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Sept. 7, 2007
The rescue of art in Sderot
New website helps fuel the creative spirit of citizens under fire.
BATSHEVA POMERANTZ ISRAEL PRESS SERVICE
During the past year, with increased numbers of Kassam missile
attacks on the southern town of Sderot and the nearby communities
of the Gaza perimeter, the area's economy has been ravaged. Regular
customers, purchasers for major chains and local Israeli tourists
stay away from the area and artisans and small businesses have been
unable to sell their products.
In order to salvage the situation, local manufacturers and home-based
artisans have come together to create an online method of selling
the many unique and high-quality products made in this region, and
the opportunity to support them and buy their products is now a
mere mouse click away.
The Made in Sderot website (www.madeinsderot.com),
developed by Internet entrepreneur Meir Drillings, showcases products
ranging from aromatic candles, children's toys and abstract paintings
to mezuzah cases, hamsas and decorative glass.
"The objective of this website is to stimulate commerce for
the entrepreneurs whose businesses have been stagnant due to the
constant security threats in the area," said Drillings. "The
hope is that people around the world will visit this site and purchase
products made in Sderot and, at the same time, help the citizens
of the city and the surrounding area to once again thrive economically."
Drillings, who lives in central Israel, realizes that what is happening
in Sderot could one day happen in Tel-Aviv. "I couldn't remain
indifferent," he said. "Instead of just complaining about
what was happening, I decided to do something. While I can't help
protect them physically, at least I can help them earn a decent
living."
Drillings, who is volunteering his skills and time for the initiative,
started the project last year by recruiting artisans through advertisements
in the local press and by contacting the local kibbutz offices.
"I travelled around the area for a few days with a photographer,
took photos of the products and spoke to the artists and manufacturers,"
he said. "Some have amazing stories. Ceramicist Shlomit Siboni
of Kibbutz Nir Am not only has to cope with the constant Kassam
missile attacks but she also lost a son 10 years ago, when two IDF
helicopters collided in northern Israel."
Nurit Rosenfeld of Kibbutz Kfar Aza holds a job in accounting on
the kibbutz. She designs and creates hand-knitted jewelry as a hobby,
which is beginning to evolve into a business. "I heard about
this technique three years ago, which combines knitting and the
interweaving of beads," she said. Her great love for art and
color inspires her to create countless pieces of jewelry in many
colors and combinations. "The website gives my work wide exposure,"
said Rosenfeld, "which I would not otherwise get, since people
are no longer willing to come here to see my work."
Ceramicist Mali Melon of Kibbutz Bror Hayil hails from Brazil. Her
practical and decorative ceramic works, including tiles, are on
sale at a small shop near her studio. She also makes jewelry. "Although
the Kassams haven't fallen here, buyers are scared to come,"
she said. "I have to take my work to them."
Melon, who is also a dental technician, makes a living from her
artwork and does her own marketing. With the threat of the Kassams
so close, she tries to remain focused on her art. "I hear the
Kassams falling in the distance," she said. "I don't panic,
because it doesn't help to panic. My work is a combination of work
and therapy for me."
The Michsaf Cutlery factory is located in Kibbutz Nir Am, which
has been the target of countless Kassam missiles. "The difficult
situation affects us as human beings," said Asaf Dolev, marketing
director of Michsaf and a resident of the kibbutz. "When there
is a red alert, we go to a relatively protected area, but everyone
is worried about their children and family. There are times when
people close themselves up in their homes for up to a week. Our
minds are just not on our work."
Recently, it has been relatively quiet in Sderot, with two to four
Kassams a day falling in the region. But even this situation is
abnormal and intolerable. "The security situation has had a
negative effect on production, packaging and delivering orders on
time," said Dolev. "It has made our work very difficult."
Although orders have been coming in through the Made in Sderot website,
Dolev does not expect a major turnaround, since Michsaf – whose
cutlery can be found in many Israeli restaurants and private homes
– is a veteran player in the field. "But," he admitted,
"every initiative which shows support is important, especially
for the small businesses. It increases the general awareness of
the situation. When small businesses collapse, the larger businesses
are also affected."
The smaller businesses rely more heavily on outside support and
the Made in Sderot site is just one example of Israelis using their
creative acumen to help their brethren in the south. However, it
is the artisans and manufacturers whose products appear on the site
who should be admired for mustering the inner strength to fuel the
creative spirit, even under relentless missile fire.
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