The Ultimate Hanukkah Gift Guide For Everyone On Your List
Image by Michelle Honig
To quote the great Adam Sandler, we don’t just have one night of Hanukkah, we have eight crazy nights. And on at least one of those nights (or, if you’re really insanely generous, all eight of those nights), gift-giving is a must. If you’re like most American Jewish families, the sheer number of people you want to give a gift to can get overwhelming. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled the perfect Hanukkah gifts for everyone on your list. And yes, we mean everyone — from babies, to college kids, to grandparents, we’ve got you covered.
1) For Babies:
Image by Amazon.com
You may think a gift for a baby is a waste — but the more cuddly the toy is, the more likely it will remain by the baby’s side as he or she grows — ensuring that the currently barely-acknowledged toy will become treasured childhood security blanket as they age. This plush Singamaling named Noodle sings, “On Top of Spaghetti” when you squeeze its belly, providing entertainment for hours. Bonus: the Singamalings have a mode where they harmonize with people and with each other, so splurge and buy all 6 in the collection.
Green ‘Noodle’ Singamaling, $17.44, amazon.com
2) For Toddlers:
Image by walmart.com
If your toddler is like most, that precocious little tot likely spends hours watching Youtube — stealing your iPad or Kindle Fire, of course. And we are 99% certain that the bulk of her screen-time-induced stupor is spent watching the unrivaled toy unboxing king, Ryan from Ryan’s World (you know, the kid that has made your child want to spend thousands of dollars a month on toys he or she doesn’t actually need). Now, he has a toy line, and with this oversized ‘Mystery Egg’, your toddler can now experience the joy of a surprise unboxing (disclaimer: may cause discussions among playmates about creating their own YouTube channel).
Ryans World Giant Mystery Egg, $93.99, walmart.com
3) For School-Age Kids
Image by Amazon.com
Coding will be the most lucrative and valuable skill in the future, so prepping your child for that future through play is the ideal solution. This robot-building set from LEGO comes with 847 pieces that can kids can build into 5 different types of robots, including a guitar and a cat. Then, using the LEGO Boost app, kids can code their robot — the possibilities are endless.
Lego Boost Creative Toolbox Robot. $159.95, amazon.com
4) For pre-teens
Image by barnesandnoble.com
Harry Potter’s universe is just as relevant to kids now as it was twenty years ago; especially with the latest movie series that explores that world decades before Harry Potter was even born — “Fantastic Beasts.” Fantastic Beasts is the story of Newt Salamander, a wizard with a predilection for collecting and cataloguing magical creatures. The sequel, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is out this month, and to accompany it, the studio is releasing the screenplay in hardcover form. With the beautifully illustrated cover, your little Potterhead will be in a magical state of bliss.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” Screenplay Hardcover Book, $16.04, barnesandnoble.com
5) For Teens
Image by Amazon.com
We get it: teens are angsty. And rude. And conveniently forget all physical acts of endearment like hugging their mother. But you’re a cool parent. So cool that you’re willing to sacrifice even more face-time with your moody teen by indulging him or her with super expensive wireless headphones, like this gold pair from Beats. It has cushion ear cups that minimize outside noises — the better to block out mom’s nagging (you know, the person who bought you the goddamn pair in the first place).
Beats Solo3 Matte Gold Wireless Headphones, $299.95, amazon.com
6) For The College Kid
Image by Amazon.com
For many kids, college is the first time they are required to be self-sufficient adults: doing their own laundry, keeping their dorm orderly, even figuring out how they will keep themselves fed. A good, nutritious breakfast will help keep a college kid’s minds sharp so they can do well in school. So help make their lives significantly easier on the nourishment front by getting them this breakfast sandwich maker from Hamilton Beach. It has compartments for the bread, the fixins’, even the egg so that breakfast can be made in the time it takes them to brush their teeth.
Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker, $22.99, amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-25475A-Breakfast-Sandwich-x/dp/B00EI7DPOO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541708566&sr=8-2&keywords=hamilton+beach+breakfast+sandwich
7) For The Young Professional
Image by Amazon.com
So the twenty-something in your life just got his or her dream job and while they love every minute of it, their stress levels are through the roof. The perfect present for such a person? The ultimate de-stressor. And by ultimate we mean a literal washing away of all their worries. This Buddha Board was inspired by the Zen philosophy of living in the moment: said young professional simply dips a bamboo brush into water and paints the Buddha Board. As the water dries, the resulting artwork will disappear — an exercise in letting go and approaching life with a clear mind.
Buddha Board, $34.95, Barnesandnoble.com
8) For The Work Colleague (aka, the “work wife/husband”)
Image by Amazon.com
Workplace colleagues, due to their proximity and the requirement for near-constant interaction, can become one of two things: your mortal enemy or your work wife/husband. The latter is a special relationship, forged in the dumpster fire that is bad bosses, inefficient spreadsheets, and terrible policies. This is the person you commiserate with over after-work drinks, who you complain to when a hated colleague does that thing again (“like, seriously Carole?”). Get him or her a gift that will make their mornings infinitely less stressful, like this Keurig which brews up a cup of coffee in seconds using K-cup pods.
Keurig K-Classic K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, $85.65, amazon.com
9) For Mom and Dad
Image by thematanashop
Jewish parents are many things — neurotic, overly involved in their adult children’s lives — but they mean well. Besides, they raised you, and let’s not kid ourselves: you were no angel. Show some appreciation and get them a gift. As strong-minded Jewish parents, they also probably have a significant connection to the Holy Land. Help them rekindle their connection with a subscription to a gift box filled with a curated selection of Israeli products from small, local artisans.
10) For Grandparents
Image by barnesandnoble.com
Ahh, the bubbes and the zaides — always generous with their time and their wallet, always shaking their head at the newfangled gadgets that they can’t seem to keep up with, let alone operate without poking out an eye. Technology that allows them to connect with the world and is user-friendly is ideal, and this Nook by Barnes and Noble fits the bill: it’s kind of like the perfect marriage between the iPad — with its ability to attach a keyboard (sold separately) — and the Amazon Kindle — which is made for reading books. Plus, the large size makes reading a breeze for aging eyes (reading glasses not required).
Nook 10.1 inch Tablet, $129.99, barnesandnoble.com
Want extra points in the quest to becoming Best Gift Giver Of All Time? Buy that special person in your life a subscription to The Forward.
Michelle Honig is the style writer at the Forward. Contact her at [email protected]. Find her on Instagram and Twitter.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
