351. KenYa

sun peeking through tree, taken in Kenya, received in Tel Aviv

The sun got down on one knee and asked the tree to marry him.

The world stood still....

Ken (Hebrew for yes). Ya (short for yes) - "KENYA!" said the tree.

Mina took this photo in Kenya. Gayle sent it to me. Thank you to both for a beautiful heart!

Mina's heart would love for others to support The Leshan Educational Foundation http://www.leshanfoundation.org/our-projects/the-project

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

*Content © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

306. Gourmet

some sort of food, Eilat

While on a romantic escapade Gali and Rami found these...Lovely!

Thanks Gali and Rami.

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

Rami's heart would love for "those who wish to donate, would multiply their donation by 10 and invest in any investment that they feel is a good one. Then, they should continuously donate 20% of their profits to any good cause, but only those which do not put good people in danger."

*Content © Nomi Helene 2010. All Rights Reserved

304. Love from the Dead Sea

black mud, Dead Sea

Right back at ya!

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

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

302. I Wish, I Wish Upon the Wishing Bridge

tree, Jaffa

The wishing bridge instructs me to hold my zodiac sign and look at the sea.

I see the sea, and I see a heart...hmmmmm....

Happy New Year to all!

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

301. Travelling Hearts

stones, taken in Durban and received in Tel Aviv

Collected by children.

Captured by a grown child.

Received by a hopeless romantic.

Shared with all.

Enjoy!

Thank you Nicole for helping these hearts travel the world.

Nicole's heart loves (to come)

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

278. Mud

rain water puddle in mud, Tel Aviv

Today my umbrella broke in the rain. There was something relieving about having my hand once again available to me - I ate dried pineapple slices as I was getting soaked, and it felt wonderful!

A while later I bought an umbrella - it is red, and was a pain to hold. Capturing this heart with a half available hand was no easy chore.

This heart seems to shout out that part of having love in our lives means we must get messy.

This heart would love for others to support Kishorit in helping to create a community for adults with special needs http://www.kishorit.org/

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

276. Show Off

flower petals, Tel Aviv

As I walked by this flower it seemed to almost show off to me that it was in love.

This heart would love for others to find love http://www.levavot.com/home.php

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

275. Voyeur

leaf, Haifa

Peeping heart.

Thank you Daniela for this heart.

Daniela's heart cares about Yuvalim http://www.yuvalim.org/

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

273. Juicy

pomella, Modiin

Today during a staff meeting Yifat pulled out the most monsterous sized pomella I have ever seen. Next thing, Gali takes out her swiss army knife. Next thing, the entire staff is eating pomella. And just like that the staff meeting got a whole lot juicier!

Yifat's heart would love for others to contribute to Schneider Children's Medical Center in helping children with heart disease http://www.schneider.org.il/Eng/Index.asp?CategoryID=95&ArticleID=151

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

261. Conditional Love

lighter, Tel Aviv

Relly had a much easier time lighting this fire in the car than on the beach.

These hearts remind all people with fire signs (such as myself) that we are extremely sensitive to the conditions around us. That being said, when the conditions are right we have great potential!

Relly's heart would love for others to support the Glickman center against family violence http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/Hebrew/Human/Family/Emergency/ViolencePreventionCenter.asp

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

259. Breaking Free

netting and dirt, side of highway, near Rehovot

Driving back from Rehovot this heart caught my eye...lucky for me there were no other cars on the road so I went on the shoulder and did a small reverse....and Voila!

This heart seems to be breaking free from the netting which surrounds it.

This heart would love for others to support Women's Spirit in helping to financially empower women victims of violence http://www.ruach-nashit.org.il/page.asp?p=78

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

252. Containing

bag, Reut

Gali was upset when I photographed this heart because the bag is part of a marketing tool for Cellcom...that's part of Gali's charm - keeping things real, and to the heart of the matter.

To give this heart some depth, this photo was taken as we left a seminar where I learned something profound: you can only contain someone if they feel contained.

This heart attempts to lovingly contain all its contents - I love that it does not give up!

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

246. Natural Beauty

weeds, Tel Aviv

I met Michal the other night at a friend's birthday - she was quite enthusiastic about Levavot. Today, Michal sent me several hearts through our mutual friend, which for copyright reasons I cannot show you.

So, I bring you this very natural and I think beautiful heart I found today, whose copyright belongs to me.

As it is the thought that counts...Michal's heart would love for others to help feed the needy via Table to Table http://www.tabletotable.org.il/english/

*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

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

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

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

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

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

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