncool -- in our basement warehouse. There is just not enough space for all the cool stuff we sell... and there is more uncool on top of that:

Because of zoning laws in Atlanta, we can only have myself + one person working at any given time. This resulted in ModernTribe having "shifts" -- including an overnight shift -- with a guy working through the night... in my house.

Even with our Hanukkah Elf, we still had trouble keeping up with the volume of packages. We did it -- (and kept our terrific customer service rating on Google). However, the holiday was grueling for me, my employees, and my family.

Our Basement Warehouse... it is no joke... but it is not enough for the Holidays.

It's not As Simple As You Think

"If you are growing... why not just move into a warehouse?"

Typical of small businesses, we are having growing pains. At this point, only during the holiday season can we afford to pay rent on a 3rd party space. It could be that we find a warehouse that allows enough in-store sales that we can keep the 3rd party space. However, this is an unknown, and there is a significant financial risk of signing a long-term lease.

Putting our Request out into the Universe

This is what we need:

A mixed-use space on Dekalb Ave would be ideal.

• At least 1300 square feet, street level -- allowing us to load and unload.
• At most, a short-term lease of 6 months maximum. We'd prefer Sept-January. 
• We must be moved in, drop dead, by October 1.
• Located on the East side of Atlanta, Downtown to Decatur.
• Ideal -- to reach our core market -- is on Dekalb Avenue.

What we do not need:

• Buildout -- we will require little to none.
• Fanciness -- we'd prefer a big open space with concrete floors and brick walls.

Added Benefit to the Intown Atlanta Jewish Community is an Experiment with a Jewish Third Place

Beyond allowing ModernTribe to continue the successful (albeit small), growing business, this will test the feasibility of having a permanent 3rd party warehouse and showroom.

Depending on the location of the space, we'd like to have a small showroom attached to the warehouse and sell to the public. We know there is an opportunity to offer the growing intown Jewish community a place to buy Jewish gifts + fresh challah on Fridays. We need to know how big is this opportunity. (Where do you get your fresh challah intown Jews?)

Who May Have Such A Space?

• Real-estate owners with unrented property
• Business owners who have extra space
• Business owners trying to get out of a lease
• You?

We appreciate your help. Serious leads, please write me at Jennie@ModernTribe.com

About ModernTribe

Through retail websites and new product development, ModernTribe is making Judaica appealing to the new generation. ModernTribe is a social enterprise with missions of (1) providing products that help people express and share their Jewish identity (or for non-Jews, express their Jewish affinity), (2) providing appealing, effective marketplaces for independent American and Israeli artists and designers and (3) building community through the retail experience.

Announcing the Winners of the Moms & Atzmaut Contest & Giveaway

 ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS

The winner of the contest is Amy Seligman with her Moms and Atzmaut Pinterest Board with her diverse use of pins and creative in choices of what to show (images, products, concepts, etc), beautiful board, and nice integration of ModernTribe. Amy wins $100 gift certificate and a "Keep Calm Love Israel" gift pack!

Preview of Amy's Board:

Winners of the $25 gift certificates from ModernTribe: Thank you to all ModernTribers who Pinned, Tweeted, and Liked! We are giving away TWO gift certificates chosen at random using a random number generator and then finding the corresponding social share. The winners are: Kimberley Alexander McIlwrath and Amanda Martin.

Moms & Atzmaut Fun & Giveaways

Thank you to our Facebook friends for suggesting we combine Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Mother's Day for some new-fashioned social-media fun and giveaways.

TWO WAYS TO WIN

(1) BEST PIN BOARD on Pinterest

The Grand Prize will be given to the person who makes the best Pin Board on Pinterest with the theme of Israel Independence and Moms. Interpret it as you wish: best Israeli products for independent moms OR images that represent independent Israeli women OR historical women who helped Israel's independence OR Israeli women who create awesome Judaica... or ??? Be creative!

A panel of judges will select the winner based on:

1. Concept: the connection between independence, Israel, and mom or women
2. Beauty: the aesthetic look of your Pin Board
3. Creative integration of ModernTribe

The winner of the best Moms & Atzmaut Pinterest Board will win the "Keep Calm" package including the Keep Calm and Love Israel Tote Bag, Mug, and Magnet, a $100 Gift Certificate to ModernTribe.com, and announcement in an upcoming ModernTribe newsletter.

