A beautiful Shofar Bag for the High Holy Days!

Yes we know its the height of summer. We at Galilee Silks are in preparation for the High Holy Days. We are busy making our known tallit.
Go figure, we want it to be cooler in our Galilee:)
Worship in Style!
Besides our large collection of unique Tallitot for men & Women we come out with

this lovely Shofar Bag for the High Holy Days! at a ridiculous low price: See you in one of our stores!

Chag Shavuot Sameach!

The day after tomorrow at sundown Am Israel, we at Galilee Silks and Jews around the world celebrate Chag Shavuot the last of the tree main holidays on the Jewish calendar.
On the 50th day after the Israelites left Egypt and were in the wilderness around Mount Sinai, God presented Moses with the Torah, or Ten Commandments. In accepting these, the Israelites became a nation committed to serving God and Shavuot marks the anniversary of this event.

Besides its significance as the day on which the Torah was revealed by God to the Jewish nation at Mount Sinai (which includes the Ten Commandments), Shavuot is also connected to the season of the grain harvest in Israel. In ancient times, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness (Jer. 5:24; Deut. 16:9-11; Isa. 9:2). It began with the harvesting of the barley during Passover and ended with the harvesting of the wheat at Shavuot. Shavuot was thus the concluding festival of the grain harvest, just as the eighth day of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was the concluding festival of the fruit harvest. During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem, an offering of two loaves of bread from the wheat harvest was made on Shavuot.

Symbols

An important symbol of Shavuot is the Bikkurim, or first fruits. This was a basket of gold or silver that contained the first harvest of the Seven Species crops and was carried to the Temple in Jerusalem in a procession accompanied by music. These crops are: barley; dates; figs; grapes; olives; pomegranates; and wheat. Modern versions of the Bikkurim may include other crops now grown in Israel or other Jewish communities around the world. Images of the Ten Commandments inscribed on stones or scrolls representing the Torah are also symbolic of Shavuot.

On the websites of Galilee Silks you'll find many garments and items adorned whith these very same Shavuot symbols - which are naturally wearable all year round.

Have a look in our Fashion store for the T-shirt in the picture which can be obtained with a matching silk vest

Question: What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Source: www.about.com

Question: What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer: Bat Mitzvah literally translates to "daughter of commandment" and implies "responsible female."

According to Jewish Law, every Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah at age 12 - a year earlier than a Jewish boy becomes a bar mitzvah due to the fact that girls mature earlier than boys. As a bat mitzvah, she becomes obligated by God's commandments - as prescribed in the Torah and as interpreted by Moses, the Prophets, the Sages and the Rabbis.

A Jewish girl becomes a bat mitzvah automatically upon turning 12 years old. No ceremony is needed. The Reconstructionist Movement introduced the idea of celebrating a girl becoming a bat mitzvah in 1922. Since then, ceremonies to mark the occassion of a girl becoming a bat mitzvah have become more and more popular.

While the bat mitzvah girl can celebrate from her 12th birthday, some wait and celebrate on the girl's 13th birthday. In many Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative synagogues, the bat mitzvah may be celebrated by the girl blessing and/or reading Torah and also leading part of the prayer service. Festive meals and lavish parties in honor of a girl becoming a bat mitzvah have also become common in non-orthodox communities.

In orthodox communities, the bat mitzvah is more often marked with a family celebration than a religious ritual. If an orthodox girl wants to celebrate her bat mitzvah by reading Torah or leading a prayer service, then this is generally done in the presence of women only.

The Invitation?!
Many people feel confused when invited to a bat mitzvah. They ask what present to buy, when to give the present, how to dress... It helps to think of the bat mitzvah as a special birthday - special in that it has religious significance. Any present that is appropriate for a 12 or 13 year old girl will also work for a bat mitzvah present (jewelry, books, gift certificates, music, clothes, picture frames, ....) Dress for the religious service like you are going to a religious service (modest, formal attire), and dress for the party according to whatever party is being held. It is best to bring the present to the party (rather than the religious ceremony). Mazel Tov or congratulations are appropriate greetings. You have been invited because the bat mitzvah girl wants you to join her in celebrating her "coming of age" - so, above all, enjoy the celebration!

Gililee Silks recommends the perfect gift: a Bat Mitzva tallit from our large and varied collection.

Come to one of our online store and make your pick.

www.galileesilkjudaica.com/shop

Tallitot ON SALE you find on Galileesilks.com

SALES on Womens Tallit from $99

Galilee Silks continues the ON SALE Tallitot campaign...Have a look at our Tallis for women and Bat Mitzvah girls.

More than 50% off from their original price now at $99, our high quality prayer shawls make great gifts.

