Announcing: Relaunch of Jewish Woman Mag.com + My New Column!

Jewish Woman Magazine's website is brand new and improved. American Jewish women need a virtual place to congregate. It is my hope that all of us can build this space for Jewish women everywhere to read and share information relevant to today's Jewish living. I'm very proud to present my first contribution: an entry to a column I'll be writing called:

Identity by Design
Expressing Jewish Identity Through Judaica
By Jennie Rivlin Roberts

Though many of us talk about developing a Jewish identity, what does that really mean? To me, Jewish identity includes what we do Jewishly, what we believe, how we practice Judaism in our homes and with our families, and to what Jewish organizations we belong. Jewish identity is also expressed to ourselves and to others by what we wear, what we read, whether we have Judaica in our homes and what these pieces look like. It can even mean whether we choose to give a Jewish gift for a bar or bat mitzvah or a wedding. In this space in the months to come, I will introduce you to some of the artists and designers who create Judaica and Jewish gifts that speak to us and help us express and build our own Jewish identities, and proudly share them with the world.

Meet Aimee Golant: Metalsmith

Aimee Golant is a sixth generation metalsmith who works out of San Francisco, Calif. She has won many honors: The Jewish Museum of New York acquired one of her evocative mezuzahs for its permanent collection and her Barbed Wire Mezuzah travelled into space on the Space Shuttles Columbia and Atlantis. Aimee has created Judaica to benefit Darfur, Sharsheret, the Paper Clips Project, and more. She teaches at several educational institutions in San Francisco, where she lives with her husband and son.

Read the interview on Jewish Woman Magazine >>

What's New at ModernTribe

This week, we are featuring some exciting wood products for the design enthusiast who wants to bring nature into their home. These wonderful gifts are perfect for the neo-folk/urban primitive/Americana fan.


Wooden Kiddush Cups
On a search for new kiddush cups we wondered, "could there be a kiddush cup that reflects an earthy, eco-centered approach while at the same time holding true to modern design aesthetic?" Well, we found it! These cups are hand carved with love and are perfect for someone who likes the neo-folk or craftsman style. Enjoy Shabbat with your choice of style.

Hand carved and one of a kind.


Wooden Dreidel Set
This set of wooden dreidels are hand carved in four terrific designs. Their curious shapes are fun spin on the traditional toy. A great gift for someone who appreciates the urban cottage/arts and crafts style. All dreidels are hand carved, one of a kind, and spin -- even the square one! Tray included.

Sizes: Round (2"), Square (4"), Lettered (2.25"), Dark Round (2.25"), Tray (3.75").


Craftsman Ladybug Tzedakah Box
This sand-blasted, hand-painted maple wood tzedakah box with Swarovski crystals is both neo-folk and completely modern. The delicacy of the carving on the front of the box with touches of pink, blue and green make this box a treasure for a child.

Size: 3"x4"x5".

Happy Shopping!

PunkTorah Fridays at ModernTribe

This week's Parshat is Chayei Sarah and talks about the importance of understanding "true" love (hint: love ain't a feeling). Also featured are a video on Tallit from a feminist perspective and a "plug" for the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival from our friend Russell. Shabbat Shalom and have a beautiful weekend!

Parshat Chayei Sarah


Tallit


Atlanta Jewish Music Festival

The Best Appropriate Cool Bat Mitzvah Gifts

ModernTribe.com gets phone calls from people who've been invited to a bat mitzvah, maybe aren't Jewish themselves, and want recommendations for a gift for the bat mitzvah girl. The question is, what is an appropriate bat mitzvah gift that she'll really love? This is our little intro to bat mitzvah & guide for the perplexed about what to bring the bat mitzvah girl.

