The history of ceramics in the Holy Land can be traced thousands of years back to Biblical times. Early in the book of Genesis, we see a clear reference to clay, which would become one of the most important building materials in the land. Siddim was a valley into which the sea flowed, creating the Dead Sea. Later, we will reveal a remarkable connection between the Dead Sea region and the ceramic industry in Israel!
Ceramics in the Holy Land -
A Fascinating Story
A Fascinating Story
Taste of Israel History
In earlier times, most utensils were crafted out of simple earthen clay for cooking or serving, storage purposes, or religious rituals such as those carried out in the Holy Tabernacle and the Temple of Jerusalem.
From jugs to plates, bowls, and pots, our ancestors used readily available resources to create ceramic vessels, whether for everyday use or special occasions such as grand royal banquets.
Across the Holy Land, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of active archeological sites where ancient artifacts are regularly discovered. The most common are pottery shards, which attest to how prominent the pottery trade was. In fact, when Joshua sent two men to spy on the Land before going on to conquer it, he disguised them as potters, knowing that they wouldn’t arouse any suspicion as they wandered around carrying their earthenware pots, as it was a common sight!
Ceramic vessels might have been considered relatively simple to make, but that didn’t exempt them from certain religious laws. If a ceramic vessel were to become tainted with an impurity, it would automatically be rendered unusable, and because it couldn’t be purified, it would have to be broken. Fortunately, ceramic vessels were widely available, so you could always just head to your local pottery store and purchase a replacement!
From jugs to plates, bowls, and pots, our ancestors used readily available resources to create ceramic vessels, whether for everyday use or special occasions such as grand royal banquets.
Across the Holy Land, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of active archeological sites where ancient artifacts are regularly discovered. The most common are pottery shards, which attest to how prominent the pottery trade was. In fact, when Joshua sent two men to spy on the Land before going on to conquer it, he disguised them as potters, knowing that they wouldn’t arouse any suspicion as they wandered around carrying their earthenware pots, as it was a common sight!
Ceramic vessels might have been considered relatively simple to make, but that didn’t exempt them from certain religious laws. If a ceramic vessel were to become tainted with an impurity, it would automatically be rendered unusable, and because it couldn’t be purified, it would have to be broken. Fortunately, ceramic vessels were widely available, so you could always just head to your local pottery store and purchase a replacement!
The Role of Ceramics
in the Bible
in the Bible
The Bible itself does not feature many explicit references to the use of ceramics or the trade itself. It is only later on, in the Books of the Prophets, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, that we find more detail about the methods used in the production of clay vessels.
It does demonstrate however that clay and earthen materials formed the majority of common utensils used for social and communal purposes and religious practices. Bowls, pots, and jugs are mentioned, for cooking, serving, storing, and transporting. In the Holy Tabernacle, clay vessels were also used as part of the ritual for offering sacrifices and purification processes.
It does demonstrate however that clay and earthen materials formed the majority of common utensils used for social and communal purposes and religious practices. Bowls, pots, and jugs are mentioned, for cooking, serving, storing, and transporting. In the Holy Tabernacle, clay vessels were also used as part of the ritual for offering sacrifices and purification processes.
And it will be, [that] the maiden to whom I will say, 'Lower your pitcher and I will drink,' and she will say, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels,' her have You designated for Your servant, for Isaac, and through her may I know that You have performed loving kindness with my master."
(Genesis) Chapter 24:14
One of the first references to clay utensils is in the book of Genesis, when Eliezer, Abraham's devoted servant, traveled to find a suitable partner for Isaac. At the well, he met Rebbeca, who gave Eliezer water to drink from an earthen pitcher before going on to fill the troughs for his camels.
Although it does not say what the pitcher is made of, research shows plenty of evidence that these ‘jugs’ or ‘pitchers’ in Biblical times were made of clay and were likely pretty heavy. Yet Rebbeca held this jug out at arm's length until Eliezer’s thirst was quenched.
Although it does not say what the pitcher is made of, research shows plenty of evidence that these ‘jugs’ or ‘pitchers’ in Biblical times were made of clay and were likely pretty heavy. Yet Rebbeca held this jug out at arm's length until Eliezer’s thirst was quenched.
Now Jacob cooked a pottage, and Esau came from the field, and he was faint.
