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Jewish Joy to the World: Making the Holiday Season More Inclusive with Hanukkah Decor

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Have you ever gone shopping and seen tons of fun Christmas decor but absolutely nothing for Hanukkah? I know I have – and it’s made me feel excluded from all the seasonal festivity.
 
You might wonder why I’m talking about Hanukkah in July. It’s because we’re partnering with Hanukkah Decor – a business on a mission to change that feeling of being excluded during the holiday season – and they’re running a kickstarter campaign this month that we are getting right behind!
 

The Story 

When Mark Perryman’s three-year-old daughter, Carlie, felt left out after seeing her neighborhood aglow with Christmas decorations, he was inspired to design a line of 5 outdoor light-up Hanukkah inflatables to bring seasonal cheer to Jews of all ages – menorahs, dreidels, even Zayde’s Kitchen complete with latkes frying!
 
These durable and long-lasting outdoor inflatable can be proudly displayed in your front yard, year after year – to paraphrase my favorite Hanukkah sweater, “Tis the season to let everyone know you’re Jewish,” after all!
 
And thanks to the Kickstarter Mark and his wife, Katie, started to get their new business off the ground, you can back the campaign to help Jewish children and families celebrate Hanukkah and make new memories and traditions each year. 
 
If the Kickstarter is successful, next year Hanukkah Decor will be not only expanding their outdoor collection but also adding a line of super fun indoor Hanukkah décor in classic and modern designs. 
 
But if the Kickstarter doesn’t reach its goal by July 26, none of this will happen – so be sure to back the Kickstarter today at hanukkahdecor.com/Kickstarter if you want to bring inflatable Jewish joy to the children and grownups in your life!

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Smashing Life, my community membership club for ALL Jewish women, is open to new members for the next 48 hours

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Smashing Life and Brides Club members met up at Karen ‘s home for a Challah Bake

Happy Wednesday! I’ve got a question for you… did you know that as well as Smashing The Glass (focused on your Jewish wedding your way), we run a sister brand and podcast called Your Jewish Life all about living your best Jewish LIFE – your way? 

I’m proud to say, it’s immensely popular – and my accompanying podcast, Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon, is a a great listen too! (Don’t you love how I’m my own kvelling Jewish mother?! )

But the element I’m most proud of (and literally what I live for) is my warm, inclusive Jewish lifestyle community club for ALL Jewish and Jew-ish women… Smashing Life.


Zoom Shabbat dinner with Smashing Life

Smashing Life is my warm, inclusive lifestyle community for Jewish and Jew-ish women, whether you’re single, engaged, married, or anything else.

It’s like the warmth of freshly baked challah and Shabbat candles fused with fashion, interiors, lifestyle, recipes, a healthy dose of fun, and a whole lotta heartfelt love and support.


Smashing Life and Brides Club members met up with Karen on her visit to NYC pre-pandemic!

And for the next 48 hours until Thursday, September 23, the doors to this life-changing community – a space that, in the words of one of our members, “feels like coming home” – are open. If you’re looking to make new friends, lean into your Jewish identity, and find a space where you are enough – what are you waiting for? Join now to see what it’s all about.


When Smashing Life member Sam Levitz recently moved into a new apartment, fellow SL’er Jenna sent her the sweetest housewarming gift!

Not sure if Smashing Life is for you? Have a read through these heartwarming words from one of our dear members. Sam Levitz.

Sam Levitz, New York City:

Growing up I was a part of many different Jewish circles but found in my adult years that those circles had faded into only fond memories. I was struggling to find a space that felt curated for me and my needs as a Jewish adult, and wanting to create a space for myself and my future family that felt true to my Jewish identity. Smashing Life gave me that power and inspiration. 

I’ve made connections and friendships inside Smashing Life that I know will last a lifetime. From virtual Shabbat dinners and in-person happy hours (one day again soon!), to support and love when things get difficult, I know that Smashing Life is the place I can go to where I will find the most incredible people to lift me up.

And I hope they know that I’m there for them. When the going gets tough, you don’t need to look further. We’re not just an online group, we’re a family, a community, and we’re there for each other. 

To be part of a group of Jewish women to connect, engage, and share life’s struggles and triumphs is more important to me than I ever realized. 

Our Jewish or Jew-ish connections may have initially brought us together, but it’s the kindness and compassion of this group that keeps me coming back. I don’t know what I’d do without it and I feel so lucky and fortunate to be a part of it.

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The Ultimate 2020 Hanukkah Gifting Guide

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With Hanukkah just weeks away we’re rounding up our favorite Hanukkah gifts below. And have you downloaded our free Hanukkah guide packed with everything you need for a lit Hanukkah? It’s packed with easy recipe and decor ideas, songs, gift ideas, blessings, symbolism, and how to feel part of a community – even when it’s 2020. Download it here.

