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?

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!