‘Hanukkah bushes’ get a GST/HST tax break? This Jewish retailer is adding real holiday items to the list

Some Canadians might be excited about this season’s federal tax break—an initiative that makes certain items GST/HST-free from Dec. 14, 2024, until Feb. 15, 2025. You’ll find prepared meals, books, video games and kids’ clothing on the list. “Christmas and similar decorative trees” are also included, which includes an unexpected nod to the Jewish community: “Hanukkah trees or bushes”.

The tax department’s gesture prompted many Jewish Canadians to scratch their heads. What’s a Hanukkah bush? Have you ever seen one for sale in a store? Was this a just misguided stab at being inclusive for the holiday season? The CJN tried to find someone who has actually ever bought a Hanukkah bush, but we had no luck.

We did, however, find Leah Markovitch, the longtime owner of the Solly’s Bagelry chain in Vancouver. Her three bakery and deli locations also sell an array of Hanukkah merchandise each year, including dreidels, socks, candles, cookies and hanukkiyot. Notably, she has never sold an actual Hanukkah bush—because it is not a thing. And it irks her that the festive items she actually _does _sell are not tax-exempt.

Markovitch joins Ellin Bessner on _The CJN Daily _to explain why the she feels the government is being ignorant and insulting to Jews, and how she’s fighting back: she’s going rogue by offering her own tax breaks on some hanukkiyot, which she’s decided to call a “Hanukkah bush”.

What we talked about

• See the full list of GST/HST-exempt items on the Government of Canada’s website.
• Learn about quality Hanukkah content for kids, in The CJN archives.
• Why these Christmas gingerbread houses are kosher and made in Toronto, on The CJN Daily.
• Check out Solly’s Bagelry in Vancouver, B.C.

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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