<p>With my twin sons away from home this year for the first time, I want to send a holiday gift to them at college. Anyone know of a company that sends 8 smallish gifts, including candy, with a Jewish theme? Mom</p>
<p>A quick Google turned up this web site:
[Share</a> Hanukkah Gifts for 8 Nights, Chanukkah Gifts Shipping](<a href=“http://www.challahconnection.com/8-Nights-of-Chanukah/departments/289/]Share”>http://www.challahconnection.com/8-Nights-of-Chanukah/departments/289/)</p>
<p>A friend had recommended Grandma’s Chicken Soup site. It’s not 8 gifts, but they do have Chanukah packages. Was thinking of sending to my son.</p>
<p>Freshman year I put together a box myself with 8 wrapped gifts, mostly small chachkes like a hand warmer, scarf, gelt, inexpensive toys (like a little Lego set), decorations and dreidels from home, etc. Sophomore year he was home for the whole holiday. Junior year I sent mainly gelt, deco, and dreidels. This year he said don’t bother since he will be home for the second half, but I will probably send gelt anyway. His Hillel gives him a little package, and the local Chabad hands out menorahs and candles on campus.</p>
<p>This does look appealing though; I may break down and send it:</p>
<p>[Traditions</a> in a Box–Hanukkah-](<a href=“http://www.koshergiftbox.com/Traditions-in-a-Box-Hanukkah/productinfo/TBHAN/]Traditions”>http://www.koshergiftbox.com/Traditions-in-a-Box-Hanukkah/productinfo/TBHAN/)</p>
<p>The web site also has something called Eight Nights of Chanukah where you pick 8 gifts from their various categories and they will wrap and send them in one box. <a href=“http://www.koshergiftbox.com/8-Nights-of-Chanukah/departments/178/[/url]”>http://www.koshergiftbox.com/8-Nights-of-Chanukah/departments/178/</a></p>
<p>thanks for starting this thread, stuytechmom. D is a freshman and this year she comes home on the 2nd night, so I hadn’t really thought about this. I think I will put together a little package with gelt, a couple of dreidels, and candles - we gave her a combination shabbat candle holder/menorah for graduation which she has with her at school.</p>
<p>Just to let you know: Homegoods had a battery operated menorah for those students who are not permitted to use electrical or actual candles in their dorms…picked it up last week…I don’t have the brand (daughter took it back with her yesterday) but I’m sure you can google…</p>
<p>I just make sure not to give them anything really good, y’know. Keeping it traditional. With underwear so pricey I might just stick to socks. (:p)</p>
<p>Our temple Sisterhood sends out a dorm care package to any member’s college kid if their parent sends in the name of their college (Chanukah and Purim).</p>
<p>^^ditto our temple Sisterhood…</p>
<p>MODERATOR NOTE: Please if you want to note companies, respect TOS here and describe so that families can google and find…rather than hyperlink directly to any commercial website. I don’t want to pull down all these links/posts. Thanks.</p>
<p>Hey, a question from someone who knows nothing about Jewish holidays…I wanted to give a gift to a Jewish friend this holiday season, probably some flowers in a nice vase. Is there a specific day that would be most appropriate to do that? Is Hanukkah the best occasion to give someone a gift?</p>
<p>I suppose it might be but Hannukah is really a minor thing that’s really for kids and that only has become popular because of the buying pressures of the season. I can say that a Jewish kid growing up in Christian America does feel left out. </p>
<p>I never minded when Christian friends wanted to include me in their gift rituals. I’ve been to many Christmas celebrations.</p>
<p>BTW, Hannukah is one of those weird holidays where the actual events would likely be more than a little abhorrent to Jews today. Channukah celebrates the victory of fundamentalists over liberals, of rural reactionaries who opposed dealings with the Hellenistic culture of the region. Since most Jews today are certainly closer in spirit to the Hellenized Jews - who once, they believe, have amounted to 10% of the eastern Roman Empire (and of Rome itself) - it’s an odd holiday to celebrate. But then it’s for the kids, so no one really thinks about the meaning.</p>
<p>The Popcorn Factory has some nice Hanukkah/Hanukah/Chanukah/etc themed treats, including one with 8 little boxes filled with goodies like chocolates, popcorn, nuts and so on.</p>
<p>Since finals week coincides with Hanukkah this year, I figure any sort of snack will be appreciated!</p>
<p>Thank you for the explanation. Well…is there a day that might be more meaningful to give someone a gift? I just want to let them know that I’m thinking of them and I know my Jewish friends can be left out of the typical Christian holidays, so I wanted to put some thought into this.</p>
<p>busdriver: 1st night is Dec 11th…that would be an appropriate day…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I really don’t want to get into a religious debate here, but this isn’t really true. The above reflects a partial explanation of one modern interpretation of how the conflict began, but ultimately Antiochus (a Syrian king) prohibited the practice of Judaism and sought to destroy the Jewish temple as part of this prohibition. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Jews over those who prohibited their religious practices and sought to destroy the temple. While it is true that some scholars think the conflict began between different factions of Jews, it was Antiochus’ actions banning religious practices that escalated the conflict and ultimately resulted in the battles to which Hanukkah refers.</p>
<p>yea, RTR, that’s why I didn’t engage</p>
<p>Thanks, Rodney, Dec 11th it is! It is fascinating hearing people’s different views about religious events-though I’m not trying to cause conflict. I just want to do something nice for a friend.</p>
<p>And if you look up the story of Hanukah, you see that this is not one version but the consensus belief, that any involvement of Antiochus was in a war between Jewish factions. The story about him ordering an altar put up to Zeus is likely an invention to make the victors sound better.</p>
<p>It may be obvious, but I don’t accept writings of the past on their face.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>…must keep quiet…</p>
<p>Sorry Rodney…I don’t read the political threads so I didn’t know. :-)</p>