Dec 14, 2009
Kosherland
Not to get all Kyle Broflovski on you, but if Christmas were Kool-Aid, Hanukkah would be Flavor-Aid – your mom tries to tell you that it’s basically the same thing, but all you know is that none of the other kids want to come to your house when they’re thirsty. So what better way to celebrate that most flammable of second-rate holidays than by playing a religio-educational knock-off of a beloved children’s board game? Enter Kosherland, a Candyland clone produced by JET (that’s Jewish Educational Toys, not to be confused with the magazine). Gone are Mr. Mint and Grandma Nut, replaced by Matzah Man and the perpetually baking Bubby. The goal of the game is to return to the characters to their Kosher home guided by bonus squares offering reward for saying your blessings or penalty for accidentally mixing milk and meat. Though Candyland’s cards are ditched in favor of a spinner, any four-to-seven-year-old playing Kosherland should have just as much fun as a goy playing the classic Hasbro game, all the while learning about the Jewish traditions of eating kosher and being disappointed with Hanukkah presents. Of course, I’m sure I’ll be spinning a different dreidel when I’m in the office on Rosh Hashanah and my Chosen coworkers are enjoying a rousing game of Kosherland at home. — Donny Bridges