Hanukkah/Chanukah - What's the Mitzvah?

Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah from the EtsyChai Team

Posted by Linda Blatchford, Team Captain

Here's a quiz: 
What is the primary mitzvah of Chanukah?   

a) Eating potato latkes (potato pancakes)
b) Giving Chanukah gifts or gelt (money)
c) Publicizing the miracle of the oil that lasted 8 days
d) Playing Dreidel  

The correct answer is C. While the customs of Chanukah include eating latkes, giving monetary and other gifts and playing dreidel, the primary mitzvah of Chanukah is to light the menorah and display the lights, thus publicizing the miracle when the oil in the menorah in the Holy Temple burned for eight days instead of one.  

Menorah Earrings by Linda B


In order to fulfill this mitzvah of publicizing the miracle, the menorah/chanukiah should be lit where it can be seen by the public. Chanukah lights were originally lit only in the doorway of the home, opposite the mezuzah, facing the street. However, it is now common practice outside of Israel to place the menorah in a window facing the street.  

Dreidel Menorah by Yafitglass


In order to make certain that the lights are visible, the menorah is lit after dusk. (There are two opinions regarding the correct time to light, so please consult your local rabbi.) On Friday evening, however, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles and extra oil (or longer candles) are used so that the Chanukah lights remain lit after nightfall.  

If one is unable to light at the appropriate time, one may light later in the night, as long as there is someone else in the house who is awake (thus fulfilling the requirements of publicizing the miracle).  

Kiddush Cup by April

If it is very late and no one is awake, one should light the menorah without the blessings.  

If there are still people in the street or in the apartments of a facing building who would see the lit menorah, it is permitted to light and say the blessings.  

If the menorah was not lit at all during the night, there is no "make-up" lighting during the day.  

NOTE: Please be sure to review fire safety procedures with your family.  


Zayde Mug Rug by Barb


This Jewish Treat was last posted on December 6, 2012.  

Shabbat Shalom Treasury

Here's a new EtsyChai team Treasury

Shabbat Shalom

So, what Chametz did you eat after Passover? 

How Do You Make Your Latkes?

I love Hanukkah, and not just for presents. I love latkes. I do. I adore them. I love them enough to grate my fingers while grating the potatoes, cry over the onions, and duck when the oil pops. I even bought a food processor to protect my fingers and a splatter screen for the pan all for the love of latkes. I didn’t know people ate anything else for Hanukkah until my aunt served brisket. Wonderful brisket, so wonderful it almost overshadowed the latkes and that just won’t do. Simple foods to eat on the side of the latkes make me happy because the latkes is the star. Oh sure, I’ve seen recipes for alternatives to latkes, even a fig cake that used a healthy dose of oil but I thought “Why? Why fix something that isn’t broke? Why reinvent the wheel when the wheel works?" 

Well, I never gave latke making another thought until someone on the EtsyChai team asked for suggestions to “jazz latkes up.” Hmmm, maybe it is time for me to take a second look at my beloved latke. A bit of brainstorming ensued and here’s what we’ve come up with.
Add grated daikon radish to the potatoes.                                                                                      
Add a little sour cream or cheese like gorgonzola or feta to the potatoes for a  little zing.
Add feta cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola to the sour cream, or maybe some garlic, chives, or onion.
How about Greek yogurt instead of sour cream? Maybe add Romano or parmesan
cheese?  
Make a balsamic vinegar reduction to serve with the latkes.
Make a mixed fruit sauce or pear butter instead of apple sauce.

By the way, here’s Grandma Freida’s recipe, at least how I remember it.
6 large russet potatoes, peeled      2 large onions
2 eggs                             1/2 cup matzo meal
salt and pepper
oil for frying

Grate the potatoes. Place the potatoes in a strainer and let them drain for about 15-30 minutes. Place the potatoes in a bowl. Grate the onions and add to the potatoes. Add the matzo meal, salt, and pepper and mix. Heat the oil in a skillet (approx 350 degrees). Using a large spoon, place the mixture into the oil and flatten each pancake. Fry on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain. Serve with apple sauce.

Now that’s Grandma’s recipe but you can use any of our ideas. Let me know how it comes out.
Enjoy, or as Grandma would say, Es gesunta hait!
Post by Eileen Patterson aka Goofing Off.
GoofingOff Sewing Supplies, that is.

A Great Miracle Happened Here!

Need gift ideas for Hanukkah? Here's a wonderful collection put together by Penny Stern titled "A Great Miracle Happened Here!" She even included me, GoofingOff, I mean some of my Judaic fabric! I'm so excited I can't type straight. My head's swelling! Enjoy!

'A Great Miracle Happened Here!' by ClayBeadsAndMore

10 Personalized Chanuk... AnotherCreatio... $15.00	Dreidel Menorah - Hanuk... limoryaron $49.00	Dreidels for Hanukkah F... Goofingoff $3.60
Judaic Greeting Card - ... anjalicreation... $6.00	1200 SHEKELS - 16 x 12... EisnerArt $28.00	Potato Latkes Illustrat... LauraBolterDes... $20.00
Chanukah Gelt Emailed i... agru $30.00	Star Mandala-Print Repr... LauraBolterDes... $15.00	DIY Stamped Fabric Comm... tamdoll $5.00
Hanukkah cards lindab142 $3.65	Prayer for Peace (Viole... RuthFiberJudai... $24.00	Holiday Sale Te Great L... visart $110.50
Hanukkah, Chanukah, Fes... handmadeinisra... $7.00	Chanukah or Hanukkah Me... maybesew $18.00	Holiday Throw Pillow - ... holidaypillows... $55.00
Chanukah - Hanukkah - ... poemweave $8.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Meet Tracey Lipman!

Etsychai is a very eclectic team. Tracey Lipman manages to be eclectic all by herself. Her shop offers handmade handbags, diaper bags, wallets, home decor items and, of course, Judaica. As an added bonus, it also has tutorials on how to make wonderful things with a new fabric hardener called Paverpol.

Tracey, who lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, is always busy. She says, "I have more ideas than time to work with them and like to set challenges for myself. I like to learn new skills, work with new materials and explore different techniques." She translates that into having a short attention span. I translate it as being incredibly creative.

Floral Rose Handbag

Tracey is self-taught. In her own words, she "learn(s) by playing." Her crafting began when she decided to challenge herself by learning how to make polymer clay millefiori canes. She googled and experimented, finally finding success. She told me, "A few canes and Google searches later, I found Christi Friesen, who is a very talented polymer clay artist and took a few online classes with her to learn to sculpt polymer clay."

Sheep Menorah

From there she found another teacher in Jossy de Roode, who offered a Paverpol workshop in Israel. Then Tracey played and played until, through trial and error, she developed her own techniques and found her voice.

Paverpol Fabric Mosaic Tiles

She also hopes her late mother (ז"ל) likes what she's doing with the sewing skills she gave Tracey a great love for.

Zippered Diaper Bag

Her shop's progression to its great variety of items and materials wasn't always this way. She began by concentrating on items made with polymer clay.  Then she re-discovered her love of fabric. In her own words, "I love taking a flat piece of fabric and making it into a beautiful, functional item, such as a bag or wallet, and then have fun creating tutorials with the leftovers."

Inspiration? She looks to her household, "My kids, what I need to carry their diapers in, what they would like for their room, what makes me feel special when I carry a handbag, what is functional when I need a wallet." And, when she can't find that inspiration from within, she goes to Etsy to see if she can find an online pattern or idea.

Football Mezuzah

To help supplement her Etsy income, she's also working as a distributor for Paverpol in Israel, teaches Paverpol workshops and online. To round out her busy days (and nights), she also organizes local mall nights, where she helps over forty small businesses showcase their wares.

With all this activity, you might ask how Tracey budgets her time? She explains, "My kids come first. Balancing the rest is hard and I don't sleep enough!"
As for her Etsychai membership, we're the only team in which she's a member. In addition to being an active member of this team, Tracey also promotes her shop on Facebook, in local community Yahoo groups, through tutorials and online classes she has listed on external websites. She feels the success of her promotions are dependent on the time of year and the particular time. During the past two weeks, she feels Facebook and local advertising have increased her shop views.

Fabric Bifold Butterfly Wallet

I asked Tracey if she had any advice for new Etsy sellers. Her reply, "Join a team. It's a jungle out there!"

--Post by April Grunspan of AgruArts

Hanukkah Shopping with the EtsyChai Team

We are a group of artisans who create handmade Jewish jewelry, accessories for your home: such as ceramics, Jewish ritual items, headcoverings or kippot to wear in Synagogue, Hanukkah cards and blessings, Shabbat challah covers, and mezuzot.

Do your Hanukkah Shopping online this year with the artisans of the EtsyChai team. We want to make your shopping pleasant and easy.

'Hanukkah Shopping with EtsyChai ' by lindab142. Beautiful Jewish handmade items from the EtsyChai team that are perfect for Hanukkah shopping.

Prayer Menorah or C... agru $75.00	Happy Chanukkah Car... bbesigns $21.00	Chanukah - Hanukkah... poemweave $9.95
Judaica Mixed Media... norunningwiths... $120.00	MENORAH - 16 x 12 ... EisnerArt $28.00	Silver Plated Charm... anjalicreation... $25.00
Jewish Earrings Han... lindab142 $14.00	Judaic Fabric Fat Q... Goofingoff $5.00	Football Sport Mezu... TraceyLipman $30.00
Knit Shabbat Challa... blazingneedles $20.00	Goblet / Kiddish Cu... CeramicsbyMarc... $36.00	Hanukkah Blessings ... RuthFiberJudai... $24.00
Hand Knit White Yar... kippahmitzvah $22.50	FESTIVALS OF LIGHT ... downtoearthcre... $36.00	Woman's Gold Bu... Accentricities $38.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Great Jewish Gift Ideas

Jewish Gifts for Hanukkah by lindab142

Jewish Handmade gifts from the EtsyChai team, experts on Judaism and your source for Judaica to wear, give as gifts and use for holidays.

10 Personalized Chanuk... AnotherCreatio... $15.00	Mezuzah Cover - stonewa... ClayMystique $25.00	FESTIVALS OF LIGHT Earr... downtoearthcre... $36.00
Knit Shabbat Challah Co... blazingneedles $20.00	Tallit clips in Pinks &... Accentricities $38.00	Double Silver Star of D... lindab142 $29.00
MENORAH - 16 x 12 Sign... EisnerArt $28.00	Star of David Note Ca... bbesigns $21.00	Falafel in pitta bread ... TraceyLipman $35.00
Chai Mosaic III-Print R... LauraBolterDes... $15.00	Silver Chain Bracelet W... anjalicreation... $30.00	DIY Stamped Fabric Comm... tamdoll $5.00
Chanukah Gelt Emailed i... agru $30.00	Chanukah - Hanukkah - ... poemweave $8.95	Lighting Shabbat Candle... RuthFiberJudai... $24.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.