045: Support Jewish artists and other small business during the downturn (it’s a mitzvah)

Etsy is a wonderful place to support Jewish artists and other small businesses as you’re able; inside: My first mezuzah, first Star of David, and some fun finds ?️‍?✡️

I’ve definitely felt the pinch these past few months, have you?

I also moved and established myself between LA and San Diego and made a few Jewish purchases to connect and feel better.

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For Hanging

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• Handsome Hamsa Necklace with Star of David
• Etsy store: LeBuaJewelrytoo
• Michigan; $12

The Hamsa is a symbol of protection. (Yes that’s me, I’m told once I go into the mikvah I emerge gifted with a luxurious mane of chest hair, like Samson’s locks)

• Modern Mezuzah case ($19)
• Etsy store: GalaStudio, Israel

This took awhile to arrive, worth the wait! Now to nab a kosher torah scroll to put in it and mount it on my new home’s doorframe. The middle one (aqua and green) matches the house.

This came with a lovely note: “Mazal-Tov for first Mezuzha”—so special. Hanging a mezuzah at your home or office is a mitzvah: a good deed or law. There was already one at my old house when I moved in, so this is my first time hanging and blessing it; more to come on that!

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For Pride

• Israel Pride Flag — I liked the more muted colors of this one, $29 on Amazon. You’ll see others with different shades for a little less. Mine hasn’t arrived yet; be sure to hover on my Insta and hit refresh a lot for that incoming selfie with it, and while you do that go ahead and read about the new pride flag:
  • It’s Time Black and Brown People Be Included in the Pride Flag (Them.Us)

Unlike my actual tattoos, this one’s kosher.

• Chutzpah Temporary Tattoo ($4)
• Etsy store: LoudMouthInk, San Francisco

This came with a lovely “L’chaim!” handwritten message from Jamie 🙂 “Chutzpah” originally meant audacity or insolence in Yiddish and once ported over to English (like many other Yiddish words) has taken on a more positive connotation: Courage, meddle, grit. A great thing to have for Pride and for standing up for Black Lives.

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For Shabbat

• Blue Linen Kippah ($12)
• Amazon

Fits super well, this guy stays on my melon the best of any kippah I’ve worn. It’s just shaped really well, and the texture and color are great.

Ok so Amazon isn’t… exactly a small business, but plenty of them depend on it—especially now. This joins my other kippot (tartan like my Scottish roots, and shipped from Australia, a journey some of my ancestors probably made in reverse against their will). Next one I’m thinking pink!

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For Your Eyes & Bookshelf

• Reform Siddur from Nefesh Los Angeles: $40 (or donate more!)
• We’re gonna be home for awhile. Purchase your at-home Siddur, the Jewish prayerbook, to follow along and to study between services. I tried the online version for awhile and it’s too much changing windows so much… plus I get to mark pages now and support Nefesh, my small-and-growing community in LA.

Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz

I had the honor of joining Sarah’s interview with Rabbi Adam Greenwald, my university prof for my intro class. Sarah was the speechwriter for Michelle Obama and much like I did, stumbled into an Intro class to discover that Judaism was for her all along… except she was born Jewish, so it’s quite the tale by a really gifted writer. If you plan on an Intro to Judaism course, it’s basically a companion guide and skillfully unravels some of the misconceptions about religion, Judaism, and 21st century* spirituality that contribute to keeping people lost and disconnected.

*21st century in the CE; see art history, Intro to Judaism, or…this book!…for more

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That’s it! Happy shopping, only 6 months to Christmas for all you goyim!

Support Jewish artists and small business (it’s a mitzvah)

• Bobby’s Israel Honeymoon Fund
• Nefesh Los Angeles