Category Archives: Israeli artists
Israeli Artist Yair Emanuel Turns Jerusalem into a Vivid Landscape
Israel artist Yair Emanuel is one of the most well known of Jewish artists. Emanuel’s work is so popular that it can be seen all over Israel in souvenir shops or art galleries. The Israeli native Judaica artist studied and graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. Emanuel lives and works in Jerusalem. Emanuel was born on Kibbutz Sha’alvim and grew up in Jerusalem in an Orthodox home. As he grew up he took on a more liberal approach to Judaism. His variances in study and beliefs have influenced his own unique style of art centered on Jewish art.
Yair Emanuel and his unique artistic approach to Judaic art
Emanuel incorporates traditional motifs with modern artistic designs. Emanuel is able to skillfully craft together ancient Jewish scriptural stories with his own love of oriental art. Emanuel combines a vivid color scheme with a mixture of Old and New scope ideas. He is able to combine these characteristics skillfully and emphasizing on the balance and flow of a piece. He designs and crafts all of his pieces in his Jerusalem studio.
Jerusaem Challah Cover by Yair Emanuel
Yair Emanuel specializes in the formation and creation of his own original, hand crafted Judaica (of or relating to Jewish life and customs) products primarily incorporates the techniques of painting on silk. He also utilizes hand embroidery, raw-silk applique and painting on wood. Emanuel’s work is well thought of in Israel. In fact, he is considered to be the premier artisof Israel. Purchasing a piece of this Jewish artist’s work is like bringing a piece of Israel home.
Jerusalem Havdallah Set
Emanuel employs a great deal of staff at his studio. Many of his staff members are new immigrants to Jerusalem. He also employs the mentally disabled at his establishment. Emanuel also donates a portion of his studio’s profits to charity. If you are a fan of his work and are ever in Jerusalem, you can see his studio up close and personally. Emanuel will show you how he puts together his creations. You will see the hand crafted production of the various pieces. Emanuel’s newest art work can only be seen at his studio, you might even catch a glimpse of his newly finished work before it is posted or offered anywhere online.
Yair Emanuel’s unique Judaica artworks include Shabbat candlesticks, Challah Covers, Hanukkah menorahs, hand-embroidered Tallits and much more. Emanuel’s works make some of the most popular Jewish gifts sold today. What is really captivating in Yair Emanuel’s works is the fact that they truly reflect the ancient and holy atmosphere of Jerusalem, which can only be conveyed through art. With Emanuel’s magic touch, the sights of Jerusalem magically come to life.
You can find a wide range of Jewish gifts by Yair Emanuel at this Israeli based Judaica store Judaica 7 .
Yair Emanuel’s Hanukkah menorah
Women’s Silver Bracelets: A Beautiful Enhancement to Your Aura
Whether we want to believe it or not, we all have an aura – a field of light that surrounds our body and reflects our energy. Some say that, with consistent meditation, concentration exercises, and careful observation, we can learn to see our own aura and that of others. Others claim that the colours we like, are a fair indication of the dominant colour of our aura.
If we take this idea as a guide, we can use our preference for certain colours to enhance the dominant colors in our own aura. One way to do this is to wear clothing, or jewellery, that contains these colours. We think that women have a special advantage, as they can wear gorgeous silver bracelets with gemstones that augment the aura. Moreover, each aura colour has a complementary auric colour – that is, the colour we will see if we stare at the first colour long enough. What this means, ladies, is that we can mix and match the gemstone colours we wear in our silver bracelets. Did you think we’d leave you without suggestions for silver bracelets with gemstones that will bring out your colour aura qualities? Not a chance!
The colour red is usually associated with energy, and can be taken to mean that the person wearing red loves physical activity, and is passionate. The aura colour of red is turquoise. At first this may seem an odd combination, but note how stunning a silver bracelet with both garnet and turquoise gemstones can look. Or, if you can’t find this unusual combination on one silver bracelet, wear two silver bracelets, each with the gemstone of your choice.
