Chocolate Hanukkah Gelt

The Indulgence that is Chocolate Gelt

It is getting near that time again. Each year we vow to be more prepared but there is always something that catches us out. The biggest problem is normally trying to think of original presents to buy your nearest and dearest. We have all heard the usual “it’s just what I always wanted” with the eyes saying something entirely different. So to buy something for young children that is going to hold their interest for more than five minutes, can be a real problem and one faced by many parents at this time of year.

Chocolate manufacturers have perfected a gift idea in the shape of a chocolate Hanukkah gelt. To give a child some of these with some real coins could be the start of a child’s financial education and the concept could be extremely beneficial to any child.

Hanukkah gelt as a gift, is an ancient custom dating back to the 18th century and at that time was given as a token of gratitude to religious teachers. It was not until 1920 that a gelt was produced out of chocolate, wrapped in gold or silver foil and placed into a small money pouch.

In parts of Europe, the St Nicholas celebrations were celebrated by giving children chocolate coins called a geld. This is thought of as the inspiration that prompted the chocolate manufacturers to produce the chocolate Hanukkah gelt.

Originally, the source of the manufacture of chocolate Hanukkah gelts was restricted to Israel but they are now beginning to be produced in the United States too.

There are not many children who do not like chocolate and if encouraged to keep the foil that the Hanukkah gelt is molded in, it could act as a constant reminder of its history and sentimentality of who gave them the gift.

The Tradition of Wearing a Knitted Kippot

Most experts are of the view that wearing a kippot is more of a tradition although is seems to have taken on the force of a law. They further state that that Bible and the Talmud makes no mention about it and therefore local customs have been freely developed, and interrupted during various periods in history. Many others however argue that wearing the kippot is universally accepted and is now accepted and regarded as a defacto law. Accordingly, although there is no official requirement to wear a head covering during prayers, since the customs has become widely accepted, that anyone who goes about without a kippot was not pious.

At first, only men used to wear the kippot but later on even women developed the habit and married Jewish women are anyway required by law to keep their heads covered even under normal circumstances. Apart from tradition, the kippot has now become a fashion symbol with many Jewish women and sometime even non-Jewish women who liked the look of it adopted the kippot as a fashion accessory and started wearing the knitted kippot. Those who have learnt the knack of crocheting and knitting mostly do it by themselves in colors and designs of their choice with Jewish symbols being among the more popular patterns selected.

A very popular design for the knit kippot is the Star of David which most fond mothers who knows knitting, knit for their sons for their bar mitzvah. A knitted kippot is also considered a suitable gift to be given by loved ones to one’s friends children at their own bar mitzvah’s which are accepted with sincere appreciation because there could never be enough kippots to be worn for the many religious and other occasions that takes place in the Jewish community.

A knitted kippot can be made with fabrics such as silk, velvet or satin; but the knit kippot is very popular because of the many colors can designs a kippot can be turned into. The modern belief is that although the kippot is considered religious attire, there is no reason for it to be drab and boring and as such many new and exciting designs of the knitted kippot and other varieties are being turned out these days. Kippots are even being personalized now with names, imprints and embroidery or finished with beaded trimming and other lovely designs that make a kippot more of a symbol of fashion than a religious article of faith.

Why Do Parents Send Camp Care Packages?

Farewell

Summer has come upon us and it’s time for summer camp. No matter what length of time your child will be away, all parents are sure to miss their children. Whether your child is gone for a week, two weeks, or even longer, a sense of loss always comes with your child’s absence.

Camp Arrival

When a child first arrives at camp, if it’s their first time at camp or a return visit, it can be overwhelming. There are so many new faces, new surroundings, lots of excitement, and lots of on edge nerves. Meeting new people in unfamiliar place is always scary. All parents wish for their children is to be accepted and enjoy their adventure.

Feelings of Home Sickness

Although a lot of children are usually glad to be away from home for a while, at some point they do miss their family and friends. This feeling of “home sickness” is very common among campers of any age. Reminding them, with great camp care packages , that they are also missed is one way to ease their tension.

Making Children Happy

Many times while children are at camp they miss their own belongings. Being without their favorite items can be difficult for kids. Sending them a camp care package with lots of their favorite bulk candy and nash like jelly beans or Jordan almonds can send them some peace in knowing they have something that belongs to them. It always makes a child happy when they receive a gift from a loved one.

Making New Friends

Making new friends can be tough for anyone. How do you know who to talk to? What do you have in common? Sending a party care package can give your child a chance to be the center of attention and open up conversations with other campers. This gives them a chance to share their special qualities with others as well as sharing in the fun of a camp

care package.

Benefits for Parents

Parents can benefit greatly from sending a camp care package. They will have the satisfaction of knowing they have sent something that makes their children happy. Parents can also benefit by knowing they have helped to kick start their child’s social presence with other. How great it is to know that you have helped make your child’s camp experience fun and inviting, even though you are miles away. It will send a distinct message that you love and care for your child.

Lasting Memories

The days a child spends at summer camp should be filled with moments they want to remember forever. Fond memories build a sense of self and lasting relationships. When you send a camp care package to your special someone, you can be sure that you have created a memory for your child. If you have decided to send a party package, you have also created lasting memories for other children as well.

