Olive Tree Gallery Safed
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{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
| − | |title = | + | |title = Tzfat Ethiopian Committee |
| − | |image = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt= | + | |image = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Tzfat Ethiopian Committee ]] |
|header1 = Hebrew: | |header1 = Hebrew: | ||
| − | |data2 = | + | |data2 = הועד למען יהודי יוצאי איטיאופיה בצפת |
| − | | | + | |header9 = Description: |
| − | + | |data10 = The Committee for Ethiopian Jews in Safed.}} | |
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| − | + | Shortly after the first large wave of Ethiopian Jews began to immigrate to Israel in 1985, a group of supporters established the Safed Committee for Ethiopian Jews as a way of assisting the new immigrants meet their needs. The Committee’s objective is to provide financial assistance during the difficult first years of transition to better prepare the immigrants to enter Israeli society. | |
| − | == | + | == History == |
| − | + | The “Beta Yisrael” -- Ethiopian Jewish Community -- are believed to be descendants of Jews who immigrated into Africa between 2000 and 2500 years ago. Some scholars believe that they are descendants of the Tribe of Dan. | |
| − | The | + | The community began to immigrate to Israel in the 1970s and two large waves, in 1985 -- Operation Moses -- and 1991 -- Operation Solomon-- brought in large numbers of Ethiopian Jews. Since 1991 the immigration has continued in small groups of several hundred every month. |
| − | == | + | === Safed Absorption Centers === |
| − | + | [[Safed]] has played a major part in the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants since the 1985 immigration. Three absorption centers exist where immigrants settle into Israel, learn Hebrew and complete any religious requirements which allow them to become fully-recognized as Jewish citizens of Israel. | |
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| − | = | + | [[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on [[Ethiopian Absorption Safed|Ethiopian Absorption in Safed]]''' |
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| − | === | + | === Government Assistance === |
| − | The | + | The Israeli government provides the immigrants with housing and living stipends during their first two years in Israel. These funds cover their basic living expenses but there are many “extras” which are not funded. |
| − | == | + | == Dr. Yehoshua Sivan == |
| − | + | Dr. Yehoshua Sivan, himself an “oleh” -- immigrant -- from Great Britian, established the the Committee for Ethiopian Jews in Safed in 1986 to assist the new immigrants with their absorption. | |
| − | === | + | === Activities === |
| − | The | + | The volunteers who assist the Committee raise funds for needs that government subsidies don’t cover. Their mission statement states that their objective is to “supply the physical and spiritual (cultural, educational, and religious) needs of Ethiopian Jews in Safed and elsewhere, to encourage their social and educational advancement and to intervene on their behalf with local and national authorities. |
| − | + | Funds that the Committee raises go towards home repairs, purchasing appliances, school fees, professional training, dental treatment, medications and emergency assistance. | |
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| + | == The Committee == | ||
| + | The Committee is chaired by Dr. Yehoshua Sivan, a chemistry teacher who established the committee together with other Tzfat residents and members of the Ethiopian community. | ||
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| + | === Fundraising === | ||
| + | The Committee fundraisers through donors who live throughout the world. In addition, Dr. Sivan, Committee members and volunteers collect bottles and cans for deposit and use the money to help subsidize their activities. [[Safed Restaurants|Restaurants]] and private citizens from throughout Tzfat assist in this effort. | ||
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| + | {{Safed Institutions}} | ||
| + | {{Safed Spelling}} | ||
{{Claim Page}} | {{Claim Page}} | ||
[[Category:Safed]] | [[Category:Safed]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category:Israeli Organizations]] |
Latest revision as of 21:53, 13 February 2013
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| Hebrew: | |
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| גלריה עץ הזית | |
| Pronunciation: | |
| Zay-yit | |
| Other Names: | |
| Avi Sade Gallery | |
| Description: | |
| Exhibition of a wide variety of art from artists located in Tzfat and the rest of Israel. |
Olive Tree Gallery is one of the first galleries that tourists see when they get off the bus in the main Safed visitor parking lot, near the Big Staircase.
Contents |
[edit] Background
For many years the central square that was located between the Jewish and Arab Quarters of Tzfat served as a joined marketplace for both Jews and Arabs. After the Arab riots of 1929 the British built a staircase through the marketplace to separate the two populations. Many of the old market buildings were abandoned during this time and by the early years of the 21st century, had begun to collapse.
The Sade family envisioned ways to utilize these buildings as part of Tzfat’s growing artist community. They renovated many of these abandoned buildings. In 2010 Avi Sade opened the Olive Tree Gallery in the largest of the renovated buildings.
[edit] Vision
Avi Sade, proprietor of the Olive Tree Gallery, planned to create a major international art center which would market and distribute paintings, sculptures, jewelry and Judaica produced by local Tzfat artists as well as other talented Israeli artists. The main gallery structure is over 200 years old and consists of six separate exhibition halls.
[edit] Artists
The Olive Tree gallery exhibits the art of well-known established artists as well as the art of new artists and artisans.
[edit] Menashe Kadishman
Menashe Kadishman is one of Israel’s best-known contemporary artists. He is a native Tel Aviv artist who studied at the St. Martin's School of Art at the University of London. His works represent an aesthetic and moral response to history and he expresses the universal human meaning in his paintings including many depictions of nature, sheep and shepherding as characterizations of the human condition. Sheep portraits are Kadishman’s artistic trademark and the Olive Tree Gallery features many of these paintings and sculptures as well as other Kadishman works.
[edit] Reuven Gafni
The conceptions behind Reuven Gafni’s sculptures derive from Israel’s spirituality and physicality. Gafni has sculpted many works that he has dedicated to victims of Arab terror and Israeli soldiers. Gafni works in stone and iron. The Olive Tree Gallery exhibits Gafni’s fine Judaica works including mezuzza covers and menorahs as well as other abstract sculptures.
[edit] Tzuki Art
Shai Peleg and Orna Cohen Hazam created "Tzuki Art" which is displayed exclusively in Tzfat at the Olive Tree Gallery. The bright, imaginative designs are created with the goal of drawing observers to feel happy and uplifted when they view the Tzuki works. The colorful decorative pieces include humor and spirituality in their patterns and motifs. Tzuki Art displays candlesticks, serving bowls, metal flowers in their vase, multi-colored menorahs, vibrant seder plates and other items of both Judaica and general art. Tzuki Art is an unconventional art form which appeals to religious and non-religious observers alike.
[edit] Other Artists
The Olive Tree Gallery also exhibits the whimsical works of Dan Shamir, the oil paintings of Sergei Moskalev, Yuval Mahler’s observances of Israeli life and Roman Glass jewelry from Kibbutz Revadim along with many other traditional and contemporary artists and artisans.
[edit] The Gallery
The Olive Tree Gallery is open daily and is located opposite the tourist bus parking lot between the Old Jewish Quarter and the Artists Quarter.