The aura of yellow is what the ancients perceived to be a halo – you can see it in images of Jesus, the saints and Buddha, for example, who are usually depicted with a halo, or aura, of yellow-gold around their heads. It won’t surprise you, then, to learn that silver bracelets with yellow gemstones like the citrine reflect that colour’s properties of joy and happiness, of a free and magnanimous spirit, and of a higher level of inner peace. Yellow’s auric colour is violet, which also radiates spirituality and a positive outlook on life. So how about pairing the bewitching amethyst with citrine in several silver bracelets?
Everyone knows that green is the colour of springtime, but did you know that it is also the colour of healing? If you favour green, you may be telling the world you are a natural healer, or a natural gardener. Trumpet your peaceful, earthy nature with a silver bracelet with green aventurine or jade. What is your auric pair? Why, pink! So find a silver bracelet with some rose quartz, and you’ll have a fantastically fashionable combination on hand!
Orange and blue are complementary auric colours, with orange being the harbinger of creativity, self-expression, power and inspiration, and blue being the colour of balance and and tranquility. Amber or carnelian, together with blue topaz or tourmaline, on the same silver bracelet or on several silver bracelets, is a lovely combination. Trust us – we’ve seen it!
Last but hardly least; if you’re a fan of white, you’re in luck – for what could be finer than silver bracelets with pearls and white zircons?
Choose the silver bracelets you fancy according to your colour preference, and make your aura glow!
Magical Judaica books by Israeli artist Jack Jaget
Jewish artist Jack Jaget is a native American who now lives and works in Israel. Jack Jaget has become widely known for his artistic designs of Judaica books. Take a closer look at his works and you’ll be amazed!
Jack Jaget’s Judaica books : Middle Ages is back in fashion
Jaget is a graduate of Music and Art High School and the Cooper Union Art School of New York. Jack Jaget has designed books for major publishing companies in the US, winning many awards. One of the awards is the prestigious Best 50 Books.
Jack Jaget’s Judaica books are encased in handcrafted covers of precious woods, leather and gold-plated metals. Meticulously hand-painted with fine lacquers and gold leaf, these fine materials are treated to look as if they are from the middle ages. Jack Jaget’s Judaica books often come with full-color illustrations.
Jack Jaget – Judaica books and much more!
Jack Jaget’s Judaica books include the Bible, book of Psalms Siddur and more. Each is meticulously handmade at his studio. These designed editions make great gifts for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.
Jack Jaget’s designs also cover a wide range of religious articles including Mezuzah cases, Tzedakah box and Torah pointers. You can find many of Jack Jaget’s artworks at Most Original- Handmade Judaica Online!.
honey dish – can make your year a little sweeter
A honey dish is a very popular Judaica item. The honey dish is placed on the cneter of the table during Rosh Hashanah festive dinner. A honey dish makes a wonderful addition to Rosh Hashanah ritual meal. Many Jewish people purchase a honey dish as a gift for their friends or themselves. Judaica artists have created a wide selection of honey dishes in assorted styles and materials to fit any personal style or needs.
Why do we eat honey on Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Jewish calendar. The festive meal held a t the Rosh Hashanah eve includes different kinds of symbolic foods. After reciting a blessing, we eat apples sweetened with honey and bless each other. “for good and sweet year (Le’shanah Tova Ve-metuka). Instead of dipping Challah in salt like we do on Shabbat service, we dip a piece of Challah in honey. The slice of Challah bread represents mannah, the sweetened bread that was sent to the Israelites by God to feed then on their journey to the land of Israel. On Rosh Hashanah we eat sugary foods such as apples, raisins. The honey plays the leading role in Rosh Hashanah menyue, since we believe that what we eat will reflect on the year to come. In old tradition, honey is also a sign for prosperity. And so, the sweet honey is a metaphor for our constant wish for a sweet, pleasant and prosperous year, and we bless: may our year be as sweet as honey.
Honey dish on Rosh Hashanah table
The sweet honey is often placed in a special tray known as honey dish. Honey dish is usually a plate with a removable bowl that allows the user to easily hand-wash for reuse. A honey dish usually has one or two designated spots, each is dedicated to a traditional food that has symbolic significance in relation to the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The foods that are placed are usually apples dipped in honey or pomegranate seeds. It is customary to eat ripened pomegranate seeds at festive dinners during Rosh Hashanah. Pomegranate seeds can be placed in one bowl, and apples and honey in the other.
