Homemade Seltzer ala Israel

SodaStream, the largest brand of in-home seltzer and soda makers, is made in Israel. The Jewish Week reports that Soda-Club, the parent company of SodaStream, "employs 450 people in its factory in Maale Adumim, including Israelis, recent immigrants from the Soviet Union, Ethiopians, Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, 18 Bedouins, and even 40 Darfur refugees."

The SodaStream machines are gaining in popularity due to the economical sense (cheaper to make soda than to buy it), health benefits (add fresh fruit juice instead of corn syrup), and ecological mindedness (no more disposable plastic bottles). And it looks so fun!

You can watch this SodaStream silly demo video on how it works. There are several models to choose from. The "Penguin" shown above (which would look totally cute sitting on your counter) is available as a starter kit which includes the machine, 2 carbonators, 2 glass carafes, and flavor variety pack (OU Kosher!) for $199.

Plushood - Israeli Version of the Ugly Doll

Plushood update! --

Check out this adorable cake made by a Plushood fan for her daughter's birthday party:



After their animation short, Plushood: Meet Your New Neighbors, took second place in the Bitfilm Festival in Germany, Shlomi and Tamar are exhibiting at Urbanix on Shenkin Street, Tel Aviv. The exhibit is called Me, You and All The Others.

From Urbanix.co.il

The difficulty of coping with a demanding and competitive urban life, the subjugation to consumerism, money and social status, beside social manifestations like violence and indifference, can be found either openly or concealed in the works presented.

Sounds a little heady but my guess it's going to be some interesting, fun illustration in a space that exhibits vinyl dolls (like Tam's Qee) and other artists inspired by graffiti, comics, manga, hip hop, pop culture, and street fashion.

Gaya Games: The Art of Thinking

Back to our trip to Israel...

While in Jerusalem, you'll likely find yourself on Ben Yehuda street, the major night-life and shopping district. Off Ben Yehuda on Moshe Solomon Street we found Gaya, a store full of games and puzzles, many of them invented and handcrafted in a Moshav (a cooperative similar to a kibbutz) called Hagor. We stepped inside to find the store full of young adults browsing the hundreds of different interlocking, string, and stacking puzzles and the friendly staff demonstrating some of the original strategy games. My husband played a game called, "The End of the Track," played on a chess board, with blocks that move like Knights but they have ball "heads" that move like Queens.

I bought the interlocking gun puzzle which can be reformed into a dog. Haven't attempted it yet.

Then, of course, I had to purchase the dreidel roulette set...

Carrie Bradshaw Carries Kisim!

Our customers love the Israeli designed and made Kisim Cube handbags:

"I'm completely crazy about these Kisim Cube bags (though I'm normally not such a 'bag person') – they are basically the perfect bag: they are stylish, elegant, light and extraordinarily practical." Gina K., Cambridge, MA

In the new Sex in the City movie Carrie Bradshaw sports one!

You can buy it from ModernTribe in size large ($492) or medium ($439) in gray (Carrie is carrying a large gray cube), red, or black. Call us: 877-324-1818 or contact@moderntribe.com.

Writing About My Trip To Israel: A Note

I've been thinking a lot about how I should write about my trip to Israel. Israel is an emotional, political, historical, and spiritual topic for me, as it is for many Jewish bloggers. However, what I try to do with ModernTribe and this blog is present a different side of Israel. Aesthetics, beauty and cleverness in design, what is fresh and new in the design world in Israel (and the space of Judaica across the world), is the focus. I want to expose the world to a different angle other than what we usually see on the evening news or at Temple and thus give people another way to see and perhaps connect to Israel. Therefore, my blog posts about my trip will largely focus on design and culture. But know, dear readers, Israel moves me in all the other ways too. And a trip to Israel is, most importantly, about deepening ones understanding of politics, history, and spirituality. But, while doing those things, I urge you to notice and enjoy the very new and exciting things happening in design, fashion, art and architecture in this thriving nation.

