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November 2001 Issue

An Interview with Michael Herman
By Deena Yellin

GenerationJ: Why did you decide to create the Judah Maccabee doll?

Michael Herman: I visit toy stores a lot and realized that Judaica stores don't carry toys that are as exciting as much of the toys found at stores like Toys R Us or FAO Schwartz. So when people buy Chanukah gifts for kids they usually head to their local toystore and get stuff that has nothing to do with the holiday. I think that's a real shame. If we're giving Chanukah gifts, why not have them relate to the holiday? Other than the typical dreidal, menorah or knicknack, there's not much Jewish stuff out there to give to kids and nothing that will get them excited about the holiday.

I kept wondering why nobody ever made a product based on this great character who was the hero of Chanukah. But it's not just Chanukah that's being neglected. There are no toys celebrating any of the Jewish heroes. I decided I wanted to launch a toy company that would do just that and I started with Judah Maccabee. He's someone we all learned about and is the superstar of the Chanukah story. This doll is something parents can feel good about buying because it relates to the holiday and makes Jewish history come alive for children. The doll, which sells for about $29.95, has been very well received. I've already gotten demands for re-orders!

GenJ: How did you figure out how Judah Maccabee should look?

MH: It was hard, because we don't know what he really looked like. We have no portraits or descriptions. But we have an idea of what they wore at that time. The Greco-Syrian army had fancy armor and high-tech weapons. The Jewish army dressed more simply, probably in tunics and leather sandals. I visited fabric stores to determine the color and texture of his outfit. I chose blue and purple for the clothing, because I wanted something attractive and striking. And because these colors were used in the garments of the High Priest in the Temple, and Judah was from the priestly family.

When I created the shield, I made it the shape they used at that time. I embellished it with a lion because it represents strength and courage. It's said that Judah Maccabee's shield was passed down from King David. And David was from the tribe of Judah, whose symbol is a lion. But I didn't want a fierce looking lion. I spent a lot of time sketching to make it appear friendly. Since Jews wore beards, I wanted the doll to have one too. As for his body, I imagine he wasn't a scrawny guy because he was a warrior, but on the other hand, he didn't have the bulging muscles of Arnold Schwartzenegger because the Jews didn't value body building like the Greco-Syrians. I made him tall because a hero like Judah Maccabee is big in every way. The 18 inch size worked perfectly. When a child sees it, he sees the bigness of it and it's exciting. I wanted a toy that would set a kid's heart racing.

GenJ: What are some of your ideas for next Chanukah?

MH: We are in the process of creating an action figure set for Chanukah with the Greco-Syrian army characters and Maccabee figures. The characters will stay true to history, with their costumes and weapons and everything. We also are making a GI Joe style action figure of Judah Maccabee. We have a lot of other ideas in the works, like Queen Esther and Mordechai figures, and I'm researching Jewish history to see what other heroes would make good toys. The Jews have a lot of heroes but not all of them would make great toys to play with.

GenJ: What's your longterm goal for Herioc Productions?

MH: I want our toys to be as exciting and enticing as mainstream toys out there. I want to create toys that can compete with non-Jewish toys and even be sold in stores like Toys R Us and FAO Schwartz. But the difference is that I want to make toys with a deeper value and meaning than most. When I made the Judah Maccabee doll, I wanted to put him in a setting that would tell kids who he was and what he did. That's why I made the ancient stone box that tells the story of Chanukah on the back. That way, the doll is fun and cool looking but can also be a learning experience.

GenJ: Growing up, did you ever dream that you would be doing this with your life?

MH: My parents never pressured me to go into any specific profession. Everyone in my family has a very strong creative bend and we were encouraged to explore our creative sides. As a kid, I loved drawing, sketching, and painting. I was the kid in the class who everyone came to for help with their drawings or art projects. I always got the best grades in handwriting.

In high school and college, I performed in several plays but decided it would be too difficult to pursue an acting career and remain shomer Shabbat. In college, I tried majoring in pre-med but that lasted for about a week before I realized I was fooling myself. I majored in communications and theater and for several years, worked as a magician, performing educational magic in schools across the Midwest. Later, I got into toys.

GenJ: What are you hoping this toy will do for Jewish kids?

MH: By bringing Jewish history to a three-D form and explaining what the character did for the Jewish people and the world, it can help instill Jewish pride. Through this toy, a kid can get to know Judah Maccabee and be proud of him and of being Jewish. Hopefully, it will help him to appreciate the freedom we have today to observe and live as Jews. Most people know about the miracle of the oil but what led up to that miracle was the fight for our freedom, led by Judah Maccabee.

GenJ: What's been the response to your product so far?

MH: Everyone who's seen it has gotten very excited. It's in Judaica book and gift shops across the country and I'm selling it on my company's website. I've already gotten re-orders from stores that just got their first shipment, something that surprised me. One Temple shopkeeper said that even the non-Jewish custodian wanted one for his 8-year-old son! It's attractive to kids of a variety of ages. And people in Jewish education have told me it's the coolest Jewish toy they've ever seen.

Deena Yellin is a reporter at The Record of Hackensack, N.J. and has contributed to The New York Times, Newsday, Parents, the Jerusalem Post and The Jewish Week. She is a graduate of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

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