Genesis - Chapter 25:29
Imagine you are returning from a day’s hard labor outdoors in the baking Middle Eastern sun famished and hungry. You walk inside, and there is the future Patriarch, a young Jacob, stirring a clay pot of red lentil soup. The aromas of this pottage overwhelm the senses and supercharge the hunger pangs of Esau, Jacob’s red-haired brother. He bursts in and demands a bowl of the pottage from Jacob, who quickly senses an opportunity to secure the future of the Jewish people in this one moment. Jacob demands Esau’s birthright, who readily agrees, and enjoys a warm bowl of pottage served out of the pot to his heart’s content.
And Moses said to Aaron, Take one jug and put there an omerful of manna, and deposit it before the Lord to be preserved for your generations. Exodus 16:33
And Moses said to Aaron, Take one jug and put there an omerful of manna, and deposit it before the Lord to be preserved for your generations. Exodus 16:33
And Moses said to Aaron, Take one jug and put there an omerful of manna, and deposit it before the Lord to be preserved for your generations.
Exodus 16:33
Following the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites were in the desert, hungry and pining for the food they ate in Egypt.
In response, God showered them with the miraculous manna from heaven, seeds that needed to be ground, crushed, and then formed into a dough before being cooked in their pots. The taste of the manna, as described in the Bible, was one of “cake kneaded with oil” (Numbers 11:8).
In a testament to the miracle of the manna, Moses instructed his elder brother Aaron to gather a portion of the manna seeds and store them in a jug. According to the commentators, it was stowed in an earthenware jug and buried in the ground to be discovered by future generations to witness. Until today, this jug is still waiting to be discovered!
In response, God showered them with the miraculous manna from heaven, seeds that needed to be ground, crushed, and then formed into a dough before being cooked in their pots. The taste of the manna, as described in the Bible, was one of “cake kneaded with oil” (Numbers 11:8).
In a testament to the miracle of the manna, Moses instructed his elder brother Aaron to gather a portion of the manna seeds and store them in a jug. According to the commentators, it was stowed in an earthenware jug and buried in the ground to be discovered by future generations to witness. Until today, this jug is still waiting to be discovered!
The kohen shall order, and one shall slaughter the one bird into an earthenware vessel, over spring water.
Leviticus - Chapter 14:5
Later in the Bible, we see how clay vessels played an important part in the purification process of those infected with leprosy. Inside this earthenware vessel, water was mixed with the blood of a bird that had been slaughtered by the high priest. In addition, it would be mixed in with a live bird, a strip of crimson, a stick of cedar, and hyssop. The water would then be sprinkled by the High Preist over the individual to cleanse and purify him.
Interestingly, the Torah tells us that “any earthenware vessel, into whose interior any of them falls, whatever is inside it shall become unclean, and you shall break [the vessel] itself.” Leviticus - Chapter 11:33. What we see here is that the clay vessels had the ability to both purify but also become rendered impure, to the point that if its contents came into contact with any type of impurity, the vessel would not be able to be purified, unlike vessels made of other material such as copper or silver.
Interestingly, the Torah tells us that “any earthenware vessel, into whose interior any of them falls, whatever is inside it shall become unclean, and you shall break [the vessel] itself.” Leviticus - Chapter 11:33. What we see here is that the clay vessels had the ability to both purify but also become rendered impure, to the point that if its contents came into contact with any type of impurity, the vessel would not be able to be purified, unlike vessels made of other material such as copper or silver.
Discover ancient Israel at these fascinating archeological sites!
With fragments and shards of ancient pottery scattered across the breadth of the Holy Land, we wanted to introduce some of the most significant excavation sites that revealed to us some incredible history about ceramics and pottery dating back thousands of years!
Tell el-Hesi:
Located southwest of the modern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat and in Biblical times within the boundaries of the Kingdom of Judah, Tell el-Hesi was the first significant archaeological site to be excavated in Palestine (the name assigned to the Holy Land during the Turkish Ottoman and British Mandate periods). In 1890 Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie conducted the excavation of the huge 25-acre site on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF).
Through the abundance of ancient pottery scattered across the site, he was able to identify artifacts from several ancient cities that had existed there throughout the ages. According to Petrie, Tell el-Hesi was THE PLACE to discover the history of pottery in ancient Israel!
Petrie's report on Tell el-Hesy, published in 1891, shed light on some of the different types of pottery found there, which era they belonged to, and their purpose.
Through the abundance of ancient pottery scattered across the site, he was able to identify artifacts from several ancient cities that had existed there throughout the ages. According to Petrie, Tell el-Hesi was THE PLACE to discover the history of pottery in ancient Israel!
