Shtetl Merch
It's 2024... of course there's such a thing as a "dirty martini" menorah.
The other day I received a text from a friend with a link to what she described as the “swaggiest menorah [she’s] ever seen.” Indeed, said menorah was swaggy, and it is not the only one. As noted by my response below, the market for cool Judaica has exploded, and I, for one, am here for it.
Given my niche personal brand of TSHOT (“that shtetl hoe over there”), I thought it prudent to dedicate a post to showcase some of the best Judaica brands currently on the market.
#1: For the Museum-Going, Art-Collecting Girly
According to her bio, Hannah Polskin is a multidisciplinary artist and designer living and working in Los Angeles. Born in New York City and a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Hannah works at the intersection of fine art and design to create “livable art” with a freeform aesthetic that bleeds across each project.
Hannah’s work is on the pricier side but think of each piece as its title denotes—a sculpture. This is not a menorah that you tuck away in the cabinet, only to resurface from hibernation for eight nights every December. It is an investment piece and one that can live as a show-stopping staple year-round. It is essentially the equivalent of The Row Margaux, but make it Judaica.
#2: For the Gen Z, Tik-Tok Maven
You may know Susan Alexandra for her Instagram-famous beaded bags, but it was her Fashion Week Bat Mitzvah-themed show that cemented her icon status for me. This shtetl queen has taken her love of whimsy and colour to present us all with an overflowing collection of cheery Judaica staples. If you are a fan of Fran Fine’s wardrobe, let’s just say, this brand is for you.
Recently, the designer was interviewed by Elle, where she acknowledged the reason and meaning behind creating this collection:
The older I get, the more I’m looking toward the past and what’s really authentic to me. I’m Jewish, and the older I get, the more I’m obsessed with being Jewish. I love Jewish culture. I love the way that it connects people from every walk of life. And historically, Jews have been persecuted and hated; it’s 2023, and we’re still dealing with these issues. It made me feel like I had to take some sort of stand, even if it’s just making a beautiful new Jewish star that people could feel really excited about. It means a lot to me to make Judaica. Modern Judaica and modern Judaism is so much more inclusive than I even realized. There’s so much about being a woman and about inviting different cultures to your table and your life. I’m so excited I get to be bringing this conversation into the world.
#3: For the Modernist Millennial
Created by three friends who met in Hebrew school, Judaica Standard Time “explores the space between faith and design. It is playful, yet profound.” It is typography-focused, earth-tone, modular, and abstract-aestheticism at its finest. It’s the stuff your ceramic and woodwork dreams (or at least mine) are made of. I would like that Haggadah font on my wedding invitation and epitaph, bevakasha.
#4: For the In-Betweeners
Not quite as bright as Susan Alexandra or earthly as Judaica Standard Time, Tchotchke stands out as a happy medium with a bit more of a futuristic vibe. Bubbles and chrome take centre stage in this capsule collection of pill-shaped mezuzahs and menorahs. If Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century were a practicing jew, I am certain she would have this on her mantle.
While Abraham and Moses may not have envisioned a menorah in the shape of a dirty martini, I can’t deny the fact that I think modern Jewry is better because of it. And hey, maybe if Sarah or Rivka had been in charge, it wouldn’t have taken over 4,000 years to be blessed with a cute mezuzah. Just sayin’.
I’m in! 🩷🩷🩷