Coming soon to Israel? Welcome to the new hit in the United States: 'Mensch an der Bäntsch' - and loosely translated as 'Mensch on the Bench' - a doll of a bearded Jew with a 'sunlight candle', which teaches the laws of Hanukkah and is an attraction for American Jewish children.
The Jewish doll is an amusing transformation of the "Gentile" doll "Elf on the Shelf," which millions of American children play with at Christmas. Like the Gentile elf, the Jewish "Mensch" also comes with a booklet containing stories and games.
The doll has unique game rules that whoever complies with them wins a prize that is perhaps a counter-reaction to the gift of the Christian Santa Claus.
The idea was initiated by a young Jewish man named Neil Hoffman, who was looking for a way to teach his children about the holiday of Hanukkah. He wrote a book about Moses the Menachem, who helped Judah Maccabee in the Greek War and in the Temple.
Hoffman says on his website that his child, Yaakov Maccabi, asked his father to buy him "A Thousand on the Shelf," and he decided to create a Jewish figure for him. That night, he told him about the Jewish Menachem and Judah Maccabee, and eighteen months later the 30-centimeter doll and booklet were created, with the price being about $30 per set.
And how was the idea received?
So far, over 50,000 units have been sold, meaning sales turnover is $15 million, and the 'Mensch en de Bentsch' campaign has also reached the Gentiles and the most popular talk shows on television.
Thus, for example, it can be seen Whoopi Goldberg, one of the most well-known actresses in the United States, introduces the doll on her talk show, with the enthusiasm of a true Jewess. From the people.
Elf on the Shelf. Source: Amazon
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