Tour of craftsmen of Jaffa

Summer is here and it’s hot, no doubt. But even in the heat it’s fun to discover delightful treasures with a scent of nostalgia. Especially if they’re under your nose. We invite you to tour our neighborhood with us, discover places where time has stopped. Pay a virtual visit to those who still work with their hands or those who stand behind businesses that go back generations.

A tour like this in Jaffa is a visit to an old world, with hope for a new one, a glimpse into the world of those who respect and preserve what is beautiful and valuable. 

This is our recommended tour, from Jerusalem Boulevard, through the Flea market, to our studio.

Meir Roasting House, Jaffa – Marzipans – 62  Jerusalem Blvd.

Our first stop is at Meir’s, because of the marzipan. We discovered this handmade marzipan on a Jaffa tour with Sigal Granot and Renana Benit.

The marzipan is produced every day and in small quantities, along with crackers and other Bulgarian sweets. A true craftsmanship with its professional secrets kept. A capsule of sweetness with taste and aroma of the past. The founding father of the Roast – Yisrael Levy – started his journey with hawker carts in the bustling center of the “Tamar Garden” in Jaffa, roasting the nuts in a small family home, leading them daily to the center. His business flourished. Later the store and the roasting house moved to Jerusalem Boulevard. Today Israel’s great-grandson, Meir, runs the family business.

NOW Studio – Pottery – 2 Ben Gamliel st.

Photo by (left to right): Efrat Lozanov, Dan Perez

Pottery, or ceramics, is one of the oldest handicrafts, the one most associated with archeology, and with human abilities throughout history. With that, this stop is actually the most contemporary on our tour.

Studio NOW was established two years ago by Irit Biran. The studio creates beautiful, precise and amazingly modern ceramics and takes the traditional technology to new levels of finesse. The objects convey the love of Irit and her team for clay and hand work, and are characterized by a clean design. The studio is superbly designed and every detail speaks of precision and passion. Irit was a lawyer who decided to follow her heart and hands and open a studio for ceramics and hospitality. The studio hosts various workshops and artists, and everything is carefully curated to make you feel nourished and inspired. A place not to be missed.

Loni Vintage – Fashion and Accessories – 6 Yoezer st.

A considerable part of handicrafts comes from the world of textiles, which has always been led by the big fashion brands and shows. Embroidery, knitting, and weaving have been used by designers and artisans to differentiate their designs and bring their creative ideas to life. Places that collect such clothes are always exciting.

When we entered Loni Vintage, we met a woman who immediately “scolded” us to sit down because we are very tall, and she is old and cannot keep her head up all the time. Loni opened her shop 28 years ago, after a career as a surgical doctor. She stocks vintage luxury brand items and has items you can’t help but fall in love with. For example, she has a small crocheted handbag that Jackie Kennedy’s mother knitted for her, and also some beautiful items owned by Elizabeth Taylor.

Moshe Sinai – Repairing antique carpets – 3 Olei Zion st.

One of the most intriguing examples of craft is the Persian carpet. Thoughtful work of stretching wool into threads, of dyeing with different pigments, of making a warp, huge looms, instruction booklets and skillful hands. Moshe Sinai from the flea market used to import carpets from all over the world. He says that today’s market is in decline, the production of handmade carpets is reducing and also the demand for antique carpets is not keeping pace in such a saturated market.

We heard about Moshe from Omer Danan, the woman with all the best recommendations. At Moshe’s store you can find Persian, Afghan carpets and more. Moshe says his store was the first one in the market, being around for over 60 years. Some of the carpets are spread outside on the street and the rest are in the spacious store. Every carpet has a story.

Moshe also repairs carpets. He works with Hosno, a converted Iranian Muslim (which sounds like an interesting story in itself). He says that there is no person in Israel who knows how to repair Persian carpets of a higher quality and standard than him.

The Shmuel brothers – Copper vessels – 7 Beit Eshel st.

Copper is one of the most widely used metals by mankind. It has been used since the dawn of history and in a wide geographical distribution. Copper vessels are made by hammering, which is a manual and precise craft that is done with a hammer and a special surface. Copper is used for jewelry making and household utensils and they are festive and beautiful and require maintenance and attention.

For this purpose there are places like the Shmuel brothers. This is a family business that has been around for 45 years. They clean and preserve metals. You can find trays, bowls, vessels, hamsas and other bargains in copper that they collect and produce. We met Hezi, who has been hammering copper since he was a young man. He learned the craft and job from his Father and grandfather.

After 45 years in the business, he can place every plate, candlestick or pitcher geographically and in time. Hezi says that over the years he learnt to recognize the different elements, materials and thickness. For example, the urn in the picture is about 40 years old, an Indian urn that came from Kashmir.

Fuad – Faiz Restoration – Woodwork – 15 Yefet st. (Showroom), Rivka and Shlomo Abolafia alley (Carpentry)

Fuad’s carpentry is right next door to our studio. Every morning they work outside the carpentry and we throw a curious look, say good morning and continue on our way. We knew they were busy with very interesting projects, and every now and then we saw an amazing door coming out of the carpentry doors.

Carpentry is a craft that still exists among us and we use it daily, but original carpentry, full of motifs and special elements, has become a very unique specialization that only few engage in. At Faiz Restoration they preserve and restore historical carpentry. The works are very emotional.

This time we entered the carpentry shop and heard from Fuad, the owner, who told us that this is the business that continues from generation to generation. Today he is an expert in restoring antique doors. His vast knowledge comes from his father and grandfather. Every door has its story, the carvings and the work testify to the period and the culture. They make such beautiful doors, impressively strong and delicate at the same time.

Last stop – iota Studio – 12 HaTsorfim st.