Petrie's report on Tell el-Hesy, published in 1891, shed light on some of the different types of pottery found there, which era they belonged to, and their purpose.
He discovered Amorite pottery including bowls with thick brims and patterned burnishing, a collection used for higher civilization and exclusive to the Holy Land. Some Amorite pottery was still in existence during the period of the Jewish monarchy but was eventually replaced by Phoenician-style pottery such as roughly textured light brown bowls, jars, and vases. Also uncovered was the earliest form of a lamp. Painted Aegan pottery demonstrated the addition of design elements for the clay vessels.
A small portion of the report mentioned Jewish-style pottery:
A small portion of the report mentioned Jewish-style pottery:
“
“By Jewish is here meant the styles which are neither pure Amorite nor Phoenician but which consist of a mixture of characters; they mostly have a uniform rough surface of red-brown pottery belonging to these later times of the Jewish monarchy.”
Qumran:
Did you know that Qumran (located by the Dead Sea) wasn’t only known for the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls? Qumran was in fact the only site in the Holy Land that received its water supply from gorge streams containing a precious layer of clay erosion! Floodwaters in the region brought the clay to the site which was deposited in purpose-built tanks. According to Israeli archaeologist Yizhak Magen, he estimated that the reservoirs had the capacity to hold between 6 and 7 tons of clay, enough to produce tens of thousands of clay vessels and ceramics! According to him, following the Roman occupation of Judea in 63 B.C.E. Qumran became a major center for pottery production.
The excavation site at Qumran had every piece of evidence imaginable to confirm the existence of a thriving pottery industry, from numerous kilns, entire unbroken clay vessels, items that had been worked on and then rejected and discarded, and tens of thousands of clay fragments.
The final word about Qumran’s significance in the production of pottery lies with Yizhak Magen:
The excavation site at Qumran had every piece of evidence imaginable to confirm the existence of a thriving pottery industry, from numerous kilns, entire unbroken clay vessels, items that had been worked on and then rejected and discarded, and tens of thousands of clay fragments.
The final word about Qumran’s significance in the production of pottery lies with Yizhak Magen:
“
“At Qumran, the amount of pottery, and especially the number of unbroken vessels, is greater by an order of magnitude from that found at any other excavated site of comparable size from this period or any other period for that matter.”
Tel Beth Shemesh:
This archeological gem lies on a hill overlooking the Soreq Valley, on the border between the Shefela (Judean foothills) and the Judean Highlands. It is located next to the modern-day city of Beit Shemesh.
In 1856, renowned biblical scholar Edward Robinson identified the archaeological site as biblical Beth-Shemesh, mentioned in many biblical books, including Joshua, Judges, and Samuel.
The first to excavate the site was Duncan Mackenzie in 1911 on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Further excavations were carried out over the next century, the most recent from 2018 to 2020. Among the findings were artifacts dating back as far as the Late Bronze Age all the way up to the 20th century!
He discovered a collection of Judahite pottery related to the Kingdom of Judah, ceramics from the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods (fifth–third centuries B.C.E.), and most significantly, pottery kilns from the Late Roman and Byzantine Periods (fourth–seventh centuries C.E.).
In 1856, renowned biblical scholar Edward Robinson identified the archaeological site as biblical Beth-Shemesh, mentioned in many biblical books, including Joshua, Judges, and Samuel.
The first to excavate the site was Duncan Mackenzie in 1911 on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund. Further excavations were carried out over the next century, the most recent from 2018 to 2020. Among the findings were artifacts dating back as far as the Late Bronze Age all the way up to the 20th century!
He discovered a collection of Judahite pottery related to the Kingdom of Judah, ceramics from the Persian and Early Hellenistic Periods (fifth–third centuries B.C.E.), and most significantly, pottery kilns from the Late Roman and Byzantine Periods (fourth–seventh centuries C.E.).
In the fourth century the site functioned as an industrial center containing a winepress, olive oil presses, and pottery kilns, recognized as some of the largest and most well-preserved in Israel! Picture the scene as you walk through these ancient structures. As you near the kiln, you can feel the searing heat as it bakes the clay vessels, causing them to glow. These would become the storage jars for the pure olive oil and wine freshly pressed on-site. If you look closely, you can pick up some of the original clay powder from the vessels and let it run through your fingers. That is thousands of years of ancient history at your fingertips!
The Potter’s Process
The first references to the manufacture of ceramics are found in the Bible, where it calls them ‘earthenware’ vessels. The material used to make ceramics is clay, a mud-like substance gathered from the ground. It is a combination of whatever minerals and plant life are present and then broken up into tiny particles by the water pressure from nearby rivers or seas.
In ancient Israel, this was the method that was traditionally followed in pottery making:
Firstly, the clay would be gathered and brought to a facility for filtration to remove any foreign objects. After that, water would be added to soften the clay and make it easier to work with.
In ancient Israel, this was the method that was traditionally followed in pottery making:
Firstly, the clay would be gathered and brought to a facility for filtration to remove any foreign objects. After that, water would be added to soften the clay and make it easier to work with.
So I went to the house of the potter, and behold, he was doing work on the wheels.
Jeremiah - Chapter 18:3
And he shall come [upon] princes like mortar and as the potter treads clay.
The next step would be to ‘knead’ the clay to remove air bubbles and reach a smooth consistency. This would be accomplished by foot, with the potter vigorously treading upon the clay until the desired result was achieved.
To reduce the likelihood of the clay cracking later on, items that could be used as tempering agents, such as salt, sand, straw, and finely ground broken pottery pieces (ancient recycling!), were used to solidify it.
The potter then molded the vessel to the desired shape. Once ready, it was dried in an open space until sufficiently hardened. The ideal place for drying was a cave, where the cool temperature allowed for slow and even drying. This would likely explain why a number of ancient ceramic jugs and vessels were found in caves across Israel!
To reduce the likelihood of the clay cracking later on, items that could be used as tempering agents, such as salt, sand, straw, and finely ground broken pottery pieces (ancient recycling!), were used to solidify it.
The potter then molded the vessel to the desired shape. Once ready, it was dried in an open space until sufficiently hardened. The ideal place for drying was a cave, where the cool temperature allowed for slow and even drying. This would likely explain why a number of ancient ceramic jugs and vessels were found in caves across Israel!
Isaiah - Chapter 41: 25
Next would be the decorative and design stages. The vessel could be either painted with a thin, colored coat of watery clay called a slip, or patterns and shapes drawn through careful incisions into the clay.
The final stage would involve the ‘firing’ in a special oven called a kiln, which would be heated to a minimum temperature of 450 degrees Celsius, reaching as high as 900 degrees, in order to effectively ‘bake’ the vessel. How would we know if the temperature was reached? If the clay pottery would glow red once inside!
The earliest pottery in ancient Israel was fired in an open fire, which caused it to have a reddish hue due to oxidation. However, with closed kilns, the vessels were fired using less oxygen, giving them a blackish appearance.
Pottery was originally formed by hand until new technologies arrived, such as the revolutionary potter's wheel which allowed for the creation of different types and styles of ceramics, giving more control and ease in creating beautiful and uniform vessels. The potter’s wheel was already in existence during the times of the Prophet Jeremiah.
The earliest pottery in ancient Israel was fired in an open fire, which caused it to have a reddish hue due to oxidation. However, with closed kilns, the vessels were fired using less oxygen, giving them a blackish appearance.
Pottery was originally formed by hand until new technologies arrived, such as the revolutionary potter's wheel which allowed for the creation of different types and styles of ceramics, giving more control and ease in creating beautiful and uniform vessels. The potter’s wheel was already in existence during the times of the Prophet Jeremiah.
Meet the Potters of Modern-Day Israel
“With regard to two craftsmen’s booths, one within the other, potters would build two booths, an inner one used as living quarters and an outer one for plying their craft and selling their wares.”
Talmud Sukkah: 8b
While there have been major advances in the field of pottery, the original concepts of using pottery wheels and kilns remain alive and well in the hands of today’s ceramicists. They have harnessed the pioneering spirit of their ancestors to create clay vessels that bring life and joy to all those who use them! Many live in regions teeming with rich Biblical history and have built their own pottery studios, abutting their private homes, following the traditions of the ancient potters before them!
Orly Livne
Orly Livne lives in a small home in the community of Mitzpeh Dani, based in the Binyamin region of Samaria, with her husband, Eliyahu, and four wonderful children. For years, Orly has been working out of her custom-built pottery studio connected to the family home, which features breathtaking views of the Land of Israel.