Japanese Blossom Crocheted Kippah by Diaspora Girl

About Bat Mitzvah

Bat mitzvah is a "coming of age" for Jewish girls. At age 12, they are now considered old enough to take on the responsibility to observe the Jewish laws and practice. For example, girls following the Jewish tradition will now fast on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish year) and lead the blessings in the home. In most non-Orthodox communities the girls will participate in public religious ceremony and read from the Torah. This ceremony is what most people refer to as the bat mitzvah and it usually takes place when the girl is 12 or 13.

The ceremony is where the bat mitzvah girl will be called to the bimah (the front or "stage" of the temple) and will perform the blessings and read from the Torah. She may read or even chant the entire Torah portion (from the Five Books of Moses) and Haftara (selections from the books of the Prophets) and may even give a d'var Torah, a philosophical expounding of what she has just read (quite impressive for a young girl, yes?). This is no small task! Girls study for years for a bat mitzvah ceremony.

Tips for Bat Mitzvah Gifts

These days secular gifts are given frequently. But a bat mitzvah is a monumental landmark in the Jewish lifecycle, why not let your gift add to the meaningfulness of the occasion?

(These suggestions are in no particular "rank." With any one of these, you can't go wrong.)

Judaic / Jewish Jewelry
Of course a Jewish Star is always appropriate but she may be getting many of these. Consider jewelry with a different Judaic theme. Pomegranates are a hot design motif now. They symbolize integrity, equity, and justice. It is said there are 613 seeds inside the fruit, the same number of mitzvot (good deeds) Commanded in the Torah. With trees (for the Tree of Life) and birds (for Noah's dove) you can't go wrong because they are loved Judaic and secular symbols. There is also the chai: Hebrew letters cheit and yud means life, and the hamsa: the upside down hand which is a very popular good luck symbol.

Plant a Tree in Israel
Israel was mostly desert and marshland when independence was declared in 1948. Planting trees has been critical to creating inhabitable land. The Jewish National Fund is the charity that heads the effort and planting a tree in the bat mitzvah girl's name is as easy as going to the JNF web site. You can even get a beautiful certificate to give her.

A favorite Jewish Recipe
If you are Jewish or can request your Jewish friend's recipe for her magnificent kugel (noodle pudding) or latkes (potato pancakes), consider giving the bat mitzvah girl the recipe along with the necessary serving or cooking gear.

A Biography of a Jewish Woman
Is she a reader? A hardback book about a Jewish woman would be a nice gift. Golda Meir, the first and so far only woman Prime Minister of Israel; Rose Schneiderman, advocate for the rights of working women in the U.S.; Henrietta Szold, American who set up medical units in Palestine and helped resettle thousands of Eastern European Jewish children fleeing Hitler; Zivia Lubetkin, a leader of the Warsaw Ghetto revolt; Ida Kaminska, international star of the Yiddish Theater; Yael Arad, Israeli silver medalist in women's judo in the 1992 Olympics; and Gertrude Stein, American writer who became a catalyst in the development of 20th century modern art and literature. Looking for books on other Jewish subjects? Try Next Book, it's the place on the web to find quality Jewish book reviews.

Shabbat Candlesticks
It is the woman's role to light the Shabbat candles and lead the blessing over the candles that mark the start of every Jewish holiday. A pair of candlesticks that fit her taste and style would make a wonderful gift. A family can have more than one set of candlesticks so you don't have to worry about duplicating someone else's gift. Just make sure it's a pair of the same height.

A donation to a charity, meaningful to the the Bat Mitzvah girl, in her name
For all Jewish lifecycle events, a donation is appropriate. Giving tzedakah (charity) is central to the Jewish faith and the Commandment to bring justice to the world. It's best to choose an organization that fits the girl's interest. Does she love reading? Consider First Book which gives books to children learning to read from low income homes. Does she love dogs, traveling, wants to be a doctor? For practically any interest, there is a charity that fits. Research charities at Charity Navigator.

