354. Pouring our Hearts and Our Minds for the Sake of Love

ink on paper, Tel Aviv

Neta and I met up today for what I felt was the beginning of something great. With her background as a Dietician and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), and myself an Expresssive Therapist and Sex Therapist, we poured our hearts and our minds into what will hopefully become one fantastic program to help individuals suffering from emotional eating and a negative body image (anyone interested can contact me at levavot.hearts@gmail.com).

As we chatted about other matters of the heart, Neta's six and a half year old daughter Lihi's heart-shaped picture found itself on Levavot - I lev it!

Lihi's heart would love for others to support sick children http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=91280798803&ref=nf

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

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

327. Letting Love In

hole in wall, Tel Aviv

To let love in we must break through the walls we have built up.

This heart broke through and is on its way to finding love.

This heart would love for others to know more about the separation fence dividing Israel from the West Bank http://www.securityfence.mod.gov.il/Pages/Eng/default.htm

*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

318. Turned On

fountain, Tel Aviv

I often pass this heart-shaped fountain, but it is rare to see it turned on.

This morning this heart was turned on.

This heart would love for others to learn more on sex education and sexuality http://www.dinahproject.com/

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

312. Playful Heart

plastic game, playground, Tel Aviv

This heart loves to play.

This 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 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

309. My Heart is on Fire

grill in oven, Tel Aviv

Today my new oven got used for the first time - Halleluyah!

This heart loves that I can finally cook nutritious and delicious food!

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

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2010. 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

300. Pearls of Wisdom

candles, Tel Aviv

Jo seems to get more and more radiant each time I see her. This image seems to perfectly reflect the beauty which Jo possesses - with the hands representing doing, and the candles being - inner balance shines through in this woman.

Thank you Jo for your pearls of wisdom and these candles.

Jo's heart would love for others to contribute to osteosarcoma http://www.cancerindex.org/ccw/guide2o.htm

*Content and photo © Nomi Helene 2009. 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

297. Cupid

chalk on sidewalk, Park Hayrkon, Tel Aviv

These hearts which have been pierced with Cupid's arrow are in love, and are taken in all different directions - This is what makes love so exciting, wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

These hearts warn us and dare us to take the plunge.

These hearts 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

295. Birthday Angel

Birthday Angels logo on party kit, Tel Aviv

Today Levavot lead me to Ruthie, the founder of Birthday Angels, a wonderful non-profit organization which provides underprivieged kids in Israel with a birthday party. Ruthie's bubbly, straightforward and giving nature was almost like a blessing as she provided me with a tremendous amount of food for thought.

It is no coincidence that the heart I found on Ruthie today appears in the wings of the angel of her organization's logo - this woman is a true angel!

Ruthie's heart would love for others to support Birthday Angels http://www.birthday-angels.org/?lat=en

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

293. Love Horoscope

love horoscope, facebook, Tel Aviv

My love horoscope for today.

Thank you facebook.

This heart would love for you to support levavot on facebook http://apps.facebook.com/causes/337051/3951902?m=e56504ed

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

289. Hanukkah: Urban Lights

fluorescent light, Tel Aviv

As it is Hanukkah, the festival of lights, I thought this image sent to me by Galit today was most appropriate.

Thank you Galit for this heart.

Chag Sameach (happy holidays) to all!

Galit's heart would love for others to support the African Refugee Development Center in advancing the dignity of refugees in Israel http://www.ardc-israel.org/en/about/who

*Content © 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

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

271. Doors

sticker, Tel Aviv

I saw this door on the sidewalk...it made me think:

Some doors we are afraid to open - our active imaginations are usually more frightening than what is on the other side.

Some doors we open and then choose to close - we have no need to turn back.

Other doors we choose to leave open - holding on to options can sometimes feel safe.

And there are those doors that just get in the way, and while we would love to toss them there is always a price to pay.

Whoever threw away this door lost a heart in the process...makes me wonder...was it worth it?

This heart links to Members of the Israel Covenant of Service http://www.asakim.co.il/about_english.html

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