Top 3 Gifts for Yom Haatzmaut AKA Zing for the Zionists

Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, is Thursday, April 26th, 2012 and ModernTribe has goodies to celebrate the Holy Land of Israel.

First, is our collection of Keep Calm and Love Israel items. These are a play off the original Keep Calm and Carry On propaganda posters produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of the Second World War, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion. The poster measures 8x10 inches and is in 9x11 inch desktop or wall-hanging frame.

Next, are the hip Jerusalem designs by street artist Dave Choe on Jerusalem tote bags and Jerusalem t-shirts. These are very limited editions. Get them while you can!

And finally, we are super excited to introduce Pop Art Israeli Heroes by Ofek Werkman! How can you resist Herzl & Golda in Warhol-esqness?

Tuesday Nov 30 is Buy Israel Day!

Check out the cool Israeli designed goods we have on ModernTribe.com and get 20% off today with code BUYISRAEL for "Buy Israel Day" -- November 30th, 2010.

Below is from "Buy Israel Goods"

On Tuesday, November 30, anti-Israel activists in New York City plan to demonstrate and call for boycotts of stores that sell Israeli products. Their specific target is a store that carries Ahava goods, but this action in New York is just one of many. Boycotters have been energetically lobbying other stores across the country to drop Israeli products, from local co-ops to Costco and Trader Joe's.

The pro-Israel, pro-peace community urges you to join a counter campaign. We are making November 30 a BIG (Buy Israeli Goods) Day. Let us show anyone that calls for boycotts of even one or two stores, that it will always be met with a much larger counter-movement to buy Israeli goods.

The very date, November 30th, should encourage us. It comes the day after the 53rd anniversary of the UN Partition Resolution when the effort, against all odds, to restore the Jewish State was endorsed and recognized by the international community. It also comes just as Hannukah is approaching when we celebrate the Maccabees who also restored Jewish independence, and who were a few who triumphed over the many. We can do the same, and shine a light on Israel for all people of good will.

When you go holiday shopping, choose presents from the wonderful array of Israeli-made items, from fine Israeli wines to the high quality Ahava beauty products, Israeli jewelry, shoes and clothing lines, and of course. Consider foods such as Sabra or Tribe hummus and Osem cookies to grace your holiday party.

On November 30th, go shopping for Israel no matter where you live. Buy for Israel. Buy for peace. Be a big part of this BIG (Buy Israeli Goods) Day.

For more information, visit this website: www.BuyIsraelGoods.org --- The site includes a locator so that you can find stores in your area that carry Israeli products. The BIG campaign is a partnership between StandWithUs and the America-Israel Chambers of Commerce and like-minded organizations.

Shopping The Jerusalem Shuk - Machaneh Yehuda

Judging by the number of times our tour guide gave us shopping time, people visiting Israel love to shop. The trick, for me, was discovering the jewels hidden among the schlock-shops geared for tourists. I made this my mission for every touristy shopping stop -- find the design-forward, innovative shops and items and the authentic Israeli experience. I'm sure I only scratched the surface.

The Jerusalem Shuk (shuk means market) is the largest and busiest outdoor market in Israel. There is wonderful people watching and gorgeous fresh produce, nuts, and spices. Two cuisine experiences I recommend are sampling the rugelach and other wonderful pastries sold at many booths and trying one of the unique freshly squeezed and concocted juices. Harry, of Jerusalemite, a hip guide to Jerusalem, told me there is even a juice bar where one can get khat, catha edulis, which is a amphetamine-like stimulant, added to ones juice. Chewing khat leaves is an ancient Yemenite tradition. (I'm not sure if it is legal...)

Design-wise I found two golden nuggets in the Jerusalem Shuk, tucked away off side allies off the main drags of the shuk:

30 Walnut (is the name and the address) - a clothing and accessories store selling Riva, Neta Sade, and a designer Adamverivi, which makes wallets, key rings, and handbags out of laminated and stitched papers.




Bordeaux (6 HaTut, 6 Tut Street) - a clothing store with gorgeous serious clothing and cute t-shirts with cheeky sayings in Hebrew. The t-shirt above says something like, "What can I get you daddy?," a colloquial shouted out in the shuk to solicit business. I thought it perfect for me, being a shopkeeper and all!