Pray in style with a Galilee Silks Tallit!

Turtleneck accents for winter

Tutleneck or sweaters make sense during the cold winter months. As the winter continues, it becomes time to "jazz" up your sweater. How about a simple silk necklace to add some winter cheer to your wardrobe.

Galilee silks has more silk necklaces to choose from -- on our website:

http://www.galileesilks.com/index.php?cPath=30

Silk necklaces are different and can be part of your workday wardrobe. Thus, gold and silver jewelry can be used for special occasions.

Silk necklaces usually elicit comments from co-workers. Where did you get that? What a good idea -- a silk necklace. Silk is fancy but not ostentatious. A silk necklace is perfect for the work environment!

Silky smooth necklaces are appropriate for the winter season. Silk has the feel, and texture of snow and ice. Silk isn't cold like snow or ice. Silk makes me think of ice skating as I glide along the ice and the self-made wind blows. How about a matching silk scarf that we also sell at http://www.galileesilks.com/index.php?cPath=30

Winter is a spiritual time of year for me.

Winter is a spiritual time of year for me.

Indoors all the time with lots of time to think about the future.

To think well -- I need to stay warm especially around the neck area.

I don't want to catch the flu so I need a beautiful new scarf from http://www.galileesilkjudaica.com/ with Jerusalem hand painted on it.

We also have georgeous talitot, and other beautiful items for your prayers.

Hannukah miracle

Do Hannukah miracles have to be spectacular? Or can Hannukah miracles be the simple things?

My Hannukah, this year, was a miracle of simple things -- a new Hannukiah (candelabra), family togetherness, continuity, and some simple new winter garments. Aren't those things miracles too?

Galilee Silks offers garments, and accessories that are not simple. Our garments are modern, fashionable, and stylish. An addition to anyones wardrobe.

From indoor winter scarves to indoor tableclothes to woolen talitot -- Galilee Silks offers Jewish silk fashion for your indoor winter life with your family and friends during the cold season. Each or our items in our catalog are indoor miracles!

As always, Galilee Silks continues to offer traditional Jewish -- wedding, bar mitvah, bat mitvah, shabbat, Pesach, and other holiday items used throughout the Jewish year. Please, browse our full catalog, here.

Miracles come in small packages. Galilee Silks is proud to present our miracle traditional and winter items for your family.

Woman wearing talit at Kotel detained

We do not think the woman in the picture is wearing a Galilee Silks Tallit, but still we thought this event of interest for our blog. If you are a woman who wants to wear a Tallit, we have a LARGE VARIETY of Womens Tallitot in our shop...
and now to the article

This article is from the Jerusalem Post

Nov. 18, 2009Matthew Wagner , THE JERUSALEM POST
Police and Western Wall officials expelled a female prayer group from the Kotel area and arrested one of the women after they attempted Wednesday morning to read from a Torah scroll.
"We debated amongst ourselves whether or not to read from the Torah at the Kotel itself or to take the Torah to the Robinson's Arch," said Nofrat Frenkel, who was arrested and later released by police.
"In the end we decided that because nobody seemed to mind we would go ahead and read the Torah at the Kotel."
According to a compromise reached two decades ago under Supreme Court mediation, it was agreed that women who wished to wear talitot [prayer shawls] and kippot and read from the Torah would be allowed to do so at the Robinson's Arch adjacent to the Kotel and not directly in front of the Kotel so as not to offend Orthodox visitors.
On every Rosh Hodesh (beginning of the Jewish month) the Women of the Wall conduct prayers at the Kotel and at the Robinson's Arch. On Wednesday's visit there was a contingent of women from North America who are in Israel to take part in a rabbinical ordination ceremony to take place at the Reform Movement's Hebrew Union College.
Frenkel said that as the women unrolled the Torah scroll and began to prepare to read, officials from the Kotel Foundation arrived and demanded that they leave the premises.
Frenkel said that the women agreed to roll up the Torah scroll and take it to the Robinson's Arch. But on their way out Frenkel, who was wearing a talit and was carrying the Torah, was seized by police.
"I was pushed into a nearby police station and transferred to the main police station at Yaffo Gate," she said.
About 40 women who attended the prayer formed a procession and followed the police and Frenkel through the Old City to the Yaffo Gate where they congregated and sang songs until Frenkel was released.
Rabbi Felicia Sol of the post-denominational Bnei Jeshrun Synagogue on Manhattan's Upper West Side, said that the attempt to read from the Torah was an experiment with "pushing the boundaries".
"It is ridiculous that in a Jewish state that is supposedly democratic women cannot pray the way they want to and only one definition of Judaism is accepted," said Sol.
"It is sad that many secular Israelis are distanced from Judaism because in Israel religion is seen as a negative, divisive force instead of being compelling and meaningful."
Anat Hoffman, Chair of the Women of the Wall, said that the two-decade-old compromise that prevents women from reading from the Torah at the Kotel was outdated.
"Times have changed and women should be allowed to have a more central role in Jewish expression," said Hoffman.
Kotel Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz said in response that the women's actions were "a desecration of the sacred."
"They brought dissent and infighting to a place that is supposed to symbolize unity," said Rabinovitz. "And that is a desecration. They behaved like [biblical] Korah and his assembly."
Rabinovitz added that the women were motivated by a political agenda and did not want to simply pray.
However, Frenkel, who belongs to a Conservative congregation in Israel, said that her sole intention was to pray to God.
"We were not trying to cause a provocation," said Frenkel.
"I am not a political person. I come to pray and perform what is written in the Torah 'Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tzitzit on the corners of their garments'", said Frenkel referring the biblical verse that teaches the commandment to wear a talit.
Jerusalem Police said that they arrested a woman from after she donned a talit, while praying at the Western Wall.
According to a police spokesman, the woman was approached by officers after putting the prayer shawl on, which police said caused an outcry from other worshippers.
"Police calmed the situation down, and took the woman in for questioning," a statement from the spokesman said.
Abe Selig contributed to this story
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1258489193200&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull[ Back to the Article ]

