(Courtesy of Jewish Toy Factory) Nearly 40 years after Miriam Goldstein first created and introduced a line of toys for Jewish infants and preschoolers, the 81-year-old has revisited her love for toy making. Goldstein was the owner/designer of Mitzvah Toys, Inc., which was the forerunner for Jewish Toy Factory today.
After many years of extensive research and development, a new toy called “Kosher Grocer™” is now launched with the assistance of Lubicom, Inc., Menachem Lubinsky, founder of Kosherfest. This toy was a perfect fit to introduce the concept of kosher to future shoppers and the prototype was introduced at Kosherfest. The Kosher Grocer™ toy replicates real snack brands, representing companies with longevity in kosher certification. (The toy does not contain real food.)
“There was a void in the children’s retail market to teach the concept of ‘kosher’ so I was fortunate to be able to fill this void with my Kosher Grocer™ toy. This toy is a welcome addition for the thriving kosher food industry and targets a generation of future shoppers,” said Goldstein.
She continued, “This is a giant upgrade from anything that is in today’s market in its category on any toy shelf and was accomplished with much professional engineering, design and thought; no dangerous parts are used, i.e., temporary labels, cardboard, hardwood or soft breakable plastic shapes. They are lightweight, safe, durable, digitally printed with non-toxic inks, and are also great building blocks. Kosher symbols are digitally enlarged for educational purposes.”
With a focus on preschools and daycare centers, this is a toy that matches a child’s food at home or in their backpack. The artwork is the genius of Rebbetzin Dini Polichenco, shlucha in Del-Mar, California, from diniart@gmail. Polichenco is a wonderful example of the talented team.
Goldstein attended Toledo and Kent State universities, majoring in music composition with a minor in art history. She received her license as a stockbroker from the New York Institute of Finance, worked in many administrative capacities in various Jewish organizations, and became a personal assistant to several rabbis in both Cleveland and San Diego. She became a certified kosher supervisor for Ralph’s Kosher Experience in San Diego for over 10 years under the RCC (Rabbinical Council of California), and is presently working with Cleveland Kosher at Daughters of Miriam nursing facilities.
Goldstein is approaching 60 years of marriage with her husband, Jerry, raised four children and presently has 16 grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. As a stay-at-home mother for many decades, Goldstein wanted Jewish toys for her children and the only way to accomplish this was to make something handmade from scratch or alter toys already on the market. She made plush Jewish symbols and replaced the hangings on her child’s crib mobile. Other toys were altered and many friends asked her to alter their store-bought toys. It proved a profitable business for staying at home. Designing Judaic miniatures for centerpieces for bat/bar mitzvahs and weddings came next. This led to commissioning a factory for thousands of her designs called Mitzvah Toys.
In 1986, Goldstein was honored as “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” by Tzivos Hashem, the world’s largest children’s organization, with formal recognition by President Reagan and Vice President Bush at the World Trade Center. With her children still at home, it was challenging. Sales were successful but Goldstein set aside a few decades to enjoy her children. She is now in her 80s and back at the drawing board. The Kosher Grocer™ toy is the first design off the press and there will be more to come. A blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe has no expiration date.
Recently, Goldstein was commissioned to design larger versions of these toys for the interactive grocery store exhibit at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Brooklyn. Her smaller Kosher Grocer™ toys can be purchased in the museum’s gift shop and makes great toys for preschoolers and a unique gift for any occasion.
“It’s been quite a journey and took many years of difficult setbacks and perseverance but now a dream for over 20 years is today a reality for our children,” said Goldstein.
Kosher Grocer™ toys can be purchased by reaching Goldstein at miriam@jewishtoyfactory or by Paypal, Venmo (@miriam-goldstein-8) and Zelle (miriam@jewishtoyfactory). The discounted price is $36, including tax, with free shipping by mentioning this ad only. There is special pricing and free shipping for nonprofits with their EIN number.