In her younger days, Orly fell in love with pottery and the creative output it gave her. She dreamed of one day opening her own studio and chose to master the craft at the renowned Tel Hai College. Orly can still picture herself spending long days at the pottery wheel as she gradually honed her skills. She began small, making individual pieces, and then took them to the markets in Jerusalem to sell and also started teaching pottery in her home studio. However, Orly soon realized that teaching and running workshops didn’t fuel her creative juices as much as sitting at the potter’s wheel itself. So she took the jump and focused full-time on producing ceramics for sale. And now, Orly is a successful small business owner, living her dream and fulfilling her passion!
Visit Orly’s studio and watch her at the pottery wheel, her hands carefully molding the clay as it gradually takes shape and transforms into the vessel she has pictured in her mind. Her eyes are closed as she focuses, and all she can hear is the calm of the Land of Israel outside her window, and the nature that envelopes her community. Whenever Orly needs a dose of inspiration, she simply needs to look up and take in the view of the Biblical heartlands of Judea and Samaria, from the rolling hills of the Jordan Valley in the north to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem in the south and picture the Biblical scenes of time gone by, as our Patriarchs and Matriarchs tread the Holy Land and create history and life.
While living in Mitzpe Dani is peaceful and quiet, it is located far away from the major Israeli population centers, which means Orly occasionally needs to make long journeys to restock on supplies and patiently wait until she can find a technician to come and fix the pottery wheel if it breaks down. It is a tradeoff Orly is willing to accept in order to create her wonderful ceramics in a place so deeply connected to the Bible.
Visit Orly’s studio and watch her at the pottery wheel, her hands carefully molding the clay as it gradually takes shape and transforms into the vessel she has pictured in her mind. Her eyes are closed as she focuses, and all she can hear is the calm of the Land of Israel outside her window, and the nature that envelopes her community. Whenever Orly needs a dose of inspiration, she simply needs to look up and take in the view of the Biblical heartlands of Judea and Samaria, from the rolling hills of the Jordan Valley in the north to the Dead Sea and Jerusalem in the south and picture the Biblical scenes of time gone by, as our Patriarchs and Matriarchs tread the Holy Land and create history and life.
While living in Mitzpe Dani is peaceful and quiet, it is located far away from the major Israeli population centers, which means Orly occasionally needs to make long journeys to restock on supplies and patiently wait until she can find a technician to come and fix the pottery wheel if it breaks down. It is a tradeoff Orly is willing to accept in order to create her wonderful ceramics in a place so deeply connected to the Bible.
Zofiyah Avikar
Zofiyah Avikar is a ceramicist and proud mother of six who lives in the village of Susya, established in the same place as its Biblical namesake. Susya is located in the southern part of Judea, near the Holy City of Hebron, in a region rich with ancient Biblical sites, among them a Synagogue featuring a stunning mosaic and Mikvaot (ritual baths).
She originally lived in a kibbutz [communal farm] called Masu'ot Yitzhak, which was based in the Gush Etzion Bloc in Judea. In 1949, following the War of Independence, Jordanian forces destroyed Masu'ot Yitzhak and the remaining survivors went on to build a new kibbutz, this time in the south of Israel. Here, Zofiyah went to a local college to study and excel at the craft of pottery making.
From the sea to the freshwater rivers, the snow, and the sun, Zofiya’s love for the Land of Israel runs deep through her veins and is one of the main reasons she and her husband Haggai chose to live in Susya, a place filled with incredible beauty where she can truly connect and take inspiration from the Biblical surroundings to infuse within her ceramics.
"In Susya we feel connected to the Bible every day!" – Zofiya
Zofia purchased a pottery oven and wheel and set up a studio in her home and soon began running popular ceramic-making workshops for the entire community! As a creative individual, she has found that pottery enables her to fulfill her talents and craft items full of meaning, with a Biblical touch!
From the sea to the freshwater rivers, the snow, and the sun, Zofiya’s love for the Land of Israel runs deep through her veins and is one of the main reasons she and her husband Haggai chose to live in Susya, a place filled with incredible beauty where she can truly connect and take inspiration from the Biblical surroundings to infuse within her ceramics.
"In Susya we feel connected to the Bible every day!" – Zofiya
Zofia purchased a pottery oven and wheel and set up a studio in her home and soon began running popular ceramic-making workshops for the entire community! As a creative individual, she has found that pottery enables her to fulfill her talents and craft items full of meaning, with a Biblical touch!
Batya Erdstein
Batya Erdstein works out of her pottery studio in her home in the community of Itamar, located high up in the hills of Samaria. She is a very spiritual person, having previously lived in the Holy City of Tzafat, and believes in doing good with everything she does, including with the stunning pottery she makes.