Is 13 an Adult? About Bar Mitzvah

Galilee Silks found on the web this interesting part of an article on http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm

Quote:

"Many people mock the idea that a 12 or 13 year old child is an adult, claiming that it is an outdated notion based on the needs of an agricultural society. This criticism comes from a misunderstanding of the significance of becoming a bar mitzvah.

Bar mitzvah is not about being a full adult in every sense of the word, ready to marry, go out on your own, earn a living and raise children. The Talmud makes this abundantly clear. In Pirkei Avot, it is said that while 13 is the proper age for fulfillment of the Commandments, 18 is the proper age for marriage and 20 is the proper age for earning a livelihood. Elsewhere in the Talmud, the proper age for marriage is said to be 16-24.

Bar mitzvah is simply the age when a person is held responsible for his actions and minimally qualified to marry. If you compare this to secular law, you will find that it is not so very far from our modern notions of a child's maturity. In Anglo-American common law, a child of the age of 14 is old enough to assume many of the responsibilities of an adult, including minimal criminal liability. Under United States law, 14 is the minimum age of employment for most occupations (though working hours are limited so as not to interfere with school). In many states, a fourteen year old can marry with parental consent. Children of any age are permitted to testify in court, and children over the age of 14 are permitted to have significant input into custody decisions in cases of divorce. Certainly, a 13-year-old child is capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong and of being held responsible for his actions, and that is all it really means to become a bar mitzvah. "

Then the article goes on about giving Bar Mitzvah gifts...

There is where galilee Silks comes in, we have the perfect Br Motzvah or Bat Mitsva gift: a Tallit!

Galilee Silks Tallitot are appreciated greatly by the people who obtained one. We see this from the many enthousiastic response emails we receive from grandparents or parents who sometimes together with the br Mitzvah boy or the Bat Mitzvah girl, or without them make their choice from our online shops.

Do not forget our Tallitot on SALE! We invite you warmly!

Tallitot for Bat Mitzvah

Galilee Silks creates beautiful Tallitot for Bat Mitzvah girls. Often a grandmother or mother buys the Tallit as her special gift for her granddaughter or daughter.

Galilee Silks Tallitot are made very skillful with care for the smallest detail. We can imagine that the Bat Mitzvah girl herself can show her Bat Mitzvah Tallit to her own granddaughter when time comes!

Order your Bat Mitzvah gifts now while our Tallitot ON SALE is ongoing! Also have a peek in the special Bat Mitzvah department in or online store.

Passover Guides

A very good informative link for everything connected to Passover is on the website

of CHABAD

Visit Galilee Silks online Judaica store for beautiful table clothes, Matzo covers and Afikoman bags to complement your Passover Seder table!

Being Jewish - a lovely Tallit Poem

Tallis

by Roxanne Scher

I murmur the blessing
before flinging it on,
my silky, rippling tallis.

Like a whispering breath
on my shoulders, it reminds me
that I will now be praying.

The knotted fringes twine
around my fingers, like
ropes pulling me to safety.

Lilac and purple, blue and
turquoise, it catches the light and sunlight splashes on to me.

Waves of fabric roll on to my arms,
stroking my neck with
their flowing fingertips.

I touch the knot to
the torah as it goes by,
then kiss it with pride.

My silky, rippling tallis.

