Inexpensive Electric Menorah in London?
November 21, 2013 6:11 PM

So you're Jewish and homesick and in London and all you want for your Chanukah miracle is an inexpensive electric menorah. How can this be achieved?

I'm asking this for a friend who goes to school in London and has been all a-tizzy about the difficulty of finding an affordable electric menorah for the past few days. Apparently they don't appear to exist for less than 50 pounds. I think her budget is something more like 25 pounds, preferably less, and she can't pay for shipping and she needs it, of course, before the first night (that's the 28th.)

I asked her why she couldn't go oldschool and use regular candles (not even a menorah, but just 9 tea lights) and she said her housing has a no candles rule and she's scared to even try because her smoke alarms are very sensitive. So then I mentioned LED candles to her, but she doesn't know where to buy those. Also, they might be over her budget? I did a little bit of online investigation, but it's hard for me to tell if things are actually available in person. M&S, for example, has no LED candles on their website. Are they something that isn't common in the UK?

Basically, can you help my friend get her flame-free Chanukah on?
posted by Mizu to Grab Bag (12 answers total)
Amazon sells them.
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:16 PM on November 21, 2013


Right, but amazon.co.uk shipping is completely nuts.
posted by Mizu at 6:16 PM on November 21, 2013


Amazon UK.
posted by michellenoel at 6:17 PM on November 21, 2013


LED tealights are the most common. 12 for £6.25, next day postage; good luck!
posted by lokta at 6:18 PM on November 21, 2013


I have Prime with free shipping. If you memail me the address, I'll see how much the shipping is.
posted by michellenoel at 6:19 PM on November 21, 2013


I think lokta has it!
posted by michellenoel at 6:20 PM on November 21, 2013


If she's near a synagogue with a gift shop (I don't know if that's common over there like it is in the US), she can check there - if they don't have one they may be able to source one for her.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:58 PM on November 21, 2013


Has she tried ringing or visiting JW3, the Jewish cultural centre?
posted by tavegyl at 10:25 PM on November 21, 2013


I imagine a shopping trip to Golders Green would do it.
posted by penguin pie at 5:16 AM on November 22, 2013


Here is a store in NY that has battery operated menorahs.

Perhaps your friend can call them and arrange for shipping. Not inexpensive. But may hit her budget of 25 pounds. (They have a battery operated one for $25, so if it's under $15 for shipping, it's in her price range.)

Golders Green is the shopping district for Judaica, so there's a chance they may have one there.

I'm appreciating the wee endcap of Channuka stuff at my grocery store now!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:16 AM on November 22, 2013


I am so sorry to suggest this, but it is the traditional "menorah in a pinch" solution:

1/ Go to IKEA. Buy a Strala 7-armed candelabra.
2/ Unscrew the bulbs you don't need.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:35 AM on November 23, 2013


Maybe head to the strong Jewish communities in North London? Lots of shops there.
There was also a Menorah lighting in Trafalgar Square today. If your friend is down there, maybe someone would be able to give a personal recommendation?

Finally: there is eBay.co.uk
posted by troytroy at 11:56 AM on November 28, 2013


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