Steps to Entering Your Board

1. Create Your Board
2. Repin the Contest Image onto Your Board
3. When Finished, Share Your Board on ModernTribe's Facebook Page

(2) #MOMATZ Social Share SWEEPSTAKES

We've just made it super easy for you to Pin and share with our new larger ShareThis buttons on every product page.

For every 50 people who social share from ModernTribe, we will give away a $25 gift certificate to ModernTribe (with a max of 8). Enter as many times as you wish... each social share is an entry and will increase your odds of winning.

Track-able Social Shares include:

• "Liking" ModernTribe on Facebook (if you don't already)
• "Sharing" this contest or a ModernTribe product from ModernTribe's Facebook page.
• "Pinning" a ModernTribe product on Pinterest
• "Re-Pinning" a ModernTribe product from the Mom & Atzmaut Pin Board onto your pin board
• "Tweeting" a ModernTribe product or this contest
• "Re-Tweeting" someone's relevant Tweet
• Tag all shares with #MOMATZ so that we can find them!

If you are not yet a member of Pinterest and you'd like to be -- let us know and we will invite you.

Rules:

Contest begins Tuesday, April 24th at 9AM EST and ends Thursday, May 3rd at noon EST. Winners will be notified no later than Wednesday, May 9th midnight EST. No purchase is required to enter. A maximum of eight (8) $25 gift certificates to ModernTribe.com will be given away in the sweepstakes. This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada ages 18+.

Top 3 Gifts for Yom Haatzmaut AKA Zing for the Zionists

Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, is Thursday, April 26th, 2012 and ModernTribe has goodies to celebrate the Holy Land of Israel.

First, is our collection of Keep Calm and Love Israel items. These are a play off the original Keep Calm and Carry On propaganda posters produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion. The poster measures 8x10 inches and is in 9x11 inch desktop or wall-hanging frame.

Next, are the hip Jerusalem designs by street artist Dave Choe on Jerusalem tote bags and Jerusalem t-shirts. These are very limited editions. Get them while you can!

And finally, we are super excited to introduce Pop Art Israeli Heroes by Ofek Werkman! How can you resist Herzl & Golda in Warhol-esqness?

ModernTribe's Guide for Choosing a Passover Haggadah for Your Seder

Stop looking for the perfect Haggadah... instead do like we do: blend. A ModernTribe Strategy for Choosing a Passover Seder Haggadah (1) Choose a basic Haggadah for everyone at the table -- we like the 30 Minute Seder Haggadah as this basic book. It is clear, colorful and inexpensive to furnish a copy for everyone. (2) Then add images, readings, poems, and songs from other Haggadot. There are many special ones out there, each with their own wisdom and flavor. Read a Haggadah review on our blog for a few ideas. Don't forget all the free resources available to enhance your Passover and seder experience: including G-d Cast's video The Passover Seder... With the Four Sons, Bangitout's Seder Sidekick, Sipping Seder, and create your own Haggadah with Haggadot.com. (3) If you have children, make sure you have at least one Passover haggadah for children -- you may even want to read this book at the table for the kids -- we do. (4) If you are like our family, and have dozens of Haggadot already, add to your collection this year's much anticipated release: Jonathan Safran Foer's New American Haggadah. and (5) Great music-for-making-matzah-balls or as seder musical interludes or even meal background music is Socalled's Hip Hop Haggadah. Come chat with us on Facebook and tell us about your own best Haggadah strategies and ideas!

Anti-Valentine's Day Gifts - For Those Who Are Down On Love

From Frog to Prince!

What Goes Around Comes Around...

I remember those harsh love-days of past, where my Valentine was either non-existent or "on the rocks". Nothing is worse during these times than a glaring, made-up Hallmark holiday, seemingly screaming at you: you don't have love.

Haven't Found One Yet?

With compassion to all of you out there who are in this place, I've chosen a few items for ModernTribe.com that are anti-Valentine's Day.

Love or Love Not

This Too Shall Pass