362. Reserved Heart

crease in army tent, somewhere in the country

Ronnie is currently serving his army reserve duty and is feeling anything but love. As we were speaking on the phone he noticed the crease of his tent had a heart shape - even in the army love is lurking.

This hard to find, and reserved heart is located in a secret place in the country.

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 2010. All Rights Reserved

341. Family Day is Approaching

paper and mixed media, Modiin

In preparation for Family Day this coming Sunday, chidren with PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder) decorated hearts and wrote messages of love to their family.

I couldn't resist asking the children what their hearts love. The following were some of the responses I got:

love

family

good animals

kangaroos

a bear that doesn't do anything

friends

rice and ketchup

the alef bet (A,B,C's)

balloons

lots of games

surprises

alot, alot, alot!

Sivan was the creative mind behind this art project.

Sivan's heart deeply cares about helping children with special needs, particularly ADHD http://www.telem.org.il/?page=treatment&id=9&m_id=2

*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

330. A Soap Opera Waiting to Happen

bath soaps, package received from Switzerland, Tel Aviv

Merci Grandmaman for everything which was in this package - and for these hearts!

These hearts are a soap opera waiting to happen.

My grandmother's heart cares about helping abused children: http://www.eliusa.org/home.htm

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

324. Hummus Hearts

ceramic bowls, Givataiim

Tonight at Vered and Hilton's we got to the heart of many matters - I am blessed with amazing people I can call my friends and my family.

Thank you Vered and Hilton for your love and these "hummus hearts", as Hilton called them.

Hilton's heart would love for others to help lone soldiers http://lonesoldiers.ning.com/

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

*Content and photo © 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

303. Shabbat 2010

candle, Gedera

Pitch meets Burke.

Thank you Ronnie for a stunning evening.

Shabbat Shalom.

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 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

298. 3 Hearts

silver pendant, Tel Aviv

This heart like Alex came from Durban South Africa, and both will be with me for the next 10 days - I love that!

Thank you Alex!

Alex'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

290. Sufganiyah

sufganiyah, Gedera

Hanukkah, which ends today, celebrates the miracle associated with the temple oil. As a result Jews around the world spend 8 days having an absolute love hate relationship with fried food.

The sufganiyah, which in Israel resembles a regular doughnut, reminds me of when I was young and my family would go to Dunkin' Doughnuts for dinner. My parents would get a dozen doughnuts and every person could choose three. If sufganiyot are related to miracles - it's a miracle I am alive after that!

This heart oozes with sweet love, and will be deeply missed until next year.

This heart would love for others to support Leket Israel in helping to feed the needy http://www.tabletotable.org.il/english/

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

286. Dejeuner chez Ninon (Hearts Travel to Switzerland)

wooden chair, Geneva

I am so going to miss the good coffee here...Au revoir La Suisse, et merci Ninon!

Ninon's heart would love for others to support WIZO (Women's International Zionist Organization). To find out how you can get involved http://www.towizo.org/htmls/Home.aspx

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

284. Winning the Lottery (Hearts Travel to Switzerland)

lottery ticket, Bienne, Switzerland

My grandmother loves to play the lottery and always wins...today we both won!

Also, I have been told that Levavot has made it into the international edition of the Jerusalem Post- can someone spare a copy for me?

My grandmother's heart cares about helping abused children: http://www.eliusa.org/home.htm

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

283. Cuori (hearts in Italian) (Hearts Travel to Switzerland)

sweater, skin, cookies, Bienne, Switzerland

Emilia, AKA Grandma Emilia, AKA Mimilia has worked for my grandmother for 15 years, and we all love her dearly. This sweet woman makes the best home made jam and biscuits to be had.

Emilia's heart seems to endlessly give love.

Emilia's heart would love for others to help abused children via the Israel Association for Child Protection http://www.eliusa.org/home.htm

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

282. Fondue Chinoise (Hearts Travel to Switzerland)

glass plate for fondue chinoise, Studen, Switzerland

I can finally say I have tried fondue chinoise.

Thank you Grandmaman for this plate which comes back to Israel with me.

My grandmothers heart cares about helping abused children: http://www.eliusa.org/home.htm

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

277. From all the Heart

sticker, Tel Aviv

In a few days I will be going to Switzerland to celebrate my mom's birthday.

Today, as I picked out her gift the saleslady, Maayan put this heart-shaped sticker which reads "from all the heart" on the gift box.

Maayan's heart would love for others to support Tikkun Olam in helping to relieve the pain of people suffering from illnesses via medical marijuana http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1132482.html

*Content and photo © 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

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

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

206. Memo of Love from Kayla

ink on paper, Tel Aviv

My adorable niece Kayla sent me these hearts - lucky me!

I love you too Kayla!

These hearts would love for you to support Artists 4 Israel's Murality project in fighting terror through art in Sderot http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/artists4israel/american-graffiti-artists-go-to-sderot-to-battle-t

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

198. Shana Tova - Happy New Year!

brisket, Gedera

Today is Rosh Hashana, the new year according to the Jewish calendar. To celebrate the coming year we all eat too much and kvetch after!

This brisket made by Stuart was clearly made with love!

Thank you Stuart and Joanne for a delicious evening, and a wonderful start to the new year - Shana Tova!

Stuart'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