Knowing you have created memories is a rewarding experience. Your child will always be thankful for the thought you put into making their camp experience a great on.

Hay and don't forget the kippot.

Purim 2010

Yes yes yes Purim 2010 is here believe it or not here it comes.

So get ready for all your shopping needs for the Purim 2010 holiday

here is some of the fine stuff your can get for Purim

Purim Baskets - Mishloach Manos

Hamantaschen- Purim Cookies

Shalach Manos for Kids

Yes don't forget that you can send Purim Baskets to Israel from the best place on earth.

About The Hanukkah Menorah

The Hanukkah Menorah, as we all know, is a candle holder. Specifically, it is a candelabrum with eight branches. It is used during the eight days of Chanukah. The ninth spot on holds the Shamash, which is the one candle used to light all of the others.

Chanukah is a celebration of when the Israelites rededicated the Temple after revolting in opposition to the Seleucid dominion. The Israelites couldn’t find enough oil to light the Temple’s menorah for more than a single day, but it miraculously stayed lit until more oil could be found, eight days later. This is why Chanukah is referred to as the Festival of Lights

The menorah found in the temple would have had seven, as opposed to eight branches. Apart from the symbolic meaning of the eight branches, indicating the miracle of the eight days, it is also possible that the number of branches do not match because the sanctity of the Temple would not allow exact copies to be made.

There are also references to the story of Hannah and her sons. The story is told in the Talmud, that Hannah had seven sons who were forced before an idol to do worship at the time of Antiochus. They refused to do obeisance to the idol and were tortured and killed. Upon learning of the execution of her sons, Hannah killed herself.

Today, you can purchase one of these candelabrum in an assortment reflecting all sorts of tastes and affordability. This selection scans from the elaborate to the practical. As it is the centerpiece of the Chanukah tradition, many families pass down generations old renditions of this Jewish ceremonial artifact from one generation to the next.

l and ornate menorahs such as the ones you can see at the Jewish museum in London, the Israel Museum, and also in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The most famous of these is the Lindo Lamp, housed in the Israel Museum.

The Lindo Lamp is made of Sterling silver and depicts a scene from 1Kings 17:6, in which Elijah is eating food brought to him by ravens. The sponsor who commissioned the work of art was Elijah Lindo. This practice of depicting a biblical scene incorporating the name of the benefactor is common in Jewish art.

For more on Hanukkah Gifts and Hanukkah Gelt check this out.

The Lindo Lamp, though on display at the Israel Museum, is not owned by the museum and there are concerns that if it is not acquired by the museum, it may be bought out from under them by a collector. There is an attempt being made to raise enough funds to purchase this, the oldest known menorah created in Britain, on behalf of the museum.

Hanukkah 2009

Yes its October but we need to start thinking about hanukkah 2009 from getting Hanukkah Gifts to the chocolate gelt its all part of the Jewish holiday.

For you enjoyment put on the kippot here is something

Ok, well this is my video... update, kinda not really. Anyway I just want to say a few things, like I got an early birthday present and you'll have to guess what it is. No I'm just joking. Well it's my very first cell phone and it's a Blackberry. See. It's [a] Blackberry Pearl. And that's all the stuff and everything. Brickbreaker. Actually it's backwards. It's so fun. Anyway, it so awesome and with this I can make videos. I mean I can but I can't make good ones. I got to buy I thing to make videos and one of my Hanukkah Gift is going to be an awesome red camera. I wish it was black but it's go to be red. it like where it can stop so I can do stuff and I can make. Yeah I can. Anyway I can. When I get that camera I'm going to make a cool video about this a lot of people lately have been doing 51 things in my room, so I thought I'll make one cause I mean it looks pretty awesome because there was this one guy he had cool little ring things and he'd push one up and push the other and push another one in and out. yeah, oh there was this one girl she had Three Nintendo DSes, a white one, a black one and a pink one. Which was like totally awesome cause those are like 400 dollars a piece. Well not that expensive, Wait, no no a hundred dollars a piece. Almost two hundred kind of is two hundred. Then after I make that I'm going to make a, what is it, a music video. Meaning like a song playing and a skate character and some friends singing it, so yeah. Cause I've always wanted to do this cause those are like so awesome. But anyway, I'm just going to go, maybe. No I'm just joking.

Lately I'm been getting a lot of hate mails. That why I came to hate Christmas. Oh no I'm sorry I do hate Christmas. Because every time around the Christmas Candy all these people start to get even more pissed at me and saying bad stuff about me and everything. Everything I can think of. But anyway, to the people who keep saying I'm ugly and fat, I'm not ugly or fat. And for your information, as far as I see it you're just jealous. So anyway I'm going to go.|

Rosh Hashanah Gifts to israel

So this year Rosh Hashanah 2009 We are all hoping for a good and sweet year. we are all going in to shule with the kippot on our heads.

ready to pray and ask god to forgive us on our sins. Its time to remember your friends who live in Israel and send the a

Rosh Hashanah Gift Baskets in Israel. and for the folks here in the usa don't forget to get some Rosh hashanah gift baskets and how about some Honey sticks yes to make it a sweet year.