Public Prayer Items: Tallis, Yad, and Tallit Clips, Head Covering or Kippah
A bat mitzvah girl may get her first tallis (prayer shawl) to wear during her first Aliyah (calling up to the Torah). A well made tallis is made of wool or silk and would be a special gift from a parent, grandparent or close family friend. Like the candlesticks, a person can have more than one tallis, so if you've found the perfect one for her, don't worry about her receiving more than one. If the tallis seems a bit much, consider tallit clips, jewelry that clips onto two sides of the shawl and keeps it on the wearer. If you are going to buy her a kippah or yarlmulke which is a headcovering worn to remind oneself of the presence of G-d, in our opinion, there is only one place to buy a cool kippa for girls: Diaspora Girl hand crocheted kippahs.

Art
Hamsas to hang on the wall, papercuts, and other Jewish inspired art make great gifts.

Money/Bonds in increments of 18
If you want to let the bat mitzvah girl choose something for herself (or save for college), money may be the answer. You can give cash, checks, or savings bonds and make it more meaningful by giving in increments of 18. 18 is the number associated with the word chai, Hebrew for life. Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding number and the letters cheit(8) and yud(10) = 18.

P. S. -- Bring your gift to the party -- not to the ceremony Saturday morning.

Links To Learn More About Bat Mitzvah

Judaism 101
Wikipedia

Shop for Bat Mitzvah Gifts:

at ModernTribe.com

Israeli Designer: Orna Lalo

I tripped across Orna Lalo on the net and was immediately struck by her work. Much of it is too fanciful for my taste but some of her slightly more subdued, new-natural pieces could dress up a table beautifully. Her bio says her training was in textiles. She seems to create "fabric" out of man-made materials making fashion for her candlesticks. As you can see, these pieces are ready for a night out on the town.

See more of Lalo at her website www.LaloOrna.com.

Bird Watching at Atlanta Gift Show

Birds are a great motif for Jewish stuff -- well, specifically the dove-type bird. The symbol of the dove comes from the story of Noah in Genesis, from The Torah... or you may call it the "Old Testament." After the rain (and 40 day slumber party with two of every beast) Noah sent a dove out to find land. When the dove came back with an olive branch, Noah knew land was near. Since then the dove with the olive branch has become a common Judaic motif and a universal symbol of peace.

Birds were a very popular motif last spring and they are still everywhere at the trade shows.

I found the most beautiful bird ceramic bird tiles at the Atlanta Gift Show made in the UK. The small tiles are 4 1/2 square tiles and retail for $56 and are hand made by a craftsman in the UK.

Ibride is a French design of modern-vintage trays and furniture whose motifs range from woodland creatures to portraits of famous people as children. They are heavy on the whimsy and do boarder on kitsch but they are truly unusual and wow -- take a look at the furniture on the Ibride website. They design a tray with a bird motif called skylark:And the third set of birds I've had my eye on since the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) last August: melamine plates from Working Class Studios -- designed by SCAD students (Savannah College of Art and Design) from my home state and now home town (they have an Atlanta campus too). These I bought (the entire melamine plate collection) and are coming to ModernTribe.com for you to buy soon because they are my favorite melamine line. Set of four will be $25.

Happy New Year & New Stuff for 2008

Hanukkah was an incredible whirl-wind for us at ModernTribe.com. Thank you to all our customers, non-profit affiliates, artists, designers, and suppliers for a wonderful first Hanukkah.

There is so much to look forward to for 2008.

New Stuff
We have new stainless steel and gold anodized jewelry coming from Polli Designs including the gorgeous Leaf Pendant Necklace for Tu B'shvat, the Jewish harvest celebration. Tu B'shvat is the Jewish New Year for Trees and has become for many an ecological celebration centered around preservation of trees and the Earth. Look for more tree-themed items coming soon.

Pomegranates are one of the seven species traditionally eaten on Tu B'shvat. In honor, we are adding to our pomegranate collection these pom-red vases or candleholders in two sizes.

