Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., September 21, 2008 Elul 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:35 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A gift that keeps on giving By Barr Hayoun Tags: Rosh Hashanah September brings with it not only the fragrance of autumn, but also the question of where to spend the High Holy Days and the inevitable quandary of what to bring the hosts. Traditional gift packages include honey, olive oil, wine or chocolates, and "Happy New Year" cards abound. However, one can also do a good deed in the process if the gift is purchased from someone in need of support - children with physical or mentally disabilities, at-risk youth, nonprofit organizations such as the Yad Sarah medical equipment bank, or even the local animal shelter. The following is a list of options for buying gifts that can make the holiday happier for everyone. ? Super-Pharm sells packages of four greeting cards with a large variety of pictures and wishes. All the proceeds go to the Hayim Association for children with cancer. Hayim visits all the pediatric oncology wards in Israel's hospitals, bringing encouragement to patients and their families and promoting better medical treatment. Price per package: NIS 10. Available at Super-Pharm branches until September 28. ? Rosh Hashanah cards illustrated by children supported by Aleh, an association that helps disabled children, are sold at Office Depot, Ace and other chain stores. The children paint with the assistance of special high-tech aids that require minimal movement of their hands or head. NIS 10 for a package of three cards. Advertisement ? The New Year's card printed by Fair Chance for Children was painted by a 12-year-old boy at a boarding school in Pardes Hannah. Proceeds from the sale of the cards will help 6,000 children from problem homes who study in residential facilities. Each card costs NIS 6, and orders of 500 can be imprinted with a company's logo. For details and orders, call 03-647-5075. ? Akim, the Israeli association for special-needs children, has a calendar featuring dolls designed especially for Akim by artists and designers at IKEA Israel. All the proceeds go to Akim. NIS 10, at IKEA. ? A calendar and greeting cards by Alut, the Israeli Society for Autistic Children, are decorated with paintings by autistic children and adults. They will be sold throughout September at Steimatzky branches. Prices: Calendar - NIS 39.90; three greeting cards - NIS 10. ? A calendar for dog lovers features photos from the annual photo contest sponsored by Bonzo, the dog food manufacturer. The calendar is sold via the web site of Let the Animals Live, and all the proceeds go to that organization. The 12 dogs chosen for the calendar were selected by thousands of visitors to the Bonzo web site, who voted for pictures sent in by the dogs' owners. The dogs were then photographed by fashion photographers Guy Kushi and Yariv Fein. Price: NIS 55. Available at www.letlive.org.il or tel: 054-755-5333. ? Yad Sarah - which lends medical equipment, offers subsidized paramedical and dental services for seniors and visits the homebound - has produced a calendar featuring the patchwork creations of artists Hagit Meshorer, Nechama Jesselson, Tamar Rimon-Hammeli and Chava Katzir. The proceeds will be used to purchase medical equipment for loan at Yad Sarah branches throughout the country. NIS 18 at Yad Sarah in Jerusalem or via the organization's web site, yadsarah.org.il. ? Points of You, a personal training game for adults, was created as part of a convict rehabilitation process. The game developed out of the group dynamics in a therapy workshop for inmates by its creator, Yaron Golan, and its manufacture gave them an opportunity to work and earn money while in prison. They receive NIS 1 per game, as opposed to the 20 agorot per hour earned at other jobs in the Prison Service. Hebrew edition, NIS 280; English edition, NIS 380, at www.points-of-you.us or at Tzomet Sfarim, Steimatzky and other stores. ? The Pasteltoys wooden toy factory employs residents of Kishorit, a village for adults with learning disabilities, adaptation difficulties or mental disorders. The children's toys and furnishings produced there are "a taste of the past," simple and unsophisticated. Prices: A truck laden with blocks costs NIS 260 and a linen chest costs NIS 700. All the toys are produced with high awareness of the use of natural materials and bear the seal of the Israel Standards Institute. Available online at www.kishorit.org.il and at selected stores. For a list of sales locations, call 04-908-5227 or 057-756-6955. ? The Shekulo Tov Group provides jobs for about 1,000 people with mental disabilities and also organizes leisure activities for them. One of the group's workshops produces toys designed by professional toy designers and built by workshop participants. One featured item this year is a wooden ice-cream stand with cones and ice cream made of colored fabrics and a syrup bottle made of wood. Price: NIS 180. Rag dolls cost NIS 99. Another workshop, Paper Work, produces office accessories from newsprint. An office wastepaper basket designed by Erez Mulai, for example, costs NIS 140-160, depending on the size of the basket. For further details and points of sale, call 08-920-0050. ? A fund-raising project by Israel Malls in conjunction with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Israel has produced a disc of songs by the late Uzi Chitman, inspired by his work for children, to mark the fourth anniversary of his death. Price: NIS 10. All the proceeds go to Make-a-Wish, for realizing the dreams of children with serious illnesses. The disc will be on sale at the Lev Hadera Mall, the Sharon Mall in Netanya, Kenyoter Nes Tziona, the Bilu shopping center, Lev Ashdod, Harel Mevasseret Zion, the Hadar Mall in Jerusalem and the Adumim Mall in Ma'aleh Adumim. ? An exhibition and sale of works by students in Akim's photography course (which is offered through the Kibbutz Seminar's School of Art and Technology) will be held at Kalisher Art College, 5 Kalisher St., Tel Aviv, from September 15-29. The works will be displayed among those of the