Happy Purim!

Today, everyone's in Israel celebrates the most fun Jewish holiday -Purim. Purim in Israel is a wonderful festival. As you can see in this footage, Israeli kids and youth are dressing up in all kinds of colorful customs: angels, Spiderman, and of course, the classic Queen Ester and Evil Haman.

So what would be appropraiate Jewish gifts for Purim?
Purim's gifts are all about fun. According to tradition, people give each other sweets and snacks ("mishloch manot" in Hebrew), make noise with groggers, and drink wine. All of those gifts are very popular and affordable.

I'd also like to introduce you to this lovely and artistic design of the book of Ester by Israeli artist, Anat Mayer. Read in purim, the book tells how Queen Ester in her great wisdom and wit saved the Jewish people from the hands of Haman a few thousands of years ago.

Passover's New Ritual Object– Miriam's Cup

In honor of the International Women's Day (March, 8), I'd like to introduce you to a modern ritual object that's enjoyed a growing popularity in recent years. In Passover, Miriam's Cup is placed on the Seder table beside Elijah's cup and is filled with water. This ritual represents Miriam's miraculous well that provided water to the Israelites in the Sinai desert. Miriam's Cup draws our attention to the significance of women in the Bible that otherwise might have been marginalized.


If you're looking for original and modern Jewish gifts, Miriam's Cup is a great idea. I find Miriam's Cup a wonderful addition to the festive Seder dinner that any woman would appreciate. Passover is a great time to celebrate freedom and equality!

You can purchase a colection  Miriam's Cup in Judaism.com.
If you'd like to read more about Miriam's Cup click here.

Humorous Israeli Jewelry - Adina Plastelina

http://www.canaan-online.com/?Click=5286
Today in our modern Jewish gifts blog, I'd like to introduce to you a wonderful studio design called Adina Plastelina. The studio was established five years ago by two young designers, Adi and Sami in an Israeli kibbutz and have recently moved to the old city of Jaffa ( which is part of Tel Aviv).

Adina Plastelina studio has designed this delightful piece of jewelry that pretty much goes with anything you wear. This butterfly pendant is one of my favorite in my Israeli jewelry collection. If you're interested in a romantic gift for your partner, you might find heart-shaped design a perfect fit.This is also a great Bat mitvah gift idea. Find out more details about this piece and more items by Adina at Canaan Online


The artists use an ancient glassware technique called the Millefiori process which literally means "a thousand flowers". The designers have replaced the glass with polymer clay to create this naturalistic jewelry items in vibrant colors. Each item is a bit different than the next.

This footage shows the process in which this unique jewelry pieces are made. Enjoy!

Dad Artist!

Today, in my modest Jewish gifts blog, I'd like you to meet a young artist from Israel called Guychook, or as I like to call him - Dad artist. Guychook lives and works in Israel and creates these delightful pieces.

When asked why he started to draw, Guychook's replied:

"The pictures I draw are meant to put a smile on anyone who looks at them. I have had this need since childhood, to simply make people laugh."

This might not be a common idea for a Jewish gift, but it well reflects current Israeli mood - the need to smile. In my mind it makes a wonderful and an original gift for anyone with a child, or for your own children. I actually purchased one of Guychook's works for my brother's birthday, who is 23 years old…I say, if as you are young at heart, that's all that counts! Visit Guychook's fantasy world at the Jewish gifts website.

Sweet gifts with a Jewish twist

I've just found this cool site: if you enter the day of your birth, the site will provide you with interesting facts about the day you were born.

If you know anyone who has a birthday, and you want to give him or her something sweet and affordable, I have a great gift idea for you – a designed key ring or a mobile phone accessory. Israeli designers have really set their imagination free, creating a wide selection of key rings that would fit any gender at any age.

This key ring is desinged by one of the most succesful Israeli jewelry designers today, Orna Lalo. Orna Lalo is well-known for her unique and original collections of chic jewelry. Lalo's works are always playful and delightful and they are exhibited in shops and galleries around the world.

you can also find key rings in other interesting designs: several are shaped as Hamsas, hearts and even colorful pomegranates. You can take a look here.

Beautiful Caesarea!

I've just come back from a short trip to Caesarea , the famous seafront Israeli town built around archeological sites that date back to hundred of years BC. Caesarea is probably best known for it magnificent archeological sites.

There is a Judaica studio in Caesarea that operates by a husband and wife, Alice and Brian Bergner, who together create an amazing collection of collectible Jewish gifts. Their works include mezuzah cases, jewelry and home décor.

Anyone who takes a look at their works can feel how these two artists draw inspiration from their surroundings.

Some of my favorite works by this studio will be specially liked by anyone who enjoys Israel's ancient sites. This mezuzah case is a great example to these artists' magnificent ability to reflect the ancient atmosphere of Israeli historical sites as Jerusalem. Several mezuzah cases designed by Caesarea Arts studio are carved using real Jerusalem stone.

Hi Everyone,

I hope that you've all enjoyed Hanukkah. In these hard days, everyone here in Israel is praying for peace. In this atmosphere, I would like to present you with this unique item that expresses our wish that peace will come to Israel and to the entire world. Using a modern technology, this lovely pendant is inscribed with the word "Peace" in 120 languages: English, Hebrew and many others. What better way to show human solidarity?

Let us hope for a wonderful year to come.