241. Lean on Me

graffiti, Tel Aviv

These hearts appear to be overflowing with love as they stick together.

Thank you Brad for spotting this one.

Brad's heart would love for others to support Nkosis Haven which helps children and mothers with HIV/AIDS http://www.emc.co.za/nkosi/nkosi.html

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

240. It's Raining!

a dry spot on the pavement, Tel Aviv

It's raining, it's pouring...while some love the rain, and the country is very thirsty for it, this heart like me loves being dry!

This heart would love for others to support 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

239. Letting go to Hold Love

plastic, Modiin

Rachel is one of the more special people I have met in Israel. The longer I know her the more I value her many positions in my life.

Yesterday Rachel brought me this heart which was originally one of five (I bring it to you today because I really wanted to share in my excitement for yesterday's article). Rachel shared with me that it was only after she let go of all the hearts that this one returned to her with much more than a simple symbol.

Today, Rachel holds both the symbol of love, as well as that which it stands for.

Rachel's heart would would love for others to contribute to the Israeli Society for Autistic Children http://alutfriends.org/

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

238. Jerusalem Post

newspaper, Tel Aviv

Stop in the name of Love!

Thank you Jacob for taking the time to see the exhibition and write about it in today's Jerusalem Post....YAY!

Jacob's heart would love for others to support Save a Child's Heart in helping children from third world countries get heart surgery in Israel http://www.saveachildsheart.org/

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

237. Greasy Heart

oil stain on pavement, parking lot, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan

A greasy heart is not always a sleezy heart.

This greasy heart looked very loving as it bid me farewell this evening.

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

236. Exhibition Opening - A Heart with many Faces

people, Lesley University, Natanya

At the Levavot exhibition opening I asked the people to get creative and make a heart for me....this is what the group came up with.

The group wanted their faces to be seen - So, I bring you a heart with many faces!

Thank you to all who came - you warmed my heart!

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

235. Mirror of Love

finger smudge on mirror, Tel Aviv

A while back this mirror on Ibn Gvirol street had a quote written on it "you are beautiful as you are" - I was sad when someone removed it.

This morning, as I was walking Hugo I noticed someone added a new message of love.

This heart forces us to see our reflection in a loving way - I love that!

This heart would love for others to support Beit-Hashanti in providing temporary shelter and care for at-risk youth http://www.shanti.org.il/eng/htmls/Home.aspx

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

234. Hearts from Danielle

plastic bag, Tel Aviv

Just like this bag I spent a large portion of my shabbat on the sofa relaxing. Just like this bag, I was loving it.

Thank you Danielle for sending me these hearts.

Danielle's heart wants you to help many causes by simply clicking your mouse http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1

*Content © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

233. Lightbulb Moment

digital camera, Tel Aviv

Brad had a lightbulb moment and decided to make Aliyah from South Africa!

Since creating this heart for me, Brad has captured many more hearts on his camera - Brad clearly sees the love in Israel - I love that!

Brad's heart would love for others to support Nkosis Haven which helps children and mothers with HIV/AIDS http://www.emc.co.za/nkosi/nkosi.html

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

232. Mother Tongue

graffiti, Raanana

This heart is simple, familiar, and even comes in my mother tongue.

This heart from the streets would love for others to support Delet Letikva (Door of Hope) in Tel Aviv, as the organization is in desperate need of your immediate help to continue providing care and housing to prostitutes and drug addicted individuals thedoorofhope.brian@gmail.com

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

231. Born with a Heart

birthmark, Modiin

Yael is a speech therapist to children with PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder). Shortly after meeting Yael I noticed this heart-shaped birth mark on her arm - I took this as a sign that she was a loving person. The more I get to know her the more I see I was right.

Today when I pointed out to Yael that I saw a heart in her birth mark, she told me she sees the map of Israel - Levavot: hearts found throughout Israel can be found on her arm!

Yael's heart would love for others to support Ezer Mizion in providing medical and social support services to help Israel's sick, disabled, elderly and underprivileged populations http://www.ezermizion.org/

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

230. Fashionably Late

toes with nailpolish, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan

Ronit is one of the spunkier and funkier family therapists I have come across.

This heart is often fashionably late and definitely knows how to make a statement!

Ronit's heart would love for others to help the needy via Latet http://www.latet.org.il/english/

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

229. Ceci n'est pas une Pipe - Ceci n'est pas un Coeur

pipe, Tel Aviv

The Belgian Surrealist artist, Magritte, created a painting of a pipe where beneath it he wrote Ceci n'est pas une pipe (this is not a pipe). Magritte challenged the viewer in a humerous way - making them question what is real and what is not.

Today I bring you my version of Ceci n'est pas une pipe - Ceci n'est pas un coeur (This is not a pipe -This is not a heart).

This heart would love for others to support the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, via the Friends of Bezalel http://www.bezalelfriends.org/friends/friends.html

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

228. Anything for Love

dog bone, Tel Aviv

Who says heaven is not on earth?

Today Hugo's dog food was delivered to the apartment along with some treats - including this bone.

This heart-shaped bone makes love look delicious!

I contacted Natalie at the petshop. Natalie's heart would love for others to contribute to ELEM in helping youth in distress http://www.elem.org.il/lm/english.asp?catid=137&parentid=0

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

227. Crush

berry (AKA Zanzalakh), Tel Aviv

"If you hold back your feelings because you are afraid of getting hurt, you end up hurting anyway" - author unknown

This heart has accepted that the only thing it can control is the choices it makes and the risks it takes - This heart is both relieved and afraid.

This heart would love for others to support the Jewish Agency in helping to transform the lives of children at risk in Israel http://www.jafi.org.il/projects/risk.htm

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

226. Bite Me

cookie with mirror in center, Tel Aviv

Person: Mirror, mirror on the cookie, who's the fairest of them all?

Mirror: Bite me!

Thank you Simone for bringing me this heart from Serbia!

Simone's heart would love for others to support Advocates for Asylum http://4asylum.org/

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

225. No - Yes - Mi

art work in book, Raanana

Today I met Yohanan, a very sweet, talented and funny man, who creates charming works of art which are currently on exhibit at Yad Lebanim in Raanana.

This heart is one of Yohanan's creations, which subliminally bares the name of his daughter, Nomi - (No - Yes-Mi) - hey that's my name too!

Thank you Yohanan for sharing some of your heart and wisdom with me today.

Yohanan's heart would love "for others to save water in Israel, but shower more!" For more on conserving water in Israel http://www.sviva.gov.il/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=Object&enDispWho=Articals^l2068&enZone=Water_Conservation

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

224. Dating in the City

dates, Tel Aviv

These wrinkly dates found love without plastic surgery.

These wrinkly dates embrace the beauty that comes with old age.

This heart would love for others to support Yad Sarah in helping sick, disabled and elderly people and their families http://www.yadsarah.org/index.asp?id=61

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

223. Sam - Lesley University

rock, Lesley University, Natanya

The journey which lead me to Levavot began several years back at Lesley University, where I studied Expressive Therapy with a concentration in Art Therapy. Today that journey came full circle as I hung up Levavot's first exhibition at the University in Natanya.

When I arrived I went to visit Sam, a dear friend I met there, who I think might actually love Israel more than me.

Sam gave me this heart-shaped rock which his daughter Orly found at the Jersey Shore - Thank you!

This rock, like Sam and I, comes from abroad and loves being in Israel!

Sam's heart would love for others to contribute to The Malki Foundation in enabling the families of special needs children in Israel to choose home care http://www.kerenmalki.org/

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

222. A Mobile Heart

marker on ceramic mobile, Tel Aviv

Sweet Liza touched my heart today when she sent me this package in the mail with the following note attached:

Dear Nomi,
Thought I had a <3 (heart) to send to you...
with <3,

Liza

Thank you so much Liza for this beautiful gift - mmmmmmmmmmmmoi!

This gift from the heart blossomed into a mobile heart - I guess it's time to get moving!!!

Liza'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

221. Love is All You Need

bumper sticker, Tel Aviv

Do you agree?

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

220. Makom Balev

fountain, Makom Balev, Raanana

This moring Megi and I set out to see some art at the Herzeliya Biennale...Instead we found ourselves at a restaurant called Makom Balev (A place in the heart).

Sometimes when you intend to do one thing the heart takes you on a different path...I love that!

Megi's heart would love for others to contribute to PITCHON-LEV in helping the needy in Israel http://www.pitchonlev.org.il/len/

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

219. Home Away from Home

rock, Tel Aviv

While Sylvio lives in Israel, he owns a piece of land in Brazil. Sylvio carries this heart-shaped rock with him to feel close to his home away from home.

In many ways Sylvio is like my rock, and I am so happy that he is building roots here close to me.

Sylvio's heart would love for others to contribute to the SPCA http://www.spca.org.il/english.php

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

218. Lost in Translation

graffiti, Herzeliya

While love crosses all boundaries it speaks different languages.

This heart is trying to speak, and the only thing I know is that it is capable of loving. That makes me want to know more...can someone help?

This heart makes me believe in peace through communication. Please check out the Peres Center for Peace http://www.peres-center.org/AboutCenter.html

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

217. The Need for Love on our Streets

part of road, Tel Aviv

As my neighborhood is literally being torn apart and turned upside down, I am struggling to find parking. In my moment of frustration it dawned on me that to others these very streets are the place they call home.

This heart, standing tall, does nothing less than shout out the need for love on our streets.

This heart would love for others to support ELEM in helping runaway, homeless and neglected Israeli and Arab youth in distress http://www.elem.org/index.php

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

216. Heartfelt

rug, Raanana

I don't know if it is the morning rain but I feel a sadness in the air, and my heart feels heavy. While I could bring you a heart which is snapped just for show, I would prefer to keep this project heartfelt. Hence, I wrote on Facebook and asked if anyone had a heart to give me today...

Thank you Ari for sending me this heart which seems to scream out Love! Thank you also to his 5 year old niece Tali for letting him use your rug for this photo.

This heart serves as a reminder to ask for help and to not stop believing!

Ari's heart would love for others to support brain research to fight disease http://www.psychobiology.org.il/

*Content © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

215. Sukkot

carving in wooden incense holder, Gedera

Visiting Ronnie, Marc and Joanie over sukkot...like a breath of fresh air...

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

214. Lehitraot Asi - See You Later

wet one, Marina, Herzeliya

Last night A group of friends got together to say goodbye to Asi.

This wet heart was sad to say Lehitraot (Hebrew for goodbye).

This wet heart prefers to say see you later.

Asi's heart would love for others to help bring Gilad Shalit home. To sign the petition and find out more http://www.habanim.org/en/atzuma1_en.html

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

213. Peace

flower petals, Tel Aviv

As fall has arrived, the sidewalks are covered with fallen leaves and petals...

"To everything turn,turn,turn

There is a season turn,turn,turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

[This heart believes in] a time of peace, I swear it's not too late!" (The Byrds)

This heart would love for others to support Seeds of Peace http://www.seedsofpeace.org/about

*Photo © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

212. Gilad Shalit

children's drawing, protest tent for the return of Gilad Shalit, Jerusalem

I took this photo on July 17 at the protest tent for the return of Gilad Shalit.

Today, a chilling video was released showing signs of life from Gilad Shalit.

This heart reflects the heart of the nation which is with Gilad Shalit.

This heart would love for others to help bring Gilad Shalit home. To sign the petition and find out more http://www.habanim.org/en/atzuma1_en.html

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

211. Weeping

air-conditioner dripping on pavement, Raanana

This massive heart is made up of a collection of drips from an air-conditioner.

Even the Ice-Queen herself will weep in love.

This massive heart would love for others to support the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel http://www.1202.org.il/English/

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