Navigate to News section

Intermarriage Scores Vital SkyMall Endorsement

Hanukkah Tree Topper seems weak in body, strong in meaning

by
Adam Chandler
December 03, 2012
The Hanukkah Tree Topper(SkyMall)
The Hanukkah Tree Topper(SkyMall)

As many know, cross-country domestic flights are endurance trials. Flight attendants aren’t trying to gin you down into slumber, the meals are animal crackers, and if “The Dark Knight Rises” is your best entertainment option, well, it’s easy to get bored once you’ve finished your book.This is a long way of saying that I read the SkyMall catalogue.

And, beyond the tantalizing Uggs for Dogs (Pugz!) and the iPhone-controlled helicopters, I stumbled across the Hanukkah Tree Topper. For just $19.99 (plus S&H and state taxes), you could buy a Star of David to put at the top of your Christmas tree. “Perfect for Interfaith Families!” it promised.

Unfortunately, the reviews have not all been raves. Just ask “jengirl92591 from sacramento ca”:

“My family is multi religious so i was very excited to see the hanukkah tree topper on the web site . However when I recieved the item in the mail it was already broken. For $20 I wasnt expecting anything handmade however I was expecting decent quality. The silver plastic that the tree topper was made out of was so cheap looking and flimsy it looked like somethig that i could have bought at the dollar store. I am saddened that this was my first purchase from the sky mall and based on this pruchase I dont think that I will be buying anything else from them . I am just going to stick with the tree toppers that my kids make for now. Thank you .”

SkyMall shopper “Frieda” had a similar experience:

“Loved the item since we celebrate both holidays it was great. The only problem was that it did break when it was opened. Maybe need a little more reinforcement where the star meets the holder.
But I would reccomend it !!”

Whether the Hanukkah Tree Topper remains strong in physical constitution or not may be beside the point. As “Marco from La,ca” explained in his five-star review:

“This is awesome for world peace”

And awesome for goodwill on airplanes.

Adam Chandler was previously a staff writer at Tablet. His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Slate, Esquire, New York, and elsewhere. He tweets @allmychandler.