Michal's Tefillin

What does Israel mean to you?  Kabbalists refer to Israel, and Jerusalem in particular as the centre, not just of the world, but of the universe. In spiritual terms.

Jerusalem has been at the centre of our civilisation for millennia. David’s City. Yerushalayim. Zion. Urušalaym. Jerusalén. It has been home to Jews, Muslims and Christians for over 2,000 years and it still is. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, yet Jerusalem remains. Its golden light never fades.

Since the last issue of Michal’s Tefillin, the world seems to have taken leave of its senses over Israel. I am not going to add my ten cents worth to the already over-stuffed, over-inflated column inches on this subject, but what I will say is this:  as it goes with Israel, so it goes with the rest of the world. This is not a new quote, I truly cannot remember who first said it, but it was recently revived by former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar.

Jerusalem is the light of the world for everyone. Kabbalist Rav Laitman says: “What is this force that a man suddenly feels within him, operating on him, drawing him towards Jerusalem? A person starts feeling the spiritual root that exists in this city. This exists within us, close to us. It has spiritual eternal life. It’s the force of love. There are stones, there are streets, but we don’t feel the city itself.

“The real Jerusalem can only be felt within a corrected heart. Today, there is a ruin in our heart. Take a look at this world. It’s broken to pieces and it’s rocked by wars and suffering. Every individual in this world is like a cancerous cell living only for itself, consuming others. It’s the same with Jerusalem. We are tearing it to pieces.  Let’s start from the heart, ask for corrections (for our ego). Asking for corrections is called ‘prayer.’ It isn’t what is written in a prayer book, it’s what is written in a person’s heart.”

We all share the hope of what this ancient city stands for – we all come from the same source, we are all the circle of life.

We are all Jerusalem.

Photo by Brandeis.edu

Popularity: 24% [?]

Haifa Bay and its surrounding suburbs, the krayot of Kiryat Haim, Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Motzkin, do not exactly have the reputation of being the most beautiful of places. The small towns and suburbs which sprang up to accommodate floods of people leaving shattered lives and concentration camps after WW2, are still areas of new immigrant absorption.

But these towns have one breathtaking thing that makes them special. Their location. While you might think being next to one of the Mediterranean’s busiest shipping lanes is not exactly paradise, the small suburbs that line Haifa Bay have one of the most beautiful views in the world. And miles and miles of white sand on which to sit and stare at the blues and hues of the Med, the ever-changing skies and the magnificent sunsets.

Nadia Kushnir’s incredible photography stirs emotions for she brings power and beauty to a place that many people think lacks both.  These photos prove otherwise.

All photographs were taken by Nadia Kushnir.

Popularity: 21% [?]

There is a place where time stands still, where all you can hear is the gentle air brush your skin, where there is so much peace you can hear the blood fizzing in your ears. You can find this slice of Heaven on Earth at Israel’s Lake Kinneret.

Known to others as the Sea of Galilee (this comes from the area where Kinneret is located, the Galil), the harp-shaped lake is the largest freshwater lake in Israel and also, at 209 meters below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on earth.

Each of us has a “secret beach” – imagined or real, beyond the horizon, or just past the next rocky outcrop. It’s a special place that exists at the edge of our world. A place where there is much longed-for, much-needed serenity, rest, inspiration and rejuvenation.

Cool sand and soft, warm breezes;  breathtaking blues and greens  of the water mirrors the clear, endless sky above it.

Just close your eyes and listen to the gentle rhythm of waves caressing the shore. Their peaceful rustling makes time and space dissolve. This timeless, elemental Sea of Galilee draws us in…

Now let the soothing sounds of Kinneret’s foamy waves take you back to your secret beach. Enjoy!

For more information on secret getaways, family trips, or historical touring, go to: www.ekinneret.co.il  or www. beinharim.co.il

All photos copyright of Sharon Novikov. Additional text by Sharon Novikov.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Kululush Handmade Jewellery by Zohar Mor

We fell for the beautiful romance in Zohar Mor’s vintage jewellery. Pretty, delicate and feminine, Zohar is inspired by her global travels. For more information go to: www.kululush.com

Hair clip by Kululush

Loveable Treasures

Katie Fulford makes Loveable Treasures out of merino wool and 100% love. We just fell head over heels for her tiny little adorable animals.

Katie discovered needle felting about 2 years ago, when she saw some miniature animals online.  She says: “I loved the cuteness of them and was keen to learn how to make some for myself. I bought a simple book about needle felting and taught myself the techniques. I loved it from the very first time I tried. After a few months of making little animals I decided to open my Loveable Treasures Etsy shop to see if anyone else enjoyed my animals.  I now make new ‘babies’ every single day, including the weekends! Talk about addicted!”

