Strangely enough, I found an end cap of Hanukah items at Hobby Lobby and most drug stores, but none for Kwanzaa. What's up with that????

Anonymous wrote:There are absolutely no Hanukkah decorations, crafts etc. at the Michael's in Downtown Silver Spring. A major oversight, since there is a sizable Jewish population nearby. I called and they said that since it is a new store, they were not aware of the demand; however, they take note of zip codes of people who call requesting that their local stores carry Hanukkah merchandise and they consider stocking it the following year, based on the demand. As such, if you want to be able to purchase Hanukkah merchandise at the Michael's in Downtown Silver Spring, please call and let Michael's know. 1-800-MICHAELS. Speak to someone in customer care. I hope that enough people call so that they realize that there is a definite desire for Jewish holiday merchandise around here. Thanks!!

So try the new one over in Friendship Heights.

OP here -
To the person who is Catholic and is happy to call on our behalf - thanks so much!! That is incredibly kind and understanding! It is so nice to see others who are interested in recognizing our religion and even appreciating some of the lesser known nuances of Judaism. Again, I didn't even need anything personally, I just thought that it would be helpful for that store to know that there is a sizable population of people around here who would probably like these things. I appreciate you understanding my original post. A merry Christmas to you!! : )

I would go to a temple Chanukah mart- Tons of this stuff.

Perhaps try "World Market!?"

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting that you assume that I'm not religious. I am. Actually, my frum family does decorate as do many others that I know; not assimilation, celebration. It's not against Halachah. We also all light our own oil menorahs, why is that mutually exclusive from decorating? It is a happy and celebratory holiday. I don't think it's assimilation at all to enjoy things with children; we decorate our sukkah, what would that be assimilating with? Why is it assumed that it is only something for less religious Jews? Regardless, there's enough nastiness against Jews in this world. Let's just all get along. No need for judgement.

Hey I'm a Catholic and I LOVE your religion. Just saying. I will gladly call for you. I love your history of "repairing the world" (tikkum olam? I'm not sure how to write it) and think THAT is the best lesson there is Peace and happy celebrating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try Target

My Target in MoCo had literally not one roll of Hanukkah wrapping paper today. There were probably around 20 different wrapping paper displays. I was floored.

My friend told me that they had Hanukkah wrapping paper weeks ago at Target, like before Thanksgiving. So even though Hanukkah is the exact same time as Christmas this year, people who celebrate Hanukkah were expected to buy their wrapping paper a month before they would actually need it. It's not like there wasn't space in the displays this week for a small section of Hanukkah paper. Ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:I got some really cute Hanuman cards at Gaithersburg Target today..even even had cards for two faith families.

Haman? Hanuman is an incarnation of Shiva who resembles a monkey.

I live in Missouri, and even my Target had Hanukkah stuff. It was a very pleasant surprise!

I got some really cute Hanuman cards at Gaithersburg Target today..even even had cards for two faith families.

Anonymous wrote:Try Target

My Target in MoCo had literally not one roll of Hanukkah wrapping paper today. There were probably around 20 different wrapping paper displays. I was floored.

Pull out your menorah, put candles, make some latkes and done. Beyond wrapping paper and candles what do you need?

Have you thought about making your own decorations?

Anonymous wrote:Try Target

Fwiw, the target on rockville pike had next to nothing this morning.

OP here again - Thank you for defending me! I don't know where that attitude came from.

I also appreciate the information you offered. i wonder what that other poster would say about it though - Manischewits gingerbread house - oh no - assimilating again! Aaaah! We are driving ourselves towards extinction!

Regardless, I never even said it was a big deal that I couldn't find decorations. In fact, I wasn't even looking for any. I was looking for wrapping paper and actually found some with blue stripes, so I wasn't even concerned about there not being things that I needed (oh no - I give my kids gifts - borrowing again, I guess.) I just thought that it would be helpful for that store to know that there is a sizable Jewish population in DTSS and it would be nice if they carried some relevant merchandise. What is the big deal with that? People have Hanukkah parties - to celebrate a happy holiday - maybe they wan to hang a paper dreidel from their ceiling. Yup, borrowing that idea from all of those non-Jewish ("the majority") homes with the dreidels coming out of the ceiling.

I understand a Hanukkah bush or something like that being "borrowing." It is taking a tradition that is very Christmas-based and for no relevant reason, feeling a need to bring it into one's home. Not my thing, but I don't judge if others want to. I think it's different though than putting up decorations for a holiday; as noted, it is something we do for other holidays that have no non-Jewish counterpart, so the idea of decorating to celebrate is not "borrowing" at all. What an odd thing to make a big deal out of!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Interesting that you assume that I'm not religious. I am. Actually, my frum family does decorate as do many others that I know; not assimilation, celebration. It's not against Halachah. We also all light our own oil menorahs, why is that mutually exclusive from decorating? It is a happy and celebratory holiday. I don't think it's assimilation at all to enjoy things with children; we decorate our sukkah, what would that be assimilating with? Why is it assumed that it is only something for less religious Jews? Regardless, there's enough nastiness against Jews in this world. Let's just all get along. No need for judgement.

I am not against you decorating - I gave you an idea (make them yourself) for how to do it even if the stores are sold out.

I am not frum myself, and we have done some very light decorating. I just find the need to do it, to the point of it being a big deal when the stuff is sold out, amusing. And assimilation is not all about halacha - its a cultural thing. You can be halachic and adopt cultural practices to emulate the majority, and you can be an atheist and be culturally distinctive (though that is rare these days in the USA - it used to be a way to be Jewish). And yeah, decorating the Sukkah is traditional. Decorating in December is clearly a borrowing. Borrowing may be fun, and may even be necessary. But its still amusing.

I do not like your attitude against the OP one bit. It's a shanda.

OP- interestingly enough, I found a Manischewitz brand Hanukkah gingerbread house that was nut free at the Michaels in Sterling. For my nut allergic Jewish 6 year old, this was heaven! I would try Party City. They still had a bunch of Hanukkah stuff, as did Target.