other students. Prices: NIS 100-500. ? Matan, an organization that develops community projects between businesses and special needs groups offers, holiday gifts made or assembled by at-risk teens or mentally ill adults in rehabilitation programs, with the proceeds going to social organizations. A pomegranate-shaped candle holder filled with paraffin oil costs NIS 60, while a bathroom gift package of soaps, candles and a towel costs NIS 30. A calendar with photos of dolls designed by singers such as Ninet Tayeb, Harel Skaat and Corinne Alal costs NIS 10. Matan also offers an Ethiopian cookbook, embellished with home remedies and Ethiopian sayings. The recipes were collected by youths from immigrant families as part of a young entrepreneurs project. The cookbook costs NIS 50, while a poetry book, "Seliha Shenoladti" (Forgive Me for Being Born) - 49 poems by at-risk youth - costs NIS 20. For details and orders, call 03-560-2121 or email chenw@matanisrael.org.il. ? The Israeli branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation sells bracelets designed by jewelry designer Aya Azrielant. All the proceeds go toward research on juvenile diabetes and to help children living with this illness. Available at the foundation's web site: www.jdrf.org.il. Price: NIS 29. ? Hayim, the association for children with cancer in Israel, selling hamsa (hand-shaped talisman) pins at Hamashbir Latzarchan stores for NIS 9.90 during September, and elegant passport folders at James Richardson duty-free stores for $3.90. ? Gift packages from specialty chocolatier Tufinit include hand-made papier mache decorative dishes made by autistic adults at a sheltered workshop operated by Alut, the Israeli Society for Autistic Children. A large chocolate heart surrounded by 10 pralines nestles in a unique dish. Proceeds help fund the hostel in Kibbutz Givat Brenner and support activities for the autistic adults who live there. NIS 53, from the factory in Givat Brenner, 08-935-1941. ? Choconoy is a family-owned specialty chocolate factory founded in 2002 to create jobs for special-needs adults and provide them with productive employment in a friendly environment with fair work conditions. A package of eight pralines costs NIS 36; a box of 16 pralines costs NIS 69; and a gift package of wine, chocolate and a jar of honey costs NIS 150. Available via its web site, www.choconoy.co.il, or by phone, 09-865-9960. ? Keren Ahava, the gift and gift package workshop at Beit Issie Shapiro in Ra'anana, offers a range of holiday gift packages for private customers, workers' committees and companies. The packages include decorative housewares and ornaments, spa products, baby gifts, hand-made jewelry, electronics, pictures and wine. All the proceeds support the services provided by Beit Issie to special-needs children. Prices start at NIS 60 per gift package. Order via email, eyal@beitissie.org.il, or by phone, 03-617-8336. ? At the &Joy studio, special-needs adults produce floral arrangements and hand-decorated gift packages. The Rosh Hashanah line includes bouquets of flowers, bonsai olive trees and packages with apples, pomegranates and small jars of honey. Every worker receives a percentage from the sale of products he or she helped decorate. Packages that include a calendar illustrated by studio members cost NIS 12-60. Customers can also order fortune cookies with a personal message, candies, chocolates, honey, soap and more. When the year is over, the calendar pages can be replaced with other pictures. Available via the web site, www.andjoy.co.il, or by phone, 03-901-1735. ? Green Action offers gifts for the holiday the promote fair trade practices and support minority entrepreneurs by providing better trade terms. Products include coffee from South America, olive oil from Kfar Maskha, near Mt. Tabor, and boutique liqueurs from Jerusalem's Katamon neighborhood. Gift packages are available at Comme Il Faut stores, or can be custom designed. Order via email, maya@greenaction.org.il, or call 03-527-0477. ? Organic soaps by Dr. Bronner also meet fair trade standards. The highest salary paid at the company's factory is no more than five times the lowest, and a large portion of the company's profits are earmarked for charity and public and community projects. Dr. Bronner's fair trade activism includes the establishment of cooperatives around the world, starting with Jenin. Prices: Liquid soap - NIS 38.90; bar soap - NIS 18.90, at natural food stores. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'The Mossad dove' Official Syrian state paper says Livni can have peace if she desires it. Abbas the columnist PA Chief: History will judge none of us kindly if we squander chance for peace.

Read & React Sarah Palin dumped from Jewish rally against Iran in New York Responses: 310 Benjamin Weinthal: Ani-Zionist Jews widen pool of Israel's enemies Responses: 208 Abbas: Failure to reach peace will 'change parameters of debate' Responses: 93 Hamas accuses Israel of back-pedaling in Shalit negotiations Responses: 91 Yossi Sarid: Economic crisis forces us to rethink 'American dream' Responses: 65 More Headlines 00:54 PA chief of staff: We must be ready to use force against Hamas 23:49 Diplomats: No evidence Syria site bombed by IAF was nuclear reactor 22:29 Syria state-run paper: If Livni wants peace, she will achieve it 00:57 At least 40 killed in massive truck bombing in Pakistan 00:04 Barak, Netanyahu discuss 'recent political turn of events' 20:27 Jenin: From terror capital to model of peace 22:22 Tony Blair's sister-in-law leaves Gaza after being stranded in Strip for nearly a month 22:30 VIDEO / IDF thwarts terror attack near Yitzhar settlement 15:57 Abbas: Failure to reach peace will 'change parameters of debate' 18:26 Hamas says favors national unity government with Fatah 16:43 Pen Ultimate / For war press one, for peace process, two 18:24 Obama campaign cries foul after Republicans block Iran divestment bill 01:31 Sarah Palin blames 'Democrat partisans' for withdrawn invitation to anti-Iran rally 12:30 Jewish World / How we came to feed Tel Aviv's African refugees Previous Editions Select Day 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved