Temple Israel pop-up shop ushers in Hanukkah season – Chicago Tribune

From dreidels to stegosaurus-shaped menorahs, tables inside Temple Israel are overflowing with Hanukkah-related reward gadgets for customers to have a good time the Jewish “pageant of lights.”

The pop-up reward store opened just lately contained in the Gary synagogue at 601 N. Montgomery St. in Miller and can proceed till the celebration begins Dec. 18.

Lisa Giglio, a synagogue member, buys the gadgets and units up the reward store in a job she assumed from her mom in Temple Israel’s Sisterhood group.

Discovering Hanukkah presents at conventional shops that cater to Christmas customers isn’t at all times simple, a volunteer mentioned.

“I get some on-line and a few simply by strolling a retailer,” mentioned Giglio. “My mother ran the shop for 20 some years.”

She’s discovered a playful assortment together with navy blue aprons with the phrases “Oy Vey” on them and material wine bottle holders that say “Oy to the world.”

There are a number of dreidels or spinning tops, together with chocolate ones.

There’s additionally quite a lot of clothes, socks, chocolate cash, and latke-related merchandise.

The desk of menorahs marks the centerpiece of the Jewish vacation. Sometimes, Giglio mentioned each member within the household has their very own menorah.

Temple Israel Rabbi Diane Tracht mentioned Hanukkah’s roots date again to a interval within the second century BC when Greeks dominated the Holy Land and tried to drive Jews to desert their practices and undertake Greek tradition and beliefs, as an alternative.

A small Jewish military, led by Judah the Maccabee, drove the Greeks out of Israel’s Holy Temple in Jerusalem and vowed to rededicate the temple to God. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew.

The ritual they started centered on lighting a candle with olive oil.

“They solely had sufficient oil for one evening, however the miracle of sunshine was the oil lasted all eight nights and so they have been in a position to rededicate the temple,” mentioned Tracht.

She mentioned the oil used to maintain the sunshine going turned central in meals utilized in Hanukkah celebrations with the preferred being latkes, or fried potato pancakes, and fried doughnuts.

Members of the family mild a candle on a menorah throughout every evening of the Hanukkah celebration.

At Temple Israel, Giglio is claimed a particular dinner, occasion and repair are being deliberate for Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.

Members will dine, then maintain a Shabbot service and have a good time with a celebration afterward.

“We’ll make it particular,” mentioned Giglio.

Carole Carlson is a contract reporter for the Put up-Tribune.