When her son expressed interest in a secular tradition that conflicted with the Jewish family’s celebration of Hanukkah, Abra Liberman-Garrett decided there was something she could do about it.
Liberman-Garrett, who grew up in Deerfield and now lives in Dallas, created the Maccabee on the Mantel, after her son, Jackson, was exposed to Elf on the Shelf in elementary school.
The set includes a book which tells the story of Hanukkah and a plush Maccabee doll that symbolizes the Maccabee soldiers who fought King Antiochus for the ability to worship God as they chose.
Because Liberman-Garrett’s family doesn’t celebrate Christmas, her son felt conflicted during secular celebrations involving Santa and elves. Liberman-Garrett didn’t want him to have any negative associations with their religion or feel excluded, since all he wanted to do was participate with the other children.
“It was just a really, really tough time,” she said.
That’s when Liberman-Garrett had the idea for the Maccabee on the Mantel, providing an option for families like theirs during the holiday season.
“I was like, I can do that,” she said of creating a book and doll tradition. “I think a lot of Jewish families were really in the same boat.”
She worked with fellow parent, David Wilk, who’s also cofounder of comedy group Four Day Weekend, and the concept took off. The book and doll are used by families in the Hebrew month of Kislev, during which Hanukkah falls.
While the Elf on the Shelf and Disney’s version involving Olaf the snowman from “Frozen” have no religious basis, Liberman-Garrett worked with a rabbi to ensure the Maccabee on the Mantel was accurate and stayed true to Jewish teachings.
Markie Gekas, owner of Children’s Gift Shop in Northfield, chose to carry the Maccabee on the Mantel in her store because she likes the book’s message and appreciates that the story is accurate.
“We have a very mixed clientele and we wanted to have the best of both,” Gekas said.
Liberman-Garrett said maccabee translates to “hammer” in Hebrew. She’s proud that the story offers a character lesson and gives children an accurate look at a part of Jewish history.
“It was such an opportunity to kind of show the kids that you can believe in yourself,” and do the right thing, she said.
Liberman-Garrett said she’s heard from temple preschools and Jewish education classes that are using Maccabee on the Mantel, “which is great because I really wanted it curriculum-worthy, so to say.”
Her son and daughter, now 11 and 9, enjoy hiding the doll from each other, and her daughter, Charlotte, has tea parties with the Maccabee.
“It was really just about creating a sense of community,” she said. “There’s some freedom to kind of create your own traditions.”
The book and doll set are currently available for purchase at www.maccabeeonthemantel.com, some local stores and Amazon.com.
Gekas said her shop has sold a few so far this season, and customers have been pleased to see the product, but because Hanukkah is late this year — beginning Dec. 16 — Gekas said the rush for it has yet to come.
“We’re kind of waiting for it to hit, so to speak,” she said.
Check out one of the comedic Maccabee on the Mantel videos from Four Day Weekend: