Monday, August 31, 2009

180. Y's Wish

cappuccino, Santa Monica, California, virtually found in Tel Aviv
I usually only post hearts found in Israel, but read on and you will see why I had a change of heart and made an exception to my rule.
This heart was sent to me by Y. (who asked that I leave his name out), with the following text:
"This is a pic I took for myself, but would like to share with you... I'm not sure if it's a heart or a bird, or both; but to me, in my context, it represents a wish. I hope you'll pray for it to come true...it's from a date last week with a girl that I really liked. We're going out again tonight and I'm very excited and hoping that it goes well...I took the photo so that I could email it to her, because she liked the design (ironically, I don't have her email). "
In the name of love let's all pray for Y.!
Y.'s heart would love for others to support the Jewish National Fund http://www.jnf.org/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 30, 2009

179. Avi

ant-hill, Tel Aviv
This morning I paid a visit to a family preparing for a funeral. As we sat in the home loss and grief were vividly in the air.
Just hours before I found this heart, which ironically reflects the life which resides beneath the earth.
This heart reminds us that love never dies.
May Avi's soul rest in peace.
This heart supports those suffering from loss via The Israel Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma http://www.traumaweb.org/content.asp?pageid=117
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, August 29, 2009

178. Permanent

tattoo, Tel Aviv
This heart on Natalie's back crossed my path bright and early this morning, and ironically feels like an angel sent it my way.
This permanently open heart continues to take a risk in love in a place which feels more safe.
This heart reminds us to listen to our body as we keep our heart open.
Natalie's heart would love for others to support Al-Sam in the fight against drug abuse in youth and children http://www.alsam.org.il/about.asp?id=8
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Friday, August 28, 2009

177. Hanging on to Baggage

metal bag holder, Tel Aviv
Today I met up with my dear friend Simone, whom I cannot believe it took this long to make it into Levavot. Simone and I connect on so many levels, and for that reason I cherish our friendship greatly.
Today Simone spoiled me with a bunch of hearts, one of which is captured here - Thanks Simone!
This heart casually hangs on to baggage, and still seems to have lots more room for love.
Simone's heart would love for others to support the hotline for migrant workers http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotline.org.il%2F&h=03b9b15e2967c21b0c9156f56963c26b
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, August 27, 2009

176. Action

metal shelf, Tel Aviv
These hearts sit on a wall of a 24 hour cafe/ bar, providing customers with news within the city that never sleeps.
These hearts love action.
Asaf, the owner of the cafe/bar, is responsible for these hearts. Asaf's heart would love for others to contribute in supporting the fight against cancer (awaiting link).
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

175. Beautiful

flower petals, Mevasseret
I woke up in Mevasseret this morning and found this beautiful heart on my morning walk.
This heart loves looking at the hills of Jerusalem from a distance.
This heart would love for others to contribute to the American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel http://www.aspni.org/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

174. Itzik (Accepting)

rock, Even Yehudah
A heart washed up on the beach
Passing hands
The possiblity of so much if we can accept it
This heart was given to me by Itzik, and I would love nothing more than to accept it - Thank you Itzik.
Itzik's heart would love for others to help children with cancer http://www.israelcancer.org/home.html
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Monday, August 24, 2009

173. Levavot

facebook profile picture, Tel Aviv
I have recently started a cause on facebook for Levavot. While I do not know how to make this cause visible to people who search for it (I have tried everything my untechnical self could think of), news is beginning to spread.
I was thrilled to find my heart for the day on a new member's profile picture - Thank you Maxime for supporting Levavot!
This heart loves Israel - I love that!
Please join the Levavot cause on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/337051/3951902?m=6f3db6f8
*Content © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 23, 2009

172. Coaching

dirty water and soap bubbles in bucket, Tel Aviv
The small shape next to this heart looks like a bubble as though it is trying to speak - I think it is trying to say 'Halleluyah!'
This heart is so happy to be getting rid of unwanted filth.
This heart invites you to clean up unwanted filth in your life with a certified personal development coach. For more information contact Leanne at Leanneshulman@hotmail.com , or give Leanne a call: 054-542-0978
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, August 22, 2009

171. Tremendous Surprise

cat's mouth, Herzeliya
Gingy, AKA 'Tremendous Surprise', is a Persian Peke Face, and incidently the only heart in Levavot to show its face - I simply could not resist sharing it with you!
This picky Peke Face has a heart shaped mouth, and will only eat hand fed strips of beef each morning from Helene.
This heart loves gourmet!
Helene's heart would love for others to contribute to Let the Animals Live Israel http://www.letlive.org.il/english/home.php
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Friday, August 21, 2009

170. Bicycle

bicycle seat, beach, Tel Aviv
Galit is one of the more eclectic and interesting people I have met in Israel. Her hobbies and interests take her all over - as does her bicycle which is one of her latest and greatest discoveries.
This bicycle was quite pricey, but according to Galit it is worth every bit.
This heart reminds us to invest in those things we love.
Galit's heart would love for others to contribute to autistic children via ALUT http://alutfriends.org/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, August 20, 2009

169. Dad and Mom Love Bar

carving in cement, At base of an electical column, Tel Aviv

I found this heart in the strangest of places: at the base of an electical column, surrounded by four walls. Were it not for Hugo sniffing the terrain this heart would have surely been missed.

Equally unusual for a cement street carving was the writing, "Dad and mom love Bar". I couldn't help but wonder who wrote this?

This heart seems desperately to crave security and unconditional love.

To help youth in distress via ENAV http://www.enav.org.il/index.php?page_id=49
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

168. Brunch with Lilach

bread cream cheese and egg, Tel Aviv Boardwalk
As I am sort of on vacation, I am sort of living it up. This morning I had brunch with a very dear friend and former colleague, Lilach.
By the seaside we discussed everything from love and life, to dreams and reality.
This heart seemed to join in on our conversation suggesting that we need to properly nourish our dreams for them to turn into reality.
Lilach's heart would love for others to help those with learning disabilties via Partners with Parents http://partnerswithparents.co.il/articlenav.php?id=75#help

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

167. Stick Together

cinammon sticks, Tel Aviv
These hearts stick together.
These hearts would love for others to help impoverished families in Israel http://www.meirpanim.org/index_e.php
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Monday, August 17, 2009

166. Control

metal dog tag, Tel Aviv
This dog tag was in the process of being engraved by Batya, and in Hebrew reads Hugo.
While we ultimately have no control over destiny, when we love someone we try our best to hold onto them.
This dog tag has permanently taken Hugo into its heart, and will do its best to keep him with me - I love that!
Batya's heart would love for others to contribute to Let the Animals Live Israel http://www.letlive.org.il/english/home.php
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 16, 2009

165. Uh-Oh

rose quartz, broken pendant, Tel Aviv
This morning as I went to place this necklace around my neck it slipped through my fingers onto the floor. Rose quartz is a gemstone of love, so when I saw this heart had cracked in two my superstitious self was not very pleased.
This broken heart will not be glued, or replaced by a clone. I hope a new and improved heart will find its way to me - I promise to be more careful next time.
To get involved with the American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel http://www.aspni.org/index.html
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, August 15, 2009

164. Camping

tent window, Achziv
This heart loves camping and the outdoors.
Sarah's heart would love for others to get involved with the American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel http://www.aspni.org/index.html
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Friday, August 14, 2009

163. Smores

smores, Achziv
This smore was a religious experience for the non-observant Jew on shabbat.
This heart loves the tradition of smores in the outdoors.
Happy Birthday Ronnie!
Ronnie's heart would love for others to contribute to Kvutzat Shekulo Tov (The group of all good) - an organization that helps mentally challenged people. You can purchase products made by them on the following site http://www.s-tov.org.il/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, August 13, 2009

162. Perfectly Different

plum, Tel Aviv
This plum is not plump.
This plum is not pear-shaped.
This plum is uniquely and beautifully heart-shaped.
In an imperfect world this plum is perfectly different.
This ripe and juicy fruit of the gods sacrifices itself for our pleasure- I dare you!
To help feed people in need check out Table to Table http://www.tabletotable.org.il/english/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

161. The Path to being Enlightened in Love

street lamp, Mevasseret
By day these hearts seem to be ignored. I hope that by night they are appreciated, for these hearts seem to have the potential to enlighten us in love.
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

160. The Best of Both Worlds

sticker, Park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv
Why settle when you can have both?
This heart loves being center stage.
Megi's heart loves children and Yoga. For more information on yoga and movement workshops in Tel Aviv for children ages 2-4 contact Megi at meggi.as@gmail.com
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Monday, August 10, 2009

159. A Curator at Heart

business card, Israel Museum logo, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Amitai is the curator of Israeli art at the Israel museum, Jerusalem. Just like his name which in Hebrew means genuine, this man is genuinely passionate and caring about art.
Today, as we sat and discussed Levavot he bagan to see them all over, and even filled in the gaps to transform the Museum's logo into a heart.
Amitai is clearly a curator at heart!
Amitai's heart would love for others to donate to Ilan in helping physically disabled children http://www.ilan-israel.co.il/index.php?page_id=2&lang_action=change_lang&to_lang=en
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 9, 2009

158. Eat your Heart Out

cookie, Givat Chen
While this cookie was actually captured yesterday, I felt that the protest was a more important heart to show.
In love we must learn to compromise. However, if we really love something we do not need to give it up altogether.
I love dessert, and was willing to compromise for this heart - that is why you see it a day later.
This heart would love for others to get involved with Table to Table in feeding the hungry http://www.tabletotable.org.il/english/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, August 8, 2009

157. I Love Me

t-shirt, Rabin Square, Tel Aviv
Following the heinous crime against GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender), more than 70,000 people showed up to protest against homophobia in Rabin Square.
Lahav showed up in solidarity wearing this shirt, which ironically reads"I love me", as it peaks through the vest worn over it.
This heart is out of hiding and is not afraid to love itself!
Lahav's heart would love for others to support Beit Dror's emergency center for GLBT youth in Israel http://www.bethdror.org/english.html
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Friday, August 7, 2009