The Ultimate Chanukah Sweater by Sefira Lightstone

We’re obsessed with this totally gorgeous and 100% non-cheesy Hanukkah sweatshirt from artist and illustrator Sefira Lightstone. Featuring the skyline of ancient Jerusalem, a 7-branch menorah (the kind in the temple in Jerusalem that was miraculously kept burning for 8 days in the holiday’s origin story), and Hebrew text reading “A Great Miracle Happened There,” this is one holiday sweatshirt we’d be more than happy to wear year-round.

Marzipan Sufganiyot by Marzipops from ModernTribe
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

It’s sufganiyot! No, it’s marzipan! Wait, it’s… marzipan sufganiyot! If you’re into foods that look like other foods, this sweet kosher-certified box of assorted Hanukkah doughnuts (that are actually almond paste) is going to be RIGHT up your alley. Bonus: it’ll stay fresh a whole lot longer than a box of actual sufganiyot.

Flora Petite Keepsake Gift Box by New York & Narrative
(10% discount for Smashing Life members)

Jewish-owned small business New York & Narrative puts together some of the most stylish gift boxes we’ve ever seen – and Flora, which comes packed goodies including a dark chocolate bar, a botanical facial steam, a soy travel candle scented with cedar, amber, and bay leaves, and a bundle of hand-dried florals –  is perfect for anyone in your life who deserves some serious pampering this Hanukkah.

Hanukkah Candy from See’s Candies

How cute would a bowl full of these little berry-flavored Star of David hard candies look on your Hanukkah table?Continue ReadingContinue Reading

Everything You Need to Know about Jewish Genetic Carrier Screening {with JScreen}

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If you’re thinking of starting a family in the next few years, you might have heard about genetic carrier screening. You may even have considered getting screened yourself. But it can be hard to know where to start. The process can seem intimidating, expensive, and scary – but it doesn’t have to be any of those things. Knowing where you stand genetic disease-wise – and what your options are going forward if it turns out you are a carrier – is actually really empowering!
 
That’s why I’m so excited to tell you that this Wednesday, 22 July, at 9:00 am PDT / 12:00 pm EDT / 5:00 pm GDT, I’ll be chatting on Facebook with Hillary Kener Regelman, Director of National Outreach at JScreen, a US-based not-for-profit at-home education and carrier screening program for Jewish genetic diseases.
 
JScreen‘s mission is to give individuals and families easy access to information convenient home testing (so you can get the process started even in lockdown) at a reasonable price point. Screening for over 200 genetic diseases – including those that are commonly found in Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jewish populations – is performed by a certified laboratory and results are reviewed and reported to participants by genetic counselors, so if it turns out you are a carrier for a disease, your counselor will be there to talk you through the options (and there ARE options!).
 
Hillary will be addressing a range of topics including the following:
  • What is genetic carrier screening?
  • Who should consider genetic carrier screening?
  • What diseases does JScreen test for?
  • How accurate are the results?
  • Is it worth testing through JScreen if I’ve already done genetic carrier screening?
  • How much does JScreen cost? How does it work with insurance?
  • How does JScreen’s process work?
  • What are the next steps if a couple finds out they are carriers for a disease?

If you decide to go forward with genetic testing through JScreen, you’ll also be eligible for an $18 discount as a Smashing The Glass reader – just use the code “JScreenAtHome”

While JScreen only covers testing in the United States, this Facebook Live will include general information about genetic screening that’s relevant to individuals and couples anywhere in the world.

Hillary will be answering all your questions live, so if there’s anything you want to know about Jewish genetic screening in general or JScreen’s offerings in particular, ask away!

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My Brand New Workshops for Wedding Vendors

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Wedding vendors, I have exciting news for you! For the first time ever I am presenting the expertise that I normally reserve solely for my 1:1 clients and sharing it with you in two interactive FUN workshops for wedding vendors.

If you’re looking to increase enquiries from Jewish couples, and turn those enquiries into sales, read on, my workshops have been created especially for for you!

WORKSHOP ONE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JEWISH WEDDINGS

In this 2-hour workshop we’ll cover:

  • Family dynamics
  • Understanding the client
  • Key differences between a Jewish and non-Jewish wedding
  • What you need to know about Jewish wedding traditions
  • Typical Jewish wedding timeline
  • The correct processional order for a Jewish wedding
  • Jewish wedding music
  • Live Q&A

WORKSHOP TWO: SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY + SALES

In this 2-hour workshop we’ll cover:

  • How to grow your audience of brides on Instagram and Facebook
  • How to turn your audience into customers and raving fans
  • Social media strategy and closing sales for wedding vendors
  • Live Q&A

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