For such a small country, Israel is an economic powerhouse. Dubbed as a Start-Up Nation, Israel is lauded as a place wherein traits like innovation, creativity, and persistence is so commonly held by the population, that there must be something in the Dead Sea water. How did Israel become a paradise for creators and artists alike?

The cultural emphasis on creation is undeniable. For instance, in the mantra of Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts a globally renowned design school, they state,

"Then the Lord said to Moses, See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all manner of workmanship - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts." (Exodus 31, 1-5).

This is evidence to the undeniable amalgamation of religion and history that shaped Israel today. To compound on the pride that is heralded and encouraged amongst its citizens who feel compelled to create is a rich immigrant culture that created a mosaic of artistic influences within the country. 

According to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country maintains cultural agreements with more than 70 countries, which is not surprising as it is a largely immigrant society whose citizens are a heterogeneous population. Thus, it is hard to define what an Israeli is, apart from the broad definition, a person that resides in Israel, as they could be of varying race, ethnicity, and religion.

We display this sentiment in our About Us page, there we proudly state that: Israel's expansive array of cultural and religious influences have created a unique jewelry industry. 

Because for us at Omani, jewelry is art that we wear on our body, with it we can have the ability to send a powerful statement, even before we speak. “A piece of jewelry has always expressed identity and answers such questions as, who am I, or, what do I represent?" a quote from Dr. Iris Fishof who wrote the book, "Jewellery in Israel: Multicultural Diversity 1948 to the Present,” thus not only can jewelry be an agent of social change through self-expression, it can also inspire others and foster connections within communities.

The jewelry trade is so valued in Israel that it can be a lucrative industry for immigrants, Megemeria is one such organization that helps Ethiopian women transition into their new lives by teaching them not only how to create jewelry, but also Hebrew lessons, family budget and management training, math courses, and Israeli cultural lessons. 

We believe in quality, so bringing in products directly from Israel promotes fair trade, as Omani Jewelry believes in supporting the hard work dedicated by the artisans we have partnered with. 

Our curated collections are sourced directly from artisans who live in and around Israel's cosmopolitan capital, Tel- Aviv, also from Nazareth and beyond in the north to Be'ersheva, and the Negev to the south.