This blog brings you a selection of Jewish gifts that are designed by contemoporary Israeli artists.Here I will show you a variety of Jewish gifts that have some kind of modern twist. Many of the Jewish gifts fit for festive occasions in the Jewish home. The others will simply make your day a little brighter.
Watch this footage: this is a special version of our national anthem Hatikvha. This version of HaTikvah is a commercial of Israeli airline El Al, made for Israel's 60 Independence Day. Hatikvah, which literally means Hope reflects the eternal longing of Diaspora Jews to live in the land of Israel. Since the Star of David decorates our national flag, I've decided to bring you these unique Shabbat Candlesticks by Israeli Judaica designer, Yair Emanuel, who lives and works in Jerusalem, Israel. The colorful Shabbat candleticks are shaped as the Star of David and would make a great gift for Jewish occasions.
Israeli singer, Achinoam Nini, who is internationally known as Noa, has recently collaborated with Israeli-Arab singer Mira Awad. Together they will represent Israel in the annual European Songs Contest, 2009 Eurovision in Moscow.
Noa has become internationally known as the performer of the theme song of Oscar-wining film Life is Beautiful.
As Noa has told the press, witnessing the last conflict in Gaza, she decided to bring some hope back to the Israelis and Palestinians. And so Noa contacted Mira Awad and offered a duet. This fantastic song"There Must be Another Way" (Your Eyes) is the result of this unusual artistic collaboration. The song was written by Noa and Mira and Israeli musician, Gil Dor.
In this context, I want to introduce you to this special piece by Israeli Judaica designers. I call this item the peace or Shalom pendant. As you can see, this Star of David pendant beautifully shaped as a dove (the golden part), the eternal symbol of peace. This unique piece is also made according to Kabbalist method: the blending of five metals (gold, silver, lead, tin and copper) when Jupiter rules the moon, is believed to draw divine protection to the bearer.
Good luck to Israel in the Eurovision contest which will take place in the 16.5.2009, let us keep our fingers crossed. I'll keep you updated.
To read more about the duo in Haaretz.com click here
I've found another song of Adam Lambert singing in Hebrew. Due to high demand, I've decided to share it with you. I know it has nothing to do with modern Jewish gifts, unless you consider Adam to be one, but one of my objectives in this blog is to bring some news of what is going on in the Jewish cultural world. So expect more to come.
You can check here his latest performance on American Idol (not that I'm addicted to the show or anything…) which made the British iceberg Simon Cowel stand on his feet!
So what do you think - Can Adam win American Idol? Will we have our first Jewish American Idol?
Every year in Hol HaMoed, thousands of people gather at the Western Wall in the ancient city of Jerusalem to hear the Priestly blessing, also known by its Hebrew name, Birkat HaKohanim. Watch this special and moving ceremony at the footage above. I'm sure that you will not forget these sights and sounds .
Birkat Hakohanim can only recited by the Kohens, who are decedents of Aaron and his sons. The Kohens were the high priests in the Sinai desert. Following God's commandment, Aaron and his sons blessed the Israelites with this powerful blessing that says:
The Lord bless thee and keep thee, The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (Book of Numbers, 6:24-26).
Since the six days war in 1967, in which the Western Wall was liberated by the state of Israel, it has become a tradition to make a pilgrimage to the Wall three times a year: Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot.
The blessing is considered by many to have a mystical power. Great Jewish scholars have explained that the power of the blessing derives from the explicit reference to one of God's sacred names. The blessing of the Kohanim is thus believed to provide divine protection. Many pieces of Jewish jewelry are inscribed with this blessing. This Star of David pendant, which is one of my favorite Jewish jewelry pieces, brings together two powerful blessings: Shema Yisrael and the initials of Birkat Hakohanim. You can get this beautiful pendant here.
I wish you all happy holiday. As soon as we all recover from the holiday, I'll continue to bring you some of the most intriguing Jewish gifts by modern Israeli designers.
Right now, almost every Israeli family is busy with cleaning their households. Many Israelis burn all "chametz" a few hours before sunset according to tradition. In Israel , most households and restaurants are strictly kosher for Passover.
Next to come, my favorite Jewish jewelry accessories.
I've run into this gallery of historical editions of Haggadah books in the Yale library online collection. According to wikipedia, the first printed editions of Haggadah were printed at the 15th century.
By reading the Haggadah in the Passover dinner, we retell the story of Exodus and celebrate the liberation of the Jewish people. As we are commanded by the bible, we must not forget the miracles that God performed in Egypt that saved the Israelites from enslavement by the hand of Pharaoh. The story of Exodus must be told to our children for generations to come - "You shall tell your children"
The people who gather around the Passover Seder table to read the Hagaddah take an active part of the retelling of the biblical story by singing traditional songs such as ma nishtana, eating ceremonial foods, and searching for the afikoman. This story has a great religious significant: following the escape from Egypt, in the Sinai desert, the Israelites received the Torah from the God of Israel.
Furthermore, the liberation of the Jewish people from their oppressors is a story that repeated itself again and again throughout History.
Now let us move on from historical Haggadah to a modern one: in the image above, a Haggadah book by Israeli Judaica designer, Jack Jaget, who has become known for his designed editions of the bible that are truly astonishing.
Happy holiday!
