Comments on: Toy Vey

By: Larry L. Moeggenberg

Larry L. Moeggenberg — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:27:45 +0000

If there are video games taht have truly stood up to the tests of time, it’s the Sonic The Hedgehog video game series.
Back in the days when video games for the most part were just plain clean fun and not the gorefests they are now, Sonic The Hedgehog was and still is the defining video game series of my lifetime.
The controls are very good.
While many would argue that the graphics are dated and while they may be very dated by 2004 standards, this game was many years ahead of it’s time and I still love every moment of this game.
One of the greatest things about this classic video game that I have enjoyed was the MUSIC! WOW! Looking back on it now, I have to say that the music was just amazing for video game music. I could very well say that I remember the music almost by heart. My favorite level music was on the

By: Early Learning Toys

Early Learning Toys — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:09:42 +0000

A well researched site, I’ll link to it from my site thanks

By: Ariella Brown

Ariella Brown — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:52:16 +0000

There’s another toy you may add to the list — a toy tefillin. Needless to say, the straps pose quite a hazard even for children over 3.
I also touched on the topic of gifts at http://www.examiner.com/x-18522-NY-Jewish-Bridal-Examiner~y2009m11d26-General-gift-advice-or-why-gift-cards-may-not-be-such-a-great-idea

By: Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy

Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:17:35 +0000

Thanks for the comments section on this one page about a totally innocuous subject. Why not add one for the Palin piece by Seth Lipsky? That way I could explain how if I wanted right-wing drivel I would have paid for the Sun. Apparently, I wasn’t alone in that opinion.

Bring back Nextbook.

By: marjorie

marjorie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:34:06 +0000

y’know, Tacky Tourist, i can see the Demi Moore in Esther there!

Hannah, good call. I actually bought a similar set of finger puppets (and also a set of plagues masks) at the JewMu gift shop in nyc. teachable moments!

By: Hannah Puckhaber

Hannah Puckhaber — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:49:47 +0000

I chair the Judaica Shop for my synagogue and there are some Hanukkah items I will not bring in – the dog toy Mohel scissors, Harvey Nagila and anything that resembles “lights” for trees.
However, I must admit I did buy the Passover finger puppets. The young children enjoyed playing with them and did not get the “dead firstborn on the wedding ring finger”. Parents seem to like this better than the previous “Plague Set” that included red food coloring dye.
Overall, I enjoyed your article very much.

By: Will M.

Will M. — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:10:13 +0000

Wow. Hanukkah Harry. $150 for literally the worst thing ever? Seems steep. For my money, I’d rather permanently damage the children for $18 with Harvey.

By: Cathleen Zepelin

Cathleen Zepelin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:10:30 +0000

I haven’t laughed so heartily in a long time! You know, some things really do get lost in translation.

By: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:59:09 +0000

c
Judah Mack Truck Abee
Music and Lyrics by Richard Marcus
1.
They drove diesel rigs outta Modeen town
The Macabee brothers, known for miles around
Lead by big brother Judah they were honest and good
Each 18 wheeler had a star on the hood.

(spoken) “The Star of David: Ma-GHEN Da-VEED”

And every year they loaded their rigs
With supplies for a special Hannukah gig,
Helping any family down on their luck
Those folks depended on the Macabee trucks.

CHORUS
Judah Mack Truck-abee!
Judah Mack Truck-abee!
He’d never bow down to no one,
His brothers were the same.
Macabee is Hebrew for “hammer”
And they lived up to their name.
They’d sooner die standing up
Then to live down on their knees.
Those stars on the hood
Were there for good.
For Judah Mack Truck-abee!
Judah Mack Truck-abee

2.
Well, the Middle East was the Wild, Wild West
Life on the highways was cheap at best.
Black top bandits roamed far and wide
At night, even Smokey stayed safe inside.

But the Macabee boys had their Hannukah run
So they went to fuel up, do what had to be done.
But some slime ball thugs from a desert tribe
Blockaded the pumps, demanding a bribe.

REFRAIN
Judah Mack Truck-abee!
Judah don’t bend his knee
He’d fight just to be free
Judah Mack Truck-abee!

The outlaw boss flashed a greedy smile,
Said: “This here’s all the fuel for a thousand miles.
You’ll pay our price and obey my command:
Take down those stars or you’ll die where you stand.”

Judah’s voice was steady, he was cool,
He said “You’re thieving scum but we’ll pay for fuel.
But touch that star, and I’ll make you a ghost.”
The thug reached out, he was matzo toast.

CHORUS

4.
Well, that desert gang started blasting away.
And darned if their bullets didn’t ricochet
Off of Judah’s star, then hit the pumps.
A ball of fire was the end of those chumps.

When the dust had settled The Macabees gave thanks
Though they had only one day’s fuel in their tanks.
“Boys, put your rigs and your faith in gear.
We’re gonna roll,” said Judah,
But The Big Guy steers.”

4.
They put their shetl to the metal, started to jam
From Modeen, Jerusalem to Bethlehem
Hebron, Ber’sheva, Eilat on the sea
Gaza, Tel Aviv then Galilee.
They hit Jericho on fumes and prayers,
But every family in need got their share.
One day’s fuel stretched eight days ‘n nights.
And as they lit their menorah lights
They knew miracles came when the heart does good,
“We just followed that six pointed star on our hoods.”

By: Tacky Tourist

Tacky Tourist — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:17:35 +0000

C’mon, Marjorie, the Queen Esther doll isn’t that bad looking… Kinda looks like Kaballah-loving Demi Moore, actually!

By: Lindsay Dearinger

Lindsay Dearinger — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:03:54 +0000

I have to agree that the Harvey Nagila blurb was superb. I definitely see the resemblance to Latke Larry.

I rather thought the Esther doll blurb was hilarious, as well.

By: homeshuling

homeshuling — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:35:20 +0000

Kosherland is actually way better than “Magical Mitzvah Park” which is not only a lame game, but also has absolutely zero Jewish content. Plus it’s not even kosher – they serve ice cream with the hot dogs at the park.

http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Educational-Toys-Magical-Mitzvah/dp/B000BXKMSQ

By: Rivster

Rivster — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:47:04 +0000

For the record, the mohel scissors is actually a dog chew toy. Although, that doesn’t REALLY make me feel all that much better.

I don’t know…if the kids are going to beat the crap out of each other’s action figures, should’t we at the very least turn it into a teachable moment???

And the techno dreidel is a great choice for anyone you don’t like.

By: georgianna

georgianna — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:26:46 +0000

Harvey Nagila looks an awful lot like Latke Larry who sits atop my refrigerator year ’round. The voice is that of Jerry Stiller so I just can’t put it away.

By: Mark K.

Mark K. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:53:20 +0000

Over the years we’ve gotten a bunch of these things. I spend my days studying deep profound Jewish texts, and frankly, I just love taking a break with my kids to play with the kitchy stuff. And it also seems to grab them in kishkes–after studying all seriously (well, as seriously as a first grader and preschooler can study) about this important pious stuff in day school to be able to blow off some steam by playing with ridiculous Jewish-themed toys. If only so many of the toys were not muktzeh . . .

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:35:53 +0000

The Harvey Negilah blurb was absolutely hysterical. The best of a very funny bunch.

By: Dinah

Dinah — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:04:17 +0000

This is so hysterical!! And maybe that’s the problem — manufacturers are trying a bit too hysterically to tap into the Hanukkah market. Really good for a few laughs, though!

By: Rivka

Rivka — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:06:15 +0000

Some of my grandchildren observe Chanukah, some observe Christmas. I do not give them gifts on holidays anymore (I did when they were toddlers.) Now I give them one big gift on their birthday. I have them write a list and they know I will choose one to send them.

By: barry

barry — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:56:04 +0000

No-one ever went broke underestimating the taste of modern American Jews shopping for Chanukah.

HL Mensch-kin.

By: marjorie

marjorie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:53:55 +0000

iolanthe: we kid because we love.

i have the 3D jewy glasses too (a gift from genius cartoonist Ellen Forney!) and love ‘em madly.

By: marjorie

marjorie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:51:19 +0000

i didn’t even LIST the toilet seat cover with “a great miracle happened here” written on it (what’s so miraculous? it’s not like it’s passover, when managing to use the toilet really IS a miracle, which i mention only because i am so klassy), or the “ayshes chayil” doll (she comes with a copy of proverbs 31 and some cookie cutters — but she’s made by a christian toy company, and they call her “abigail” rather than “the ayshes chayil doll” but YOU CAN’T FOOL ME, CHRISTIAN TOYMAKERS, i know from proverbs 31), or the “jewish old maid” card game (write your own joke about how you win the jewish old maid card game).

By: Iolanthe

Iolanthe — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:35:10 +0000

I have several pairs of the Star of David 3-D glasses that I keep in my Chanukah box. They turn the flames on the menorah into magical, fiery stars of David! What’s wrong with that. We enjoy them every year and get a kick out of looking at each other with our silly glasses. Come on, people, lighten up!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:25:16 +0000

This is too funny! I am reading it at work and it was hard not to laugh out loud.

By: CBM

CBM — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:13:13 +0000

More proof that Hanukkah is not Jewish Christmas:
Hanukkah stockings for the mantelpiece, Hanukkah tree ornaments, and Hanukkah crackers: those traditional English foil-wrapped cylinders filled with small novelties and candy.

By: Mike Shapiro

Mike Shapiro — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:05:59 +0000

I’m grateful that my kids are grown up and my grandchildren have parents who are much too sensible to either give, or put on a wish list, any of these items.

Although, as a baseball fan, I might consider the Jewish Major Leaguers cards (but not the more expensive “collectors’ edition”.)

By: Judith Nusbaum

Judith Nusbaum — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:52:50 +0000

I’m in total agreement: I usually give gelt in multiples of 18 if it’s in shekels or just $18 and let the grandchildren pick out the book themselves.

Grandma