The eight special nights of Hanukkah deserve eight special gifts, especially when children are involved. Little ones look forward to this tradition so much, after all! In our family, we have always tried to do eight gifts, but it can be tough—selecting, buying, and wrapping these gifts takes a lot of time and effort! Sending them to friends and family who live out of town is even worse because shipping deadlines apply. Plus, it seems like every year there are more people I want to exchange gifts with, adding to the chaos.

As a busy working mom, it’s difficult for me to add yet another thing to my list. I want to spend the holiday actually enjoying the festivities, not rushing around and missing out on precious memories. That’s why I love to find products that make my life easier like Simply Hanukkah. Having also dealt with this common problem that every Jewish family faces, they’ve created the solution: a gift package that include 8 pre-wrapped, age appropriate Hanukkah gifts, gelt, a wooden dreidel, and a Hanukkah story, all delivered right to your door.

Packages are customized by age and gender, allowing you to select from these options:

• Girls Gifts – Ages 2-3
• Boys Gifts – Ages 2-3
• Girls Gifts – Ages 4-7
• Boys Gifts – Ages 4-6

Every box is a beautiful collection of high quality gifts, coming from trusted brands like Disney, Melissa and Doug, Crayola, etc.

For those who want to make the occasion even more exciting, Simply Hanukkah offers a full line of decorations like tablewear, banners, lanterns, menorah, candles, and photo booth props.

The idea of not having to do anything except sit back and enjoy the fun, stress-free, is like a dream come true. I’m especially excited to send boxes to my sister’s children who live in Florida. Instead of the one big box I usually send myself, they’ll have 8 different surprises to look forward to now, without any effort on my part.

Celebrating the holiday has really never been easier. To find your ideal gift package, check out Simply Hanukkah’s website and don’t forget to follow them on Instagram.

I don’t know what’s up recently, but numerous people have asked me both online and in person if Jews can celebrate Thanksgiving. My reply: “Of course, I’m an America!”

With the exception of Christmas and Easter, there is not a single American holiday that I don’t participate in and enjoy celebrating. Other than the Orthodox community, which doesn’t acknowledge all secular events, this is the overwhelming custom for American Jews.

Thanksgiving has nothing to do with a particular faith, rather it brings together all faiths, teaching the lessons of gratitude, friendship, and harmony. If we could emulate the lovely example of tolerance and togetherness expressed by the Indians and the Pilgrims, it would be very beneficial in the modern age.

A lot of topics are discussed here on the blog, but most of all, I hope that by sharing my own ideas and customs, it will help to mainstream Judaism and Jews in general. We have made a lot of progress, for sure, but there are many misconceptions and stereotypes that persist. My life, as a Jewish American lady, is very similar to most others, even those who are a different religion.

The most wonderful part about America is that everyone is welcome. No matter what our race, creed, religion, or mindset, Thanksgiving is open for all and I truly appreciate that. Maybe the foods and participants vary from table to table and home to home, but it’s a day that doesn’t discriminate.

A British lady, who is the descendant of Holocaust survivors, wants German citizenship. Not because of any particular love for Germany, but because Brexit makes her feel that Britain is no longer safe for minorities.

Natasha Walter, a writer and refugee worker, claims: “I see many of the experiences of my grandparents when they lost their homeland being repeated in this generation. The refugees I work with in the UK don’t have the right to work, they are exploited, they live in limbo, they wait years for citizenship, they are detained, they have left family members behind and they deal with all of that as they try to move on from the trauma they are fleeing.”

Most of that is patently untrue, but rather than debate the issues, I want to focus on the lady’s motivations.

While I can certainly understand how panic and fear can cause someone to make rash decisions, this strikes me as foolish. Returning to a country that killed your ancestors and turning away from the country that provided a safe haven is downright bizarre.

Like the author, all of my great grandparents where immigrants, coming from Lithuania and the Ukraine (places famous for vicious anti-Semitism and pograms). Not once in my life have I ever wanted to return to those countries and live, nor do I want citizenship. I’m curious to see those places, sure, but to live? Never! I am so thankful that my family came to America and provided the best possible place to grow up and have citizenship. Returning to where they fought so hard to leave would make a mockery of their efforts.

Life in America and in Britain is so much better and freer for the average citizen. Every single day we get to experience things that folks in other countries only dream of, which is proven by the huge numbers who want U.S. and U.K. citizenship. Brexit was about allowing British citizens to have more control over their own nation and not be subjected to the EU as the final decision maker. It is not about racism, xenophobia, hating Muslims or anything like that.

Certainly, in a free world, if an individual wants to leave the place of their birth and become a legal citizen of another country, they have the right to do so. But it strikes me as so sad and strange that people want to denounce Britain and America when those countries are the freest of all, with the most opportunity. Going back to Germany is not the answer.

Should Jews of German heritage reclaim German citizenship? I vote no.

While most kids rebel against strict parents by becoming more liberal, Howard Stern’s daughter went the opposite way and embraced Orthodox Judaism. Now over 30 and still single, Emily Stern says she barely dates and prefers modesty rather than her famous dad’s “anything goes” attitude towards sex and relationships.

I found it interesting that she cites her parents 1999 divorce as a major cause in leading her towards Orthodoxy. Society often acts like divorce doesn’t create lasting problems, but in the case of children, it most certainly can and often does. I know that the divorce of my own parents, over 25 years ago, still effects me to this day in a very negative way.

Orthodoxy is definitely not the answer for everyone and if taken to an extreme it can be harmful, but if chosen as an adult, freely, it’s not a bad idea. Instead of drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity, which most young people prefer, Miss Stern wants to have a meaningful life and that’s awesome!