Shopping isn’t just a Christmas tradition

Amy R. Spurgeon

NEWPORT-MESA -- Jewish families in Newport-Mesa barely had time to get

all their turkey leftovers wrapped and frozen before it was time to head

for the malls for last-minute Hanukkah gifts this week.

The Jewish celebration of lights begins at sundown today and will last

until Nov. 11. Jews will be lighting candles on menorahs for the next

seven days while simultaneously reflecting on past Jewish triumphs.

People swarmed into The Golden Dreidel in Costa Mesa on Thursday to pick

up holiday items such as wrapping paper, dreidels and menorahs.

The store is the only Jewish retail shop in Orange County, not counting

temple gift shops. Store owners Shahrokh and Julie Ghodsi of Los Alamitos

said the next 10 days will be the store’s busiest time of the year.

America is the only country in the world where Jews exchange gifts during

Hanukkah. In other countries, it is considered a minor holiday, said

Shahrokh.

But he and his wife welcome the business all the same.

Sasha Jay, 7, was shopping with her mother for Hanukkah presents for her

father and Sunday school teacher. But she couldn’t resist picking out a

Rugrats Hanukkah video for herself.

“Mommy, don’t forget the Hanukkah guilt,” Sasha said while handing her

mom a bag of gold chocolate coins called “gelt.”

Her mother couldn’t help but laugh.

The scene at the Golden Dreidel bore a striking resemblanceto South Coast

Plaza the day after Thanksgiving.

“We have to keep up with our neighbors,” said Eileen Terris of Costa

Mesa. “They have Santa Claus. We have Hanukkah Harry.”

Wrapping paper, dreidels and menorahs were not only the hottest buys at

the Golden Dreidel, but at Newport Beach’s Temple Bat Yahm Gifts as well.

The gift shop at the temple carries a wide variety of Judaica items and

currently offers a selection of discounted Hanukkah items.

“You name it, we have it,” said Sorrell Wayne.

Both The Golden Dreidel and Bat Yahm Gifts are open weekdays and Sundays.