Make Synagogue Gift Shops Great Again
The synagogue gift shop could be cool. And not just cool, it could serve as an embodiment of our values. Here are ten ideas for your shelves.
WEAR
Venice based Late Sunday Afternoon is the brainchild of this man - Matthew Schildkret. The scarfmaker and store curator comes from a family of loomers and tailors and buyers and furriers. However, he puts a unique touch on his product: four knots on the four corners, making each gorgeous, handmade scarf an "undercover tallit." Check out his amazing products here or shoot him an email. You can read more about him on Tablet.
Speaking of tallitot, if I could give advice to 12 year-old me, it would be "classic is the new black." Instead, I chose an elaborate, silk tallit that I have worn one day of my life: my bar mitzvah. I wish I had the foresight to buy a classically stunning, hand woven Gabrieli tallit from Jerusalem. This is a great item to stock up on while traveling in Israel, where you can see the selection in their showroom just miles from where they weave them together.
EAT
Cisse Cocoa, from Jewish entrepreneur Diana Lovett, is the perfect chocolate to line the shelves of your shop. Whether you're selling baking mixes, hot cocoa or delicious chocolate thins, you know it's ethically sourced and supports small scale farmers. Shoot them an email or check out their website for more information.
this bar saves lives. is an amazing company. For every bar you buy, they partner to create a life-saving packet of food and send it where it's needed most. When I first learned about this product, I thought it would be so meaningful to sell during religious school. Not only are they delicious, they teach our students how impactful their food choices can be.
On a 300 km ride from Jerusalem to the Red Sea, once the ancient Spice Route, Neil Wernick discovered a new passion. At first, he used his newfound interest in exotic spices to hone a recipe for spicy sour pickles. But his long time friend (& best man) Nate Kruman wanted to use his expertise for another purpose: Burning Bush Hot Sauce. The duo churn out a delicious, unique hot sauce and a tasty marinade & cooking sauce. Once your customers taste this unique Hot Sauce, they will keep coming back for more.
HOME
These prints by Israeli artist Amit Shimoni have become ubiquitous throughout Israel. Not so in the states. Grab a few prints of historical figures in hip garb and watch them fly from your shelves - or decorate your wall with a couple and answer the question: Where can I get one of those?
Israeli couple Tal Hadar and Roy Yahalomi make these unique, modular Shabbat candlestickes. Shipping from Tel Aviv, they are designed to hold different types of candles. The two also make gorgeous mezuzot and other pieces for the home.
This forward thinking seder plate is more like a gorgeous set of coasters. Designed for The Kitchen in San Francisco and designed by Kitchenite Chen Blume, this chic set brings a cool factor to hosting Passover. Also check out their Hello Mazel box, a quarterly subscription perfect for your recently graduated college students and 20s & 30s crowd.
These gorgeous ketubot by artist Hadass Mor Gerson break a kitschy mold and masterfully blend tradition and modernity into art fit for the most beautiful wedding. Your clientele can choose from gorgeous prints or commission an original as well as customize the text to suit their needs.
Tel Aviv based Studio Armadillo makes "Judaica for Design Lovers." Suffice it to say that these gorgeous pieces are particularly perfect for wedding gifts. Chic, understated Judaica is exactly what young couples are looking for - not the ornate, kitschy pieces we grew up with. Studio Armadillo makes affordable, modern mezuzot, kiddush cups, and chanukiyot that double as gorgeous art and functional Judaica - the perfect gift.