Honey dish usually incorporates traditional Rosh Hashanah motifs such as the pomegranate. You can find many honey dishes shaped as a pomegranate or decorated with pomegranates drawings. The honey dish might also include appropriate Hebrew inscriptions, such as Shana Tova (happy New Year) or Shana Tova Vemetuka (happy and sweet year).
Both decorative and practical, the honey dish has become a popular gift for Jewish people all across the world. The honey dish adds festivity and color to the table on a holiday that celebrates the beginning of the year.
Israeli Judaica artists design original honey dishes in many sorts of styles and shapes. These artists skillfully combine modern influences with traditional motifs, and so, you can find honey dishes in metallic colors or more traditional designs.
Several Israeli’s leading Judaica artists who specialize in honey dish designs include Shraga Landesman, Annat Orlizki and Dorit Klien.
The Kiddush – the border between heaven and earth
One of the Jewish people’s most renowned customs is the Kiddush.
The word “Kiddush” in Hebrew means “sanctification” and it signifies the act of sanctifying the Shabbat (or one of the holidays), appreciating its distinction compared to the rest of the week in a special ceremony, rooted way back in the past, which precedes the festive and plentiful meal that welcomes the Shabbat.
Whether Orthodox, Reform, Secular or outside of any religious definition, keeping only some of the Jewish traditions, Jewish people from the wide spectrum of Jewish identities celebrate the Shabbat every Shabbat eve (what others would call Friday night) by saying the Kiddush blessing over the wine. This blessing is meant to observe one of the requirements asked in the ten commandments: to remember the Shabbat (“Shamor”) and acknowledge its uniqueness.
The Kiddush cup – a one purpose only cup
For the love and respect for the Shabbat’s holiness, Jewish families use a special cup for the wine which is drank after the Kiddush. This cup is designated for the purpose of the Kiddush alone and is used only in Shabbat, holidays or Bar Mitsvas. Since Jewish artists couldn’t flourish in figurative art due to religious restrictions, they found other ways to navigate their creative energies, one of which is designing spectacular, breathtaking kiddush cups from various materials, including different engravings related to Jerusalem, the Shabbat, biblical verses etc.
If you are looking for a meaningful gift or you still don’t own a Kiddush cup of your own, or if you would like to renew your bond with the Shabbat using a new hand-made Kiddush cup, you should take a stroll in the Kiddush cups section and pick the one which is right for you.
Here’s an example for one of the finest pieces. This Kiddush cup is handmade in Israel, available at Israel Catalog:
Hadad Sterling Silver Kiddush Goblet – Basket Weave Band
Basket weave patterned band encircles this elegant Kiddush Goblet and its foot. For those interested in a matching set, the matching sterling silver saucer is also available for purchase.
The cup holds the Shiur [halachic amount] of wine required for Kiddush and the Four cups of the Passover Seder.
As only Jewish artists created this item, there is no need immerse it in a Mikvah.
The Kiddush prayer
Once you have prepared everything- you wore your best clothes, made a heavenly meal, placed the Hallot under a splendid white cloth and bought yourself a marvelous Kiddush cup, you will have to say the prayer over the wine.
Here’s the Shabbat eve Kiddush prayer in Hebrew, which you are welcome to save and print for yourselves:
For those of you who still don’t master Hebrew, here’s the English translation:
[Evening became morning]: The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all that filled them were complete. And on the seventh day God completed the labor He had performed, and He refrained on the seventh day from all the labor which He had performed. And God blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it, for He then refrained from all his labor – from the act of creation that God had performed. Permit me, distinguished ones, rabbis, guests and colleagues: Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Amen) Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and hoped for us, and with love and intent invested us with His sacred Sabbath, as a memorial to the deed of Creation. It is the first amongst the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us, and sanctified us, out of all nations, and with love and intent You invested us with Your Holy Sabbath. Blessed are You, Sanctifier of the Sabbath. (Amen)