Becoming a ceramicist wasn’t Batya’s first career choice. In fact, she was a trained nurse on the way to becoming a midwife! And then one day, her husband came home with a potters wheel for her as a gift and Batya fell in love with the craft.
Despite the challenges of running a pottery business high up in the hills of Samaria, whether it means sudden cuts to the water or electricity, on which pottery is entirely dependent, or having to travel far to purchase supplies, Batya takes them in her stride, knowing it is part of what it means to live and work in the Biblical heartlands of Israel.
The community of Itamar is rich in Biblical history, and named after Itamar, the son of the high priest Aaron HaCohen. Batya does not have to travel far to discover this Biblical connection, especially one related exactly to her craft!
When she goes for a little stroll in the village's beautiful green surroundings, it isn’t long before she comes across debris containing shards of thousands of-year-old pottery. This reinforces Batya’s commitment to her trade and fills her with pride, knowing that she is producing ceramics that are not just beautiful to look at but contain a genuine part of the Land of Israel that is so precious to her.
Batya would also soon discover that the connection between midwifery and pottery was much closer than ever imagined…
The Hebrew word for a potter's wheel is ‘ovenayim’ and the word also features in the story of the birth of the Jewish baby boys in the book of Exodus, where the Jewish midwives used ‘ovenayim’ for the delivery of these babies, likely upon a special table or rock slab. And there lies the connection. Just like God created life and man from the dust of the earth, so does the potter take the earthen clay and fashion it into a beautiful vessel!
Despite the challenges of running a pottery business high up in the hills of Samaria, whether it means sudden cuts to the water or electricity, on which pottery is entirely dependent, or having to travel far to purchase supplies, Batya takes them in her stride, knowing it is part of what it means to live and work in the Biblical heartlands of Israel.
The community of Itamar is rich in Biblical history, and named after Itamar, the son of the high priest Aaron HaCohen. Batya does not have to travel far to discover this Biblical connection, especially one related exactly to her craft!
When she goes for a little stroll in the village's beautiful green surroundings, it isn’t long before she comes across debris containing shards of thousands of-year-old pottery. This reinforces Batya’s commitment to her trade and fills her with pride, knowing that she is producing ceramics that are not just beautiful to look at but contain a genuine part of the Land of Israel that is so precious to her.
Batya would also soon discover that the connection between midwifery and pottery was much closer than ever imagined…
The Hebrew word for a potter's wheel is ‘ovenayim’ and the word also features in the story of the birth of the Jewish baby boys in the book of Exodus, where the Jewish midwives used ‘ovenayim’ for the delivery of these babies, likely upon a special table or rock slab. And there lies the connection. Just like God created life and man from the dust of the earth, so does the potter take the earthen clay and fashion it into a beautiful vessel!
The ceramics of the Holy Land at your fingertips.
The olive is one of the most symbolic fruits in the Bible and integral to life in the Holy Land. The pure olive oil that flows out of the abundance of olive trees was used for the highest of purposes, in the service at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and as the anointing oil to induct High Priests and Royalty.
Those who lived in regions where olive oil was plentiful, such as the Tribe of Asher, were blessed with great wealth due to the bustling trade in olive oil and beauty and health as a result of their regular consumption of pure olive oil. Truly, olive oil in Israel is of a level of quality the rest of the world aspires to!
In ancient times, olive oil was stored in clay jars, which helped keep it cool and away from exposure to the open air and heat. Batya has taken inspiration from the ancient potters to craft a beautiful ceramic olive oil jug especially for storing Israeli olive oil and preserving its aromatic flavors. It features a tightly fitted metal spout, ensuring that the olive oil pours evenly every time, and beautiful handpainted olives on the surface, making this ceramic jug the perfect addition to the kitchen!
Those who lived in regions where olive oil was plentiful, such as the Tribe of Asher, were blessed with great wealth due to the bustling trade in olive oil and beauty and health as a result of their regular consumption of pure olive oil. Truly, olive oil in Israel is of a level of quality the rest of the world aspires to!
In ancient times, olive oil was stored in clay jars, which helped keep it cool and away from exposure to the open air and heat. Batya has taken inspiration from the ancient potters to craft a beautiful ceramic olive oil jug especially for storing Israeli olive oil and preserving its aromatic flavors. It features a tightly fitted metal spout, ensuring that the olive oil pours evenly every time, and beautiful handpainted olives on the surface, making this ceramic jug the perfect addition to the kitchen!
