When it comes to buying Hanukkah gifts, I’m sure you, like me, feel the lure of the affordability and convenience of big chains like Target and Amazon. But if we’re being honest, nothing compares to buying, and receiving, gifts from small businesses that craft unique handmade items, each infused with creativity and charm. And this year, getting your Judaica and Jewish jewelry from Jewish designers feels more meaningful than ever.
This week, a new online shop launched that lets you do just that. Makers of Israel curates beautiful goods like hamsa jewelry and Shabbat candle holders from Israeli makers, connecting these artists to international customers and giving the opportunity to donate to volunteer efforts helping communities in need.
“This is more than a shopping experience,” Sara Klaben Avrahami, founding team member of Makers of Israel, shared in a press release. “It’s a way to connect with the stories and talents of Israeli makers, to celebrate their resilience, and to support them during a time when they need it most. We all want to do more for our economy, our society, our small businesses and the incredible people around us.”
The site was formed by a group of nine women, all volunteers who have lived in Israel, including Rachel Myerson, the senior editor of Kveller’s sister site, The Nosher. The platform not only showcases Israeli artisans whose businesses have been affected by the war, it also allows you to donate to a cause every month — this month, Makers of Israel is supporting Citizen’s Kitchen, a grassroots wartime meal operation started by two sisters from Berkley, California, which has, according to the site, “provided over 100,000 meals to soldiers, hostage families, reserve duty families, displaced Israelis from the north and south, and the injured.”
Makers of Israel currently features 10 local businesses and organizations, including a collaboration with Tel Aviv’s Gil School, a “haven for children and adults with autism aged 12 to 21” from which you can purchase handmade Hanukkah cards, as well as jewelry designer Ronit Malka and Chanita’s Naturals, which makes aromatherapy candles. They ship to the U.S., Canada the UK, the EU and inside Israel, and shipping prices are included in the prices of the items. They recommend you place your order by December 10 if you’re hoping to get items like terrazo and clay menorahs in time for Hanukkah this year.
The loveliest thing about Makers of Israel? Every item in the store offers a way to celebrate Jewish pride — through scents, cooking, lighting Shabbat and Hanukkah candles and wearing Jewish insignia proudly.
