Shopping in Jerusalem: 10 Interesting souvenirs to buy in Israel

Shopping in Jerusalem: 10 Interesting souvenirs to buy in Israel. Modern-day Jerusalem is a mosaic of neighborhoods, reflecting different historical periods, cultures, and religions. The influx of repatriates in recent years has made the cultural and artisanal scene of the city even more colorful and diverse. To find your way through Jerusalem’s intricate maze of shops and outdoor markets (shuks) in search of a memorable, authentic thing, and at a reasonable price too, is an uneasy task, requiring insider knowledge. The provided here list might shed some light on the issue and steer you in the right direction!

Jewelry

The Israeli diamond industry emerged in the early 1900s when the country’s first diamond-cutting plant was established. Today, Israel exports annually over US$7 billion worth of diamonds. High-end stores like H. Stern, with a branch in Mamilla Mall, specialize in exclusive golden jewelry with diamonds. There’s also a lot of jewelry on sale reflecting a broad spectrum of the country’s ethnicities. Religious symbols, such as the Cross and the Star of David, are common, much is the Hamsa Hand. The materials used in their product range from gold and silver to copper and brass. A particular technique applied, and worth noting is gold wire knitting.

The Eilat Stone, Israel’s national stone, is mined near the city of Eilat (hence the name) at the southern tip of the country. It reveals different shades of green, blue, and turquoise when polished. A mixture of azurite, malachite, turquoise, and chrysocolla, the stone is reputed for calming and balancing one’s spirit and even providing inspiration. It is, therefore, often used in pendants.

Yemenite filigree, a 3000-year-old technique, is hugely popular in Israel. Historically, Muslims in Yemen were forbidden from working with precious metals, so they had to buy jewelry from non-Muslim artisans; the Jews were only happy to deliver. The traditional designs include symbols of fertility and prosperity for new brides. Filigree is particularly used in silver necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with semi-precious stones.

Armenian Pottery

Armenian pottery is a distinctive kind of ceramics, with traditional glazes from metallic oxides and graceful, hand-painted designs. The colors are bright yet earthy, with the dominant color being cobalt blue. The peacock, symbolizing long life, is a popular design. This type of ceramics was developed by Armenian artists who lived in Turkey in the 18th century. In 1919 the British government invited Armenian craftsmen to repair the ceramic tiles on the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem. Among them were craftsmen from the Karakashian family, who came to Jerusalem and remained there, opening a shop called Jerusalem Pottery, at 15 Via Dolorosa. The shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Today Jerusalem is the only place in the world where this type of ceramics is still being produced. But beware of cheap, fragile copies of Armenian pottery, which are mass-produced in factories in Hebron. The authentic Armenian pottery of the Karakashian Brothers is unique and each piece is hand-painted and hand-signed.
Note that the dishes can be used for serving only and must not be microwaved or heated in the oven.

There are plates, bowls, mugs, and platters, wooden trays with embedded tiles, all brightly colored, with floral designs, and Persian-style hares, or deer.

Antiquities

Many stores in Jerusalem sell antiquities but beware of fakes. Make sure to buy only from authorized dealers showing certificates by the Israel Antiquities Authority. A clay oil lamp is a historically meaningful gift. These tear-drop-shaped vessels were filled with olive oil through a large hole in the top, and a wick was inserted in a smaller hole at the front of the nozzle. Some oil lamps have a handle at the back, others have several wick holes. Each region and historical period has distinctive shapes and patterns, such as the simple Herodian lamp; the Byzantine lamp decorated with a palm branch pattern; the Askelon lamp, a three-wick lamp decorated with little circles; and the Jerusalem lamp with a cross above the wick hole. Oil lamps and other antiquities can be purchased in a number of stores throughout the Old City, for example, Baidu Antiquities, 28 Via Dolorosa. The store is open Saturday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Baidun family has been collecting and selling antiquities for three generations. The store has a unique collection of rare artifacts from all over the Middle East and from the many civilizations that have dwelt in this region. Numerous thank-you letters from prominent world figures, such as former US president Bill Clinton, grace the store’s wall.

Traditional Palestinian Embroidery

The traditional outfit of a Palestinian woman consists of a long dress with a densely embroidered bodice. Women in villages used to gather in groups, at the end of the day, to gossip and embroider together. A lot of effort was put into preparing clothing for their daughters’ dowries. There are two main types of embroidery — cross-stitch (fallahi) and couching (tahriri).