Twirling in Tovale's from Shenkin Street, Tel Aviv

You'll be hearing a bunch about my trip to Israel in the upcoming week. Quickly, I want to tell you about Tovale's clothing in Tel Aviv. I visited the location on Shenkin Street where Israeli designer Naama Chasin has both her women's clothing and her "Little" line for children. The children's clothing I couldn't resist buying for my daughter. My three year old is obsessed with twirling skirts and dresses and this skirt has enough twirl to satisfy even her. It's all handmade with serious skill and attention to detail. We couldn't step five feet without someone commenting on her outfit yesterday at the Virginia Highland Summer Fest -- and she wasn't even sporting the headband! The outfit was expensive: the whole ensemble cost around $150, more than I'd usually spend on an outfit for my child. About 5x more, actually. Ouch. You can see more of the Tovale's line on their flash heavy website, but unfortunately the 2008 line isn't yet online.

Dotan Bahat and the Alpha Men

Part-human part-animal creatures have a long mythical tradition. Egyptian Anubis has a head of a Jackal and body of a man. Homer's Harpies have the head and breasts of a woman but the body of a bird. And winged cherubs precede those found in our own Tenach (Hebrew Bible or Old Testament).

Dotan Bahat creates modern-day hybrids in a series he calls Alpha Men. The alpha male is the dominant one in a group of males. Dotan explains,

Alpha Men is a tongue-in-cheek comment on masculinity; each character
represents a symbolic male role - men in various roles of power - and its
animal head either compliments or contradicts its bearer’s designated role.

Dotan's artistic study of masculinity is inspired by his personal experience in the Israeli infantry. There he witnessed and experienced the jarring halt of adolescence and rapid maturation Israel's compulsory army service requires.

The doom ushering Crow General, the sensitive brute Gorilla Wrestler, and the ever-changing Chameleon Politician are just some of the alpha personas Dotan sees men donning today.

We have prints of Dotan's artwork for sale on ModernTribe.com.

You can see more of Dotan's work on his website.

Reach Out Touch Me: Jewelry Design from Israel Gets Physical

By Ziva Haller Rubenstein of Designist Dream

Shopping is a sensual experience for me in that I like to touch things on view or on sale. More than just look or pull off the rack, actually playing with the fabric or material gives me a better sense of the object - how it will wear, drape, endure, draw attention or compete with other things on my shelves. So maybe now you can understand why seeing these bracelets by Israeli Jewelry Designer Dana Hakim Berkovich behind a glass at the Designed in Israel 08 exhibition was so upsetting for me.



First off, what immediately attracted me was their texture. The woven braids on the cuffs and bracelets seemed so intricate and layered that my fingers literally started walking across them atop the glass just itching to cop a feel. Then, reading the artist's statement, I realized they were made of cardboard - egg crate cardboard to be more specific! That's right, not what you first think of when you hear of textural jewelry or think of coveted bracelets. Berkovich cuts diamond shapes into the cardboard and when rounding them into the bracelet shapes generates a 3D effect - what I thought originally was a woven pattern. Berkovich's overall technique aims to recycle used materials into beautiful accessories and challenges users to rethink the beautiful and the possible in what we casually throw away.



A little ways away in the same glass case, Israeli jewelry designer, Yael Friedman, also got my fingers itching. A delicate pewter-metal blend gold Hanukiyah or Chanukah Menorah presented the neatest little DIY project that just couldn't go wrong. A one-dimensional page of metal provided cut outs of semi-circles - each with laser cut decorations - that can be slotted together to form a fully functioning eight-plus-one candle holder. The details gave some light and delicacy to the metal material and the adornment was reminiscent of jewelry techniques. And the idea of being able to mail someone a flat DIY Menorah in time for the holidays? Opens a whole new world of holiday card options. Now if I could only get my hands on these items...

~Crossposted from Designist Dream~

Welcome Ziva Haller of DesignistDream.com

Ziva Haller is an Art Historian living near and working in Jerusalem and the publisher of DesignistDream (say it slowly), a blog about Israeli design. Ziva will be cross-posting on ModernTribe's blog where we seek to discover modern design for Judaica and in the Jewish world.

A stint at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem brought great meaning for Ziva: a feeling of contributing to the Jewish state. She soon decided to make Israel her permanent residence.

Here are Ziva's insights into Israeli design today.

What is most striking about Israeli design today?
Two things: first, how the tradition of arts and crafts as learned in Europe strongly influenced Israel's first national artists and aesthetic - Boris Schatz, Zeev Raban, EM Lilien and the Bezalel Academy of Art; second, how influential and pioneering certain Israeli designers are now in the field of design - Arik Levy, Ron Arad and Ilan Dei for example. How and where the two meet are what I'm trying to figure out in my blog as I discover new centers for design and creativity in Israel and meet more and more designers and their works.

