Beyond the mug: creative Father’s Day gifts for the Jewish dad

If you’re still debating between a necktie and a quippy coffee mug as a gift for your Jewish dad for Father’s Day on June 17, but wishing you could come up with something a bit more inspired, the Chronicle has you covered. Whether that special guy in your life is a foodie, a social justice champion or a bookworm, check out our list below of ways to say “thanks” to the dad in your life.

For the culturally enthusiastic dad

Take a road trip to Cleveland for a visit to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, where admission for Dad is free on Father’s Day. The slightly more than two-hour drive to the suburb of Beechwood will be worth the trip to experience the Everyday Heroes Activity Center, which highlights “the values of everyday heroes, celebrating everyday superpowers within each of us through books, crafts, and movement,” according to the museum’s website. While there, you and Dad can explore the museum’s core exhibition, “An American Story.”

Hours on Sunday, June 17, are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For the socially conscious dad

Make a donation in Dad’s honor to the Flower Project of Jewish Women’s International. For each $25 donation to the project, which allows JWI to create and send financial literacy resources to 200 domestic violence shelters across the United States, the organization will send one colorful, paper Father’s Day card with a personal message from you. Cards can be sent to anyone you choose to honor, including a father, brother, grandparent, uncle, in-law or friend. To order, go to: jwi.org/fathersday.

For the funky, spunky dad

How about a set of bagel, lox, cream cheese, red onion and caper cuff links? What dad wouldn’t want to conjure the image of the perfect brunch entrée on his wrists? Billed as “too cool for shul,” the polymer clay, hand-sculpted fashion accessory measures about ¾ of an inch, retails for $30.00, and can be purchased online from Modern Tribe.

For the gastronome dad

Speaking of bagels, having them freshly baked and shipped from New York — and delivered right to Dad’s doorsteps — could be a failsafe gift not just for professed foodies, but really anyone. Check out the Bagel of the Month club at bagelofthemonth.com, which offers several packages, from a one-month subscription of six bagels for $24.95, to 12 months of 13 bagels delivered for $399.00. The bagels are kosher, made by Bagel Boss under rabbinical supervision and baked by sixth generation bagel bakers. Your dad is sure to find these treats geshmak.

For the bookworm dad

If you’ve got a dad who likes to read, consider Jewish author Michael Chabon’s recently released collection of essays: “Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces” (Harper, 2018). The bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning, and admittedly controversial, author of “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” and “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” — and father of four — ponders what it means to be a dad in seven essays based on his own experiences.

“Chabon’s book feels like a late-night talk with a friend about how much we love our kids and how hopeful we are that we’re better dads than we fear,” wrote Judd Apatow in a review in The New York Times.

In one essay, in which Chabon’s son, Abe, shows an interest in fashion, Chabon describes taking him to Paris Men’s Fashion Week and becoming aware of the tenuousness of a child’s emerging passion.

“Chabon seems to understand the delicate nature of handling a child who is testing the waters of what could be a lifelong occupation or a passing fancy,” wrote Apatow. “One misplaced phrase or discouraging comment and something wonderful could suddenly vanish.” PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.