156. Love Letters of Great Men

book cover, Tel Aviv
Since beginning this project I have received so many hearts from people all over, and since my birthday the hearts and love just keep pouring in - thank you to everyone!
In the spirit of hearts and love my dear neighbor, friend, and long time brunch mate, Keren gave me this little treasure; Love Letters of Great Men. What a wonderful way to start the year - thank you Keren for this slice of inspiration, and so much more!
Keren's heart would love for others to contribute to the rape crisis center in Tel Aviv http://tlv.1202.org.il/English/template/default.asp?siteId=6
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Thursday, August 6, 2009

155. Love Story - Leanne and Ofer

hands, while signing marriage register, Capetown, South Africa
Ofer and I "met" in 1991 when I was doing a teen program in Israel. The last 3 months of it was an army course called Ma'rva. Ofer was one of the commanders on the course. He was 20, and I was 18. After the course I left to go back to South Africa and kept in contact with some of the Israeli commanders that I met, but not Ofer. We were never even friends.
16 years later, I got a message on facebook from him - he just wanted to say hi and catch up. To be completely honest, I wasn't sure who he was as I didn't ever know his last name, and the picture wasn't very clear. I replied to him honestly, and asked him if he was the Ofer from the army. He replied that he was and we started chatting....quite a bit, in fact. He started calling me in South Africa and we just got along really well. We got into a quick habit of speaking to each other over skype, msn and phone for at LEAST 6 hours a day! My friends were amazed, and wanted to know what we could possibly be talking about.
4 days into our chatting, Ofer announced that he was booking his ticket to Cape Town - I nearly fell over. I was freaking out, thinking, what is this guy up to!?!? My friend Robyn even mailed a mutual friend of ours and Ofer's in Israel to ask if he could be trusted! I had a good feeling about it, but Ofer must have had some kind of gut feeling that this was going to work. In the two months that followed, we spoke every day for hours on end and fell in love without even meeting in person.
Many people were happy and excited; others skeptical. I myself, who had been single for over 5 years, happy, set in my ways, was extremely cynical about true love, quite content to be on my own forever and very specific in what I was looking for in a man - I came to believe that this person did not exist.
On 21 December 2007 Ofer landed in Cape Town. I fetched him from the airport, nervous as all hell, and took him to his hotel. But from the moment we "re-met", we just clicked.....and we were engaged 26 days later (to be precise)! We travelled back and forth to Israel and South Africa, and are now both living in Manchester, UK, about to celebrate our first wedding anniversary on 1 September.
Sometimes it just fits, so why not take the chance!
Leanne and Ofer's heart would love for others to contribute to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation for cancer research http://www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk/

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

154. Tu B'av/ Amukah/ Birthday

plastic bag tied to tree branch, Amukah, Galilee
Amukah sits in a forest, and is the burial site of Rabbi Yonatan ben Uzziel. What better place to go on Tu B'av (Israel's love day) as this Rabbi is traditionally believed to bless the unmarried with finding a marriage partner.
Near the tomb I found a section of brightly colored trees where believers tie fabrics and plastic bags to the branches in the hopes of tying their own knot. It was in this colorful patch of the forest that I found my heart of the day.
This heart believes in love!
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

153. Early Celebration

almonds on cake, Modiin
Gali is one of my very special finds in Israel. Her curiosity, talents and modest wisdom inspire me on a regular basis, and I cherish our friendship very much.
Thank you Gali for these healthy hearts...I wish for....
Gali's heart would love for others to contribute to protecting Israel's environment through Adam Teva V'Din http://www.adamteva.org.il/?CategoryID=388
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Love Story

After Tu B'Av (Israel's love Day) I plan to post love stories in Israel.

I have received several and am welcoming more ;-)

all ages, religions...

Please send in with:
1. your secret to making love last
2. a picture of a heart which in some way relates to your story - (no faces please)
3. Where you and your partner's heart would like people to donate to
4. include your and your partner's first names only

in subject please write: love story

Please send to moimoimoi75@gmail.com

Monday, August 3, 2009

152. Sucker for Love

pacifier, Tel Aviv
This heart belongs to my dear friend Libby, whose name means "my heart".
This precious heart loves that her mommy gets 3 months maternity leave.
Libby's heart would love for others to contribute to the gay community http://www.hod.org.il/?en=1
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 2, 2009

151. Turned Off and Heartbroken

metal light fixture, Tel Aviv
Just like this light fixture I am turned off and heartbroken by the shooting at the gay center in Tel Aviv.
This heart mourns the lives of Nir Katz and Liz Trubeshi.
This Saturday, August 4, 20:00-23:00 there will be a protest at Kikar Rabin against homophobia http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=139352425929
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

Saturday, August 1, 2009

150. African in Israel

African Grey's feathers, parrot farm, Kfar Hess
While this African Grey remained silent, the heart on its back spoke a thousand words.
This heart gave much love to Hilton on his 29th birthday - Happy Birthday Hilton!
Hilton's heart would love for others to help lone soldiers http://lonesoldiers.ning.com/
*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved