359. Captured Moving Hearts from Gadi

frame from a video clip, link sent to me in Tel Aviv

The first time I met Gadi while we barely exchanged words, I felt as though he spoke to my heart. I later discovered that this rare feeling was felt on both sides - something I still don't understand, and perhaps in there lies the beauty.

Nearly two years later Gadi sent me this video requesting that I use the hearts for my 359th levavot. For copyright reasons I bring you the still frame with the hearts. To view the video click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_xE47nypRM&feature=related

These sweet hearts are part of a fleeting moment, and when captured the experience is completely different.

Thank you Gadi for touching my heart - again.

Gadi's heart would love for others to support (link to come)

*Content © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

353. Unconditional Love

specs of mold on persimmon, Jerusalem

Mmmm!

Old!

To eat, or not to eat: That is the question.

This heart loves unconditionally.

Thank you Rachel for sending me this heart.

Rachel's heart relishes in public art, and would love for you to join in on her fun. Check out her site and get to know Jerusalem in a unique way http://www.famouscatsofjerusalem.com/

*Content © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

347. I Lev This

graffiti, Tel Aviv

V-day - no heart from a sweetheart.

Nearing the end of Levavot - feeling a bit tired.

This heart reminds us to "know hope".

This heart was just perect for today.

To see more of the know hope artist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YjxTrY-zdk

Happy Valentine's Day!

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

342. Don't Burn Bridges

graffiti, park Hayarkon, Tel Aviv

Today a new friendship began with an old friend. Moments later I found this new heart graffiti on this old bridge.

Sometimes, even a relationship with lots of love can grow into a new and different love if you take the time and effort.

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 2010. All Rights Reserved

331. Tu B'Shevat

detail from metal sculpture made by Yoma Segev, scultpture garden, Gedera

Today is Tu B'Shevat, the celebration for the new year of the trees. Ronnie and I took a drive around Gedera to honor the greenery, and so came across this quaint sculpture garden. After capturing this heart we went to buy some dried fruit and wine, and so celebrated the holiday in traditional Israeli fashion.

This heart, made of horse heads looking at eachother face to face tells us that we must dare to let others see us to let love in.

This heart would love for othesr to support the History Museum of Gedera http://ilmuseums.com/museum_eng.asp?id=74

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

325. Hand Painted Hearts for Me

acrylic on canvas, Raanana

Today Perli gave me this original, hand painted work of art - am I the luckiest person?!

Solid, glowing, pulsating, rainbow proud, broken and separate, metalic and protected, each one of these 15 hearts is an absolute treasure, and when put together I am in love!

Thank you Perli for bringing me this gorgeous work of art from South Africa.

Perli's heart would love for others to help with Ezer Mizion http://www.ezermizion.org/

Joel is the artist who created this work.

Joel's heart would love for others to support (link to come).

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

320. Keef

graffiti, Tel Aviv

Today it is raining in Israel - BIG TIME. I was happy to capture this heart close to my home which I had passed many times and saved for a rainy day.

Keef is the hebrew word for giving a high-five.

As I captured this heart I wanted to give it a keef!

This heart would love for others to support Israel at Heart in helping to promote a better understanding of Israel and its people http://www.israelatheart.org/aboutus.php

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

313. Love After a Break Up

mosaic, hanging in a school, Modiin

Sometimes we need to put the pieces together to find love again.

This heart would love for others to support Natal, Israel's trauma center for victims of terror and war http://www.natal.org.il/english/

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

311. Hungry Heart

sculpture, Tel Aviv

I spotted this sculpture while in the car, so I am not sure what it stands for. From a distance it looks like a heart with teeth.

This heart overlooking the Mediteranean looks like a hungry heart.

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

299. The Reveal

tattoo, Tel Aviv

As 2009 comes to an end I have marked this incredible process I have been on for the past 10 months on my body...the blog will last 365 days, its message to keep an open heart will stay with me for life - thank you to all who have shared their heart and love with me!

Thank you Alex for this beautiful gift which I will cherish until I get old and wrinkly.

Thank you Motty for creating this.

Alex and Motty's hearts would love for others to help help children with cancer http://www.israelcancer.org/home.html

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

287. Quenching

paper, Tel Aviv

I am back in Israel, and can already feel the love and generosity as I open my inbox to find this image sent to me by Sarah. Sarah is a fellow blogger, muti-cultural Israeli and art lover.

Sarah's hearts placed on a Coca Cola machine quench our thirst for more hearts, as her blog post from today informs us of an art exhibition entitled "Perhaps the Heart" http://www.ohsoarty.com/

Sarah's heart would love for others to support (link to come)

*Content © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

280. Angels in Switzerland (Hearts Travel to Switzerland)

L'Ange Protecteur, Niki de Saint Phalle, Zurich train station, Switzerland

This is one of my favorite works of art.

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

263. I Love Zizi

graffiti, Tel Aviv

The French community seems to be growing in Israel, and with it came some fantastic street art.

This heart takes me to a French song called Le Zizi (the Penis), by Pierre Perret which I grew up on and loved listening to...(to hear the song click on the following link)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIvLqgvO5Tg ...perhaps in there lies the seed to my studying Sex Therapy?

This heart would love to help others find a mohel in Israel to perform a Brit Milah (circumcision) http://eng.itim.org.il/?CategoryID=197&ArticleID=497

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

262. Angelic Hearts

graffiti, Tel Aviv

Islam, Judaism and Christianity all speak of angels - these winged hearts cross all religions.

As I am shortly approaching my 100 days left in Levavot, I would like to feature a monthly person with a big heart - an individual who is doing inspiring and extraordinary things in Israel.

If you are one of these people, or you know someone like this

Please write to me at levavot.hearts@gmail.com (in the subject write: levavot people with big hearts).

Thanks Ari for these hearts which made me smile.

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

249. Bear Hug

ceramic paint and glitter, Gedera

Woke up this morning to this bear hug made by Mika.

This heart reminds me how much I miss Mandy, Mark, Mika and David.

Mandi's heart would love for others to help with Ethiopian immigrants http://www.iaej.co.il/index.htm

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

247. Thank You Again

collage of photos, Tel Aviv

Hearts found and captured.

Hearts rearranged.

Hearts sent to me -

Lots of hearts sent to me.

Feeling a little sad.

Feeling happy.

Hmmm....

Thank you again.

*Content © Nomi Helene 2009. All Rights Reserved

245. Negative Space

leaves on a bush at night, Tel Aviv

In art, the space between and around the subject of an image is referred to as negative space.

The hole in this heart is a negative space.

This 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

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

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

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