The Jewish Alternative to Elf on a Shelf

Happy Hanukkah.  Today is the first day of Chanukah.  You have to give it to Niel Hoffman, he is trying to put the Funukkah back into Chanukah.

You've of course heard of Elf on a Shelf.  Now get ready for the Jewish alternative.  Mensch on a Bench.

Neal Hoffman was on "Shark Tank" recently, pitching a Chanukah version of "Elf on a Shelf", in which he calls it "Mensch on a Bench."  He got two of the Sharks to invest in it, and it's already in stores.

Hoffman explained how he came up with the idea for "Mensch on a Bench."  He says he was in a store with his sons, and they wanted an Elf on a Shelf, and Neal told them they're Jewish and they don't do that.  Instead they do "Mensch on a Bench" .  And that's when a light bulb went off for a great alternative to the Elf On a Shelf.

Sorry if you want a Mensch on a Bench this year, you are too late, they are sold out, but you can place your per-orders for next year on Hoffman's web site.

Here is a promo from the Shark Tank episode that Hoffman appeared on