Efrat Cassouto

So remember when I wrote about that amazing jewelry store I stumbled upon last week?  Well… I ended up going back to the store two-days later with my hebrew-speaking friend from the January program, Raz, and she helped me explain our internship program to the owner/jewelry designer, Efrat Cassouto and her brother (the co-owner), Amir.  We told them how I have experience making jewelry and that I would love to work for her for free as my internship.  I can’t tell you how happy I was when she said she would love it!  

I started work there the very next day.  I absolutely love it.  Efrat is incredibly talented, sweet, intriguing and, not to mention, beautiful.  She resembles the actress, Mary Louise Parker  (from Weeds) which makes me automatically love her even more.  The past six days I have been hanging out in the store, making beautiful jewelry, and interacting with the customers as much as possible… I want to speak Hebrew so badly!  That is the only frustrating part… I really need to practice, practice, practice…

I really think I am going to learn so much from Efrat.  Her brother, Amir, is also great and incredibly talented.   Between the two of them and their sales associate Chesi (who I adore), I am going to really enjoy my time working there.  I feel like I found the perfect place for me.  I wanted a more authentic Israeli experience, and, I think I found what I was looking for… I really love the store, her design aesthetic and getting to be a part of it.  Efrat and Amir opened the store only two months ago so it will be fun being involved from the beginning stages.  I think I’m going to develop a really incredible relationship with Efrat which really excites me.  

Efrat also sells her jewelry at several other locations in Tel Aviv.  Efrat Gosh, a popular Israeli singer, is the model for the jewelry too.  I haven’t met her just yet, but I”m really looking forward to it.  I know a few boutique owners in The States that I think would be really interested in carrying her line… so I’m gonna get working on that too…  

PHOTOS: Efrat Cassouto Jewelry & Accessories Modeled by Efrat Gosh

To check out more product photography CLICK HERE!

What’s so great about Tel Aviv?

I came across a really great description of Tel Aviv on the internet last night… Thought I would share…

 

Tel Aviv tends to surprise first-time visitors. They come expecting to find a provincial Middle Eastern city of plodding camels, ancient monuments, Oriental fantasies and armed combatants; instead, they discover a stylish, utterly contemporary Mediterranean metropolis filled with chic cafés, an exciting culture scene, fashionable boutiques, barely-clad beautiful people and a roaring nightlife.

But the real source of Tel Aviv’s seductive powers is something less tangible. It is its overwhelming love of life. You see it in the uninhibited dancing on the bars; in the ever-crowded cafés, buzzing with laughter and conversation from morning until night; in the 24-hour holiday atmosphere during the long summer months; and in the furious creativity poured into the local theater, music and fashion scenes. There are very few cities that feel as strongly alive, self-confident and hedonistic – or that live so firmly in the present. And because Tel Aviv is relaxed, welcoming and homelike, the initial seduction usually evolves into a lifelong love affair.  (Click here to read more…)

Go Team ‘Afternoon Delight!’

 

Noa, Erica & Myself

Yesterday a handful of us went to the subberb of Herzliya for an Alpha Epsilon PI (AEPI) beach volleyball tournament on Herzliya Pituach Beach.  Of course, I slept through my alarm clock and had to make the journey myself, but thanks to the great directions Erica provided me, I actually made it without too much difficulty…  To get there was quite a process. I had to take Sheirut #16 to the HaHagana Train Station (accidently got off at the central bus station tho… so ended up walking a little ways)… rode the train to Herzliya (only about 10-15 min) and then got on Bus #28 (for about 20 min).  When I finally arrived, I met up with Erica and Lindsay on the beach and we cheered on team “Afternoon Delight” consisting of Noa, Brett, Mike, Joel (Community Involvement participants living in Kiryat Ekron) and Leetal.

 

 

After a few hours of sun and laughter (watching our team compete… in the ‘losing bracket’…), Erica and I decided to make our way back to Tel Aviv.  Naturally, we both completely zoned out on the bus, missed our stop and spent a good amount of time on the side of the rode trying to figure out what direction to walk as we attempted to hail down the full and very limited taxis that drove past.  Finally, one stopped and out of laziness and hunger… we decided to pay the 80 shekels to be taken straight home.  