In cross-stitch, a piece of loosely woven canvas is basted to the cloth (usually a dark color like black) and dense rows of X’s are embroidered on it, using different colors of thread, with red being the base color. Then the threads of the canvas are pulled out, exposing the design on the dark background. Each region has its own recognizable designs combining geometric patterns (triangles, stars, and squares) with motifs from nature, such as the moon of Bethlehem, Damask rose, serpent, bird, and the cypress tree.

In coaching, developed in the Bethlehem area, a string is basted to the cloth and fastened in place with tiny stitches. Gold and silver cords twisted into delicate floral and geometric patterns are often used in this type of embroidery. 

Hamsa

The hamsa or hand symbol is an amulet protecting against the evil eye. It is sold just about everywhere in Jerusalem, made in many different materials, from wood to ceramics to copper. Artist Chaim Peretz creates unusual hamsas of stained glass, bronze, sterling silver, and even some with embedded gemstones. The hamsa, explains Peretz, is a symbol of power, and hanging it on a wall has a positive influence on the house’s energy. The color blue is particularly effective against evil eyes and negative thoughts.

Peretz’s stained glass fish hamsa of blue and orange glass and sterling silver is decorated with a silverfish. Peretz refers to Genesis 1:28 which says, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” noting that hanging a fish hamsa in your home blesses you with many children. The small-eye hamsa of blue, purple and green glass with sterling silver protects your home against the evil eye, while the large-eye hamsa provides reinforced protection.

Peretz’s studio is not that far from the Mahane Yehuda market, in the refurbished Nahlaot neighborhood, at 2 Rabby Arye, a narrow lane off Shomron St.

Ahava Salt Sea Products

Ahava, which means love, is a company that produces a broad range of therapeutic skincare products from the Dead Sea or Yam Hamelah (Salt Sea), as it is called in Hebrew. An hour’s drive south of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea lies 1,388 feet below sea level, the lowest place on Earth. Over eight times saltier than the ocean, it has been a health resort since the time of King David, due to the rich mineral content of its water, salt, and mud.

There are numerous Ahava factory outlets, including one on the Midrachov, at 5 Ben Yehuda Street. Several other companies produce cosmetics from Dead Sea salt and mud. Some are reputable and others are simply cashing in on the popularity of Ahava’s products. Over twenty years ago, Ahava was the first company to create cosmetics based on the Dead Sea, and since that time the company has maintained its high-quality standard. There is a broad range of products for men and women on offer, including those for rejuvenation, cleansing, and detoxifying. There are mineral botanic soaps, Dead Sea mud, hypo-allergic products, and sun care creams. All products are brought fresh from the factory on a weekly basis. The store is open from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. in winter) Sunday to Thursday and Friday from 8:00 to 3:00.

Israeli Olive Oil

Olive oil is a staple of the Israeli diet and is used liberally for both, cooking and salads. Produced from the Syrian and Barnea varieties, it has a much stronger flavor than Italian oil. Beware of bargain olive oil, as it is often diluted with cheaper kinds of oil.

A soft white cheese, called labani, is traditionally served with olive oil poured over it and a spice mixture, called za’atar (consisting of ground hyssop, sumac, sesame seeds, and salt), sprinkled on top. The mixture is scooped up with pita bread. Za’atar can be purchased at any spice shop in the Mahane Yehuda market, such as Pereg at 79 Eitz Hahaim St. (Tree of Life Street) Pereg recently opened a second store in the Mahane Yehuda market, appropriately named Rak Shemen Zeit (Only Olive Oil).

The Pereg olives are hand-picked and cold-pressed. The shop is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, except Friday when it closes at 3:00 p.m. If you are a connoisseur, try the olive oil produced by a company called Eretz Geshur. In international competition, it was designated one of the best olive oils in the world. Eretz Gshur olive oil can be purchased at branches of the Teva Anis Health Food store (76 Jaffa Road or 32 Emek Refaim) or any other major health food store in the city.

Israeli Wine and Beer

Wine has been produced in Israel since biblical times, the climate is suitable for varieties, such as Cabernet, Merlot, Riesling, and Chardonnay. In the last twenty years, there has been a major increase in wine production and, today, the country boasts about 100 boutique wineries. An international market for Israeli wines is rapidly developing. In the Jerusalem area, a number of wineries produce their wines from local grapes, among them Zmora, Tzuba, Tzora, and Castel. The Sea Horse Winery uses only organic grapes. Some wineries are located at historic sites, such as the Ella Valley Winery, where archaeologists have determined that wine was produced during the reign of King David. The Cremisan Winery uses grapes from the Bethlehem area.

Source: https://bit.ly/3x4ySqa