Each creation takes between 1 hour up to 3 hours depending on how much detail they include.  Katie loves custom orders and in the past has been asked to make an arctic fox, a wombat and very favourite commission was for a platypus. She says:  ”Each one is made with pure love. Sometimes I am very sad to see them go, but I hope that they all find lovely new homes. I have had the most wonderful feedback from my lovely customers and that brings so much happiness to me. ”

http://www.loveabletreasures.etsy.com

MonstersEtc

The talented and gorgeous Noa Ben Dov Bibi has created a sweet dreams soft as cloud mobile/wall decoration for MonstersEtc – but she can create a custom made one using different dolls and shapes to your specification.

from http://www.etsy.com/listing/45975606/cloud-mobile-wall-decoration

Ooty Sale!

Ceramic 12 karat gold swirl handmade earrings by the glorious Ooty Reut Raz Yaacobi on sale at $14. Each pair is one of a kind!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ooty

Popularity: 25% [?]

When we saw Alejandra Ramos’ brilliant video on how to make a six braid challah, we had to show you.

Ms Ramos is the writer and creator of AlwaysOrderDessert.com, a culinary, lifestyle, and entertaining blog featuring original recipes and ideas for inspired living. Always Order Dessert has been called one of the “Best of the Web” by Saveur Magazine, and  in 2009, the leading New Media website Mashable.com named Alejandra one of the “Top 55 Foodies to Follow on Twitter.”

And while making challah has brought us to Always Order Dessert (chipotle challah, anyone?) there was much more, ohhh much more to keep us there, salivating.

Alejandra’s style is easy-breezy and infectious. You can taste her zest for life just by reading her words. And you’ll wonder why you never tried a six-braid challah before.

The video is here:  Six Braid Challah by Alejandra Ramos

Alejandra’s blogspot is at: http://www.alwaysorderdessert.com

Popularity: 21% [?]

JAFFA directed by Keren Yedaya

The age-old story of clandestine, illicit wrong-side-of-the-tracks love is brought to modern day Israel when the Jewish daughter of a garage mechanic falls in love with her father’s Arab employee.

Set in Jaffa, an ages old city which sits cheek to jowl with ultra-modern, ultra-urbane Tel Aviv, this is one place where Jews and Arabs share the same streets and live together, as they have done for centuries, in an uneasy peace.

The two young lovers, Mali (Dana Ivgy) and Toufik, played by the drop-dead gorgeous Mahmood Shalaby, have been in love with one another since childhood and when Mali becomes pregnant, they secretly plan their wedding.

The tenderness of their love, the shocking separation that seems inevitable and the poignancy of the real-life, on-going situation in Israel, makes one wonder why, in the 21st century, people still are not allowed to fall in love with ‘just anyone’. This film is both thought-provoking and heartbreaking.

Jaffa is available to buy on DVD at  http://www.amazon.com/Jaffa-Dana-Ivgy/dp/B003DVLPQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1277109039&sr=1-1

Watch the trailer here: Jaffa

Popularity: 22% [?]

Monique Lester is a one-woman dynamo. Not only is she a tireless cheerleader for Israel, but she is one of the few who actually puts her money where her mouth is by organising awareness campaigns in the hope that one day the truth will out.

Recently, Monique put a lot of time and effort into rallying the world into realising the mind-boggling ridiculousness of the British Advertising Standards refusal to allow Israel to use pictures of its Wailing Wall in Jerusalem as part of a bring tourists to Israel campaign, as according to the ASA, Jerusalem is occupied.

Monique, who at the tender age of 16 tried to make aliyah to Israel behind her parents’ backs, runs her own PR agency, London Digital PR, which excels at social media marketing and online advertising. The effervescent Ms Lester has also been devoting her time to cyber stalking, bullying and other forms of cyber crime.

Monique ‘Wonder Woman’ Lester

Teaming up with respected Norwegian film maker Linda May Kallestein, Monique is contributing to a documentary and an accompanying book about various forms of cyber terror.

Says Monique:  ” Cyber life surpasses our traditional national states, enabling criminal activity to go beyond national borders, yet with little international legislation to govern and protect against it.  Stalkers have thus been given new tools to use in their pursuit to control others, spread fear and even ruin personal and professional lives.

They do so at little risk of legal persecution, even though they can inflict harm which often is far greater than traditional stalkers ever could dream of accomplishing.”

For more information on either cyber terror or the UK ASA campaign, or if you would like to talk to Monique about advertising and marketing, please contact her via www.londondigitalpr.com

Popularity: 31% [?]