From the site: Being Jewish

Galilee Silks New Judaica Store updated

Our new Galilee Silks Judaica Gift store carries now more than 150 Tallitot for Men and boys, women and girls!
Our Tallitot follow the traditional classic tallit in wool with beautiful original designs, inspired by our natural environment: the Land of Israel.
Gallilee special designed Modern Tallis is very popular as Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah gift and make a beautiful present for Jewish weddings.
Bring a visit to our new Judaica store whith its user friendly display of our tallitot, make your choices and use the Paypal or Ccard checkout. We ship by expres and registered mail, and promise you a 100% friendly customer service! Soon we exand Galilee Silks Judaica with more Judaica gifts by Israeli artisans.

Practical Silk Information, for Judaica too!

Who said you cannot get a stain on your Tallit? No one right?
And the same counts for a challah cover as one of our customers emails us, when your friend puts the Shabbat candles on them accidently. You end up with big oily stains, what then?

Well, the good news is is some practical stain removal info on this nice informative community website.
Its all about corn starch, who would guess..
We cannot use the content of this article but are allowed a link to it, so just click the following link:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2305908_remove-grease-stains-from-silk.html

Good luck!

Galilee Silks Judaica on Etsy Treasury

Galilee Silks [ who else...] features the Jerusalem Silk Scarf in the Judaica Treasury on Etsy .com. Treasuries are a way to promote Etsians creations with for example: themed and color schemed treasury pages.

Its a great way to promote and actually leads to sales.
To catch one of the 333 available treasury spots is a real challenge though. Check it out!

Superior Tallit from Wool with Magen David Motif

A beautiful Classic Tallit was added today on Galileesilks Judaica on Etsy. We have the same Tallit in our main Galilee Silks store as new Judaica item for April.

This white and dark blue pure wool tallit has a Magen David motif as you can see in the image. The Atarah is embroidered.

This Tallit is something very special. A beautiful gift on the occassion of a Bar Mitzvah.

Have a look!
Shabbat Shalom!

Tips For Buying Genuine Judaica

This nice article explains clearly the meaning of "Judaica". We at Galilee Silks are very proud to to produce our Judaica Tallitot [ Tallis ] and silk Judaica for jewish Holidays and events.
We canfully underline the following quote from the article and invite you to follow up!:)

Buy Judaica products that have been manufactured in Israel, and not only will you get real products but also support the craftsmen of the country.

Tips For Buying Genuine Judaica by Anita Satin Choudhary
Any literature, religious articles and icons pertaining to the Jewish religion comprises as Judaica. Jewish faith is one of the oldest religions in the world and other religions like Muslims, Christians and the Baha'i. Authorized websites have a more professional design, bigger and larger variety of Judaica artifacts. Buy Judaica products that have been manufactured in Israel, and not only will you get real products but also support the craftsmen of the country. Take experts guidance in case, you are buying antiques online. All genuine Judaica comes in high quality sterling silver which is priced very high. Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and originated with the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Assyrian empires. This religion stresses on the belief in the One God, Creator of the universe and believe that God himself handed down codes for living to Moses, which traditional Jews still practice. Any literature, religious articles and icons pertaining to the Jewish religion comprises as Judaica. Jewish faith is one of the oldest religions in the world and other religions like Muslims, Christians and the Baha'i. All written texts on its stories, holidays and traditions, old and new, which can also include prayer books, mezuzah, menorahs and even the new material like movie posters, recipes, Passover posters and anything that relates to the traditions and customs of the Jewish religion is considered Judaica. Some of the things relating to the religion are collected for its sacredness while others are fond of these connections as a hobby. However, the question arises as to how to judge whether the antiques and Judaica products that are available online are good buys or just cheap replicas? One should be careful about sites that do not have a return address or contact land address. Return and refund policies should be clear while the insurance offered should be clearly stated on the website. Go in for websites that have their own domain name and accept major credit cards and modes of payment. Authorized websites have a more professional design, bigger and larger variety of Judaica artifacts. Look out for websites which have a good customer response background. Buy Judaica products that have been manufactured in Israel, and not only will you get real products but also support the craftsmen of the country. Take experts guidance in case, you are buying antiques online. There are many sites that are selling cheaper replicas with antique finishes, so it's better to be aware about products that you are putting your money in. Do a detailed survey of the raw material that the product is created out of. All genuine Judaica comes in high quality sterling silver which is priced very high. The next on the rung are silver plated goods and porcelain items. Genuine products will always be higher priced than replicas, which make it easier for you to check, which one is original! However, there are many Judaica items that will not be found online - family recipes, heritage and traditions for those fond memories will always remain in your heart.
About the Author Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory and Art Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of artifacts ranging from Judaica to Netsuke.