Leah and the City

So this past Wed and Thurs was an OLTIP (Oranim Long Term Israel Program) overnight trip that I decided not to attend. I know, I know… I should take full advantage of all the opportunities I am given while I am here, but I really felt the need to take these two days to re-center myself a bit. I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts lately for a variety of reasons. A little rundown, a little sick and a little preoccupied with stuff that in the big scheme of things aren’t even all that important. I felt myself slipping a little bit in terms of remembering the reasons why I came here and the promise I made to myself to maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude. So I decided to take some time away from the group, re-focus on what’s important and think about what it is exactly that I want to get out of my experience here.

While everyone else ventured up North to the Golan Heights, I spent the day at the beach with my friend Yoni (who I like to call Yonifer). It was a beautiful day at the beach… I had a lot of fun making videos of the beach scene (to see all of my videos click here) and getting to hang out with Yoni before he goes into the army next Wednesday (May 13th). 

Yoni is from South FL and decided to make aliya after participating in Oranim’s Community Involvement program in Ramla two years ago and then became a member of the Oranim staff. As an oleh chadash (new immigrant), Yoni is dedicated to fully immersing himself into Israeli society by joining the IDF (the Israel Defense Force) for a minimum of 6 months. At age 25, he’s considered a little to old to do combat (thank goodness)… Nonetheless, I admire him immensely for what he is doing and the commitment he has made to this incredible country. Good luck Yonifer!

After the beach I took a very long nap, did some sewing (shortened some dress straps and reinforced Guy’s shirt button) and realized that I really missed working with my hands and began to miss making jewelry…

Last night I watched the Barcelona vs. Chelsea soccer semi-final at Cafe Noga with Yoni (which was so exciting… yeay Barcelona!), fed the stray cats on my street, met an old friend of Yoni’s who was really cool and stayed up into the wee hours of the morning watching 40 Year Old Virgin for the millionth time.

Today, I am ashamed to say, I woke up at 3pm (I KNOW…I KNOW…). I took a stroll to my favorite cafe on Sheinkin, got the yummiest ice coffee to-go and decided to wonder the streets and explore. It’s really crazy to think that I have been here for several weeks, and I still haven’t dedicated any time to explore the city solo and truly embrace my surroundings. I roamed the charming cobblestone street, Nachalat Binyamin.  The Tel Aviv neighborhood is located behind Shuk Hacarmel (a few blocks from where I’m living) and is lined with fabric stores, cafes, stores, fascinating architecture, people, etc. I captured some of my favorite street scenes that you can see below.

Overall, I loved today. I loved roaming the streets, snapping pictures and taking in the artistic environment of the neighborhood. I actually found a beautiful jewelry store that I fell in love with immediately upon entering. The owner, an attractive Israeli woman, was sitting behind the counter making the exquisite jewelry that filled the store. I introduced myself, told her that I made jewelry as well and that I loved her store. I was luckily wearing a necklace I had made that somewhat reflected a similar design aesthetic. I showed it to her, told her that I was living here and to give me a call if she ever needed any help. I doubt I will hear from her but the very prospect excited me.

 

Walking through the lively streets, I got to thinking about how much I loved being in this city… so rich in history and saturated with so much talent, beauty and artistic expression (and inspiration). It is definitely no St. Louis or Atlanta… and it’s definitely not New York (in a good way, a much more relaxed way)… Having never lived anywhere else… Tel Aviv is incredibly refreshing. At a time when I was feeling a little lost, I was able to find myself again. Although I might of risked isolating myself from the group a bit by not going on the trip, I am glad that I had these past two days on my own to gain some perspective. It’s easy to forget about what’s important when it’s so easy to get distracted by stupid, insignificant nonsense.

Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea

On April 24th, all of us (Oranim’s Long Term Program participants) were taken on a day trip to visit Ein Gedi, a tropical oasis & one of the most important reserves in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, close to Masada.                       

We were taken on a short hike and got to see some very cute animals (an Ibex family & a Hyrax family).            

While some took a dip in the spring, the rest of us watched on and embraced the natural beauty surrounding us.

                                                                                      

Afterwards, we headed to the Dead Sea for a few hours. 

The first time I went to the Dead Sea back in December, I took advantage of the inexpensive massages they offer in the spa. I decided to do it again and create my own tradition.  I’m sure it won’t be my last time visiting the Dead Sea…  After my massage I floated in the indoor pool until my legs began to burn and I had to get out… Rule #1 when going to the Dead Sea… DO NOT shave.  Bad idea.