Another of Bayta’s popular ceramic pieces is this delightful bowl from her Pomegranate Collection. It is an earthy round bowl featuring a beautiful hand-painted pomegranate design. Just like the olive, pomegranates are a prominent fruit, one of the seven species native to the Holy Land.
Pomegranates have much significance both in Judaism and in the Land of Israel itself. They represent love and fertility, and on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we bless each other that our merits should be as numerous as the seeds within a pomegranate, which happens to number exactly 613, the same number of commandments in the Bible! The pomegranate also adorns the Torah scrolls and is emblazoned on the robes of the high priest. This is what Batya has succeeded in tapping into with her Ceramic Pomegranate Collection!
Pomegranates have much significance both in Judaism and in the Land of Israel itself. They represent love and fertility, and on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we bless each other that our merits should be as numerous as the seeds within a pomegranate, which happens to number exactly 613, the same number of commandments in the Bible! The pomegranate also adorns the Torah scrolls and is emblazoned on the robes of the high priest. This is what Batya has succeeded in tapping into with her Ceramic Pomegranate Collection!
“A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey"
(Deut. 8:8)
handmade
handmade
The Oasis Collection - by Orly Livne
Lose yourself in the mesmerizing Oasis Collection of handmade ceramics by Orly Livne.
From her home studio in Mitzpe Dani, Orly sits at her potters' wheel, taking in the clear views of the pristine Judean desert. She then focuses intently on the subject at hand—the mound of clay, which she will soon form into a vessel filled with meaning and connection to the Holy Land.
For the Oasis Collection, you could say that Wadi Kelt, a stunning nature reserve not far from the family home, provides the inspiration. This is where Orly and her family go for hikes and recreation. It is a stunning desert oasis filled with lush, green vegetation that provides the perfect contrast for Orly’s designs.
Each ceramic piece in the collection has been designed to allow you to experience the serenity that Orly feels as she works at her pottery wheel.
From her home studio in Mitzpe Dani, Orly sits at her potters' wheel, taking in the clear views of the pristine Judean desert. She then focuses intently on the subject at hand—the mound of clay, which she will soon form into a vessel filled with meaning and connection to the Holy Land.
For the Oasis Collection, you could say that Wadi Kelt, a stunning nature reserve not far from the family home, provides the inspiration. This is where Orly and her family go for hikes and recreation. It is a stunning desert oasis filled with lush, green vegetation that provides the perfect contrast for Orly’s designs.
Each ceramic piece in the collection has been designed to allow you to experience the serenity that Orly feels as she works at her pottery wheel.
Porcelain clay provides a calming white backdrop that represents the pristine desert sands, while the soft light green glaze represents the vegetation and green of nature.
Among the highlights of Orly’s Oasis Collection is the Handmade Ceramic Kiddush Set which contains a rounded Kiddush cup that is smooth to the touch and stable to hold when filled with wine or grape juice, along with a saucer to protect from spills or drips.
Imagine you are wandering in the Judean desert, with the baking sun bearing down on your back. It’s the oasis you are dreaming of, one where you can drink from the refreshing, life-giving water until your heart’s content. In honor of this oasis, Orly has crafted a beautiful ceramic pitcher, out of which you can quench your thirst with a glass of ice-cold limonana (a blend of lemonade and fresh mint popular in Israel) or for use to hold a bouquet of fresh flowers, bring the wonders of Israel’s nature into your home.
Among the highlights of Orly’s Oasis Collection is the Handmade Ceramic Kiddush Set which contains a rounded Kiddush cup that is smooth to the touch and stable to hold when filled with wine or grape juice, along with a saucer to protect from spills or drips.
Imagine you are wandering in the Judean desert, with the baking sun bearing down on your back. It’s the oasis you are dreaming of, one where you can drink from the refreshing, life-giving water until your heart’s content. In honor of this oasis, Orly has crafted a beautiful ceramic pitcher, out of which you can quench your thirst with a glass of ice-cold limonana (a blend of lemonade and fresh mint popular in Israel) or for use to hold a bouquet of fresh flowers, bring the wonders of Israel’s nature into your home.
handmade
handmade
Discover hundreds of unique Israeli products, each one rooted deeply in ancient and moderns history of Israel. Each one has a story.
Want to be a part of the story of the Holy Land?