Shahar Peleg's Chainlink Bottle Holder was a huge hit with gift-givers. We're adding some more Peleg designs soon including this Hotman pot holder (may be a perfect gift for your hot man).

Jewish t-shirts that are cool but not kitsch. We are so excited about these...

Of course we'll be stocking up with modern Passover wares so that your seder can be fit with the 21rst Century.

Better Shipping Notification and Shipment Tracking
We changed our shipping methods. For US shipment we now ground ship FedEx or UPS which allows tracking. When our warehouse ships your package, you receive an email with ship notification and tracking information.

No Limit Texas Dreidel to be sold in stores near you Hanukkah 2008.
We are selling NLTD wholesale to retailers and non-profit organizations for fundraising. If you know of a synagogue gift shop or a Jewish non-profit who may want to sell No Limit Texas Dreidel contact us and let us know!

Sign up for ModernTribe.com's newsletter to get notices of new stuff and discount codes.

We always want to hear from you -- dear customers -- so don't hesitate to call or email us.
1-877-324-1818, info@moderntribe.com

-- Jennie

Jennie on Good Day Atlanta this morning!

I only have a minute before the next TV station comes to my house to film a segment. Here is segment one -- done live this morning on Fox 5 Atlanta. It was an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. We only had a few minutes to set up, no rehearsal. Wham, I was on TV. I was so nervous but I think it turned out OK.

Mainstream Stores Best & Worst for Hanukkah

Of course I want you to shop at ModernTribe.com. But if you can't, don't want to, or just don't have the time to wait for shipping, here is the skinny on some of the mainstream department stores' Hanukkah offerings. Have a beautiful, modern Hanukkah!

Disclaimer: Some department stores vary their stock depending on the community -- so if there are many Jews in the community, they will stock more Hanukkah stuff. Therefore, these findings may or many not be true for your "brick and mortar" location.

I have covered Target in previous posts.

Uh oh, may steal ModernTribe's business: Crate & Barrel. They have two very nice looking nickel plated menorahs. I haven't seen them up close but, darn, they look nice and I'd love to be able to offer them to you myself.

Some nice, but traditional, things: Saks Fifth Avenue. These Eleni's New York Happy Hanukkah Cookies look beautiful! Has anyone tried them?

The mainstream of modern: Nambe at Macys and Bloomingdales. I plan to offer the Nambe line in the future. If you want Nambe Judaica now, they have it. I don't like the Nambe menorah however; it looks great with candles but loses its design appeal without them.

"No products found for Chanukah. Did you mean chunky?" JC Penney, Dillards, and KMart come up blank in the Hanukkah department.

Not my taste but a selection of goods: Walmart, Kohls, and Bed Bath and Beyond

Jewish Product Bloopers Part III: Search for Hanukkah or Chanukah at these websites and get:

Kenny G "Miracles - The Holiday Album." the only Chanukah item online at Sears contains one "Chanukah Song" among 10 other Christmas songs. But, I do believe Kenny is Jewish.

A Nativity Votive!? Watch those keywords Bloomingdales!

Woof & Poof Jolly Old Saint Nick at Nordstrom along with rows and rows of other Christmas decorations. I still consider snowmen, angels, and fairies Christmas decor. Do you?

Cool Judaica will Fix Everything!

If you are in San Fran on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30 PM, there is a thought provoking program hosted by Progressive Jewish Alliance. Young, Jewish, and (Dis)Connected is about how, why and, more specifically, why don't younger Jews feel connected to Israel and to Jewish life in America.

You know my answer for younger Jews' disenchantment with American Jewish Life: schlocky Judaica and boring dreidel games!

We are fixing the schlocky/boring problem at ModernTribe.com. But I bet Professor Ari Kelman, Joey Kurzman from Jewcy.com, Sarah Church from PJA, Heidi Winig from American Jewish World Services, and Jeremy Lizt of New Israel Fund have some other ideas on the subject.

It's free but RSVP: bayarea@pjalliance.org or 510-527-8640