What forces do you think are spurring the innovation and modern design boom in Israel?
I do think that modern design production and appreciation is really taking off locally. More and more online and boutique shops are cropping up and it's amazing to see how far Israeli designers are reaching these days. When I was putting together my Hanukkah Gift Guide I was amazed to see Israeli design products on specialty children's clothing and accessory sites, museum stores, haute design centers like DWR, and then Target too. Israel is even building its first Design Center which will include a museum and library/ materials resource in Holon. Designed by Ron Arad - which is a super feat in itself to have him back here - it points to the fact that Israeli design is now worthy of its own shrine to its process and product. I think globalization is really a catalyst for access to and interest in Israeli designers. I think for Israeli art and design students especially - where creativity and ingenuity are just booming it seems - having access to global companies, designers, studios, etc is a natural extension of where they expect to go after graduating.

Do you see any obstacles that Israeli designers are going to need to overcome before Israel can truly become the new Italy?
For sure Israel's image abroad is one obstacle. It's hard to get past the conflict of Israel to learn more about the everyday lives here - what we admire, want in our homes, want to look at, wear, etc. Also I think the language barrier prevents many from simply accessing many designers online. Google searches for designers in English are often limited. Many only seem to create websites for their work in Hebrew and that's a big oversight in my opinion.

What are some of your future plans for DesignistDream?
More posts per day for a rotating glance at home decor, design items, art and fashion. More interviews with designers are also on the horizon. I am thinking about compiling shopping guides for Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for top designs in fashion, furniture and housewares - and tour guides for visitors to our fine country - where to see great works, where to buy them, special events, etc.. Finally, I am planning a grand redesign of the site which I'm really excited about, so stay tuned for that too.

You can read more from Ziva at DesignistDream.com.

Do you Vazu?

** Update: Vazu is now available for sale on ModernTribe.com here.**

My customers are the most wonderful people -- they call me to chat and tell me interesting insights they have about Judaica and Israeli design. Yesterday a woman told me about Vazu by Israeli designers T.H.+E. Design Group. I immediately loved the product and the concept and want to add it ModernTribe ASAP.

Let me tell ya about them. They are pretty, modern-design vases, right?

Well, look again.




They are actually made of plastic and fold flat for storage and travel. I don't know the price point yet but my customer told me it is pretty reasonable. Wouldn't they be great to bring along with the flowers you are giving to your girlfriend or hostess? How many times have you carted a glass vase with you and had to worry about it breaking in the car?

Below is how they are merchandised. Unassuming packaging which looks more like pantyhose than a designer vase.

I'll let you know when the are available at ModernTribe.com.

Israeli Designer: Orna Lalo

I tripped across Orna Lalo on the net and was immediately struck by her work. Much of it is too fanciful for my taste but some of her slightly more subdued, new-natural pieces could dress up a table beautifully. Her bio says her training was in textiles. She seems to create "fabric" out of man-made materials making fashion for her candlesticks. As you can see, these pieces are ready for a night out on the town.

See more of Lalo at her website www.LaloOrna.com.

Designist Dream Uncovers the Israeli in Italian Design

I recently discovered a great blog on Israeli design by Ziva Haller called Designist Dream (say designist slowly). She reports on furniture, decor, fashion and all things design-related going on in Israel or abroad by her Israeli compatriots.

Ziva's recent posts on Israeli designed furniture shows this: you may think it's Italian or German designed but, alas, it could be Israeli designed. Israeli designers work for design houses Zanatto, Kartell, and Alessi. For example, at right, The Clover chair by Ron Arad for Italian furniture house Driade.

And the Bigwire table by Arik Levy for Italian furniture house Zanotta:
Learn more about Ron Arad in Ziva's blog post here.
Learn more about Arik Levy in Ziva's blog post here.

Expect more great insider Israeli information from Ziva coming soon!

Shlomi Schillinger's Menorah on Front Page of Dwell.com

Shlomi's menorah deserves the kind of placement Dwell.com has given it on December 4th. Check it out:

Dwell.com

Buy it only at ModernTribe.com.