Most Believers feel they have some connection to the Holy Land through the stories and people in the Bible. Artzabox brings this connection to you through items sent quarterly from different locations in the Holy Land for you to experience in your own home.
This quarter’s box contains items from the Negev – the beautiful desert area south of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. The Negev was Abram’s temporary home when he and his wife, Sarai, left Egypt after God had brought a plague against them because Sarai had been taken into the house of Pharaoh (Genesis 12).
The Negev was also the place Moses sent the spies to explore in Numbers 13. They found colossal grape clusters and other quality fruits in this wilderness area. They also reported that the people living there were massive and strong! There are many other references to the Negev in the Bible. An angel spoke to Hagar there (Gen. 16), and Isaac and Jacob also spent time there.
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The Artzabox Subscription
Artzabox has two subscription plans, standard and premium. The premium subscription includes a limited edition item, something exceptional not included in the other boxes! Boxes are sent quarterly, with a different location featured each quarter.
But an Artzabox subscription doesn’t just ensure you receive the unique items sent to your home from the Holy Land. Your purchase also supports Israeli charities and small businesses. In the two years Artza has been sending Artzaboxes, they have helped support over seventy Israeli small businesses and charities!
Here are the items in this quarter’s Negev box.
Moroccan Tile Craft Kit
The premium item in this quarter’s box is such a fun addition! It’s a kit with all you need to create your own Moroccan tile like those in beautiful zellige tilework. My artist daughter took the challenge and used this kit to create the beautiful tile below.
The founder of Zuak Moroccan Tile Studio is Hadasa Sharet, an entrepreneur with a passion for bringing people of different cultures together. She uses art to accomplish this, creating beautiful tiles and kits to create your own easily.
Handmade Ceramic Olive Leaf Dish
This dish is a beautiful piece with a meaningful background. The olive leaves hand-painted onto this dish symbolize peace and reconciliation. Olive trees Biblically represent Israel, where even the Gentiles have a role in Israel, as described in Romans 11.
If the olive leaf design isn’t enough to make this dish special, it’s created by the residents at ADI. This organization helps rehabilitate those with Down syndrome and special needs. These dishes are handmade by children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities at ADI, as a valuable part of their vocational program.
Dukkah Spice Blend
Originally an Egyptian creation, this Israeli Dukkah blend is versatile and delicious! It can be used as a topping for your challah or added to vegetables or meats as they cook. It would be a tasty addition to hummus, or you could use it to make the Hearty Dukkah Yogurt Soup recipe included in this Artzabox.
Or and Avi created this spice blend at Derech Hatavlinim. Their spice blends have been included in previous Artzaboxes, so I was excited to receive another one to try. They’ve all been unique and delicious!
Natural Deep Cleaning Facial Mask
This mask will leave your skin soft and renewed. It also has an earthy scent that’s just wonderful! Kelp is the ingredient responsible for brightening the skin, while hempseed oil softens. Your skin will be nourished by various minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. And, as a massive bonus to my teens, this mask can even be used as a spot treatment for pimples!
All this mask’s ingredients and oils are natural and grown locally in the Negev Desert of Israel. The mask is certified organic and created by Argot Organic Wellness, founded by Esther Lachman. All ingredients are grown organically on her farm near the Gerar river, where Abraham and Isaac once lived. The king of Gerar, Abimelech, took Sarah from Abraham when Abraham (again) lied and introduced Sarah as his sister (Genesis 20).
Super Berry Granola
I was excited to see this when I opened the box because I LOVE granola! This natural granola looks, smells, and tastes delicious! I tasted it with milk, but Artza’s recommendation on how to enjoy it (with a fresh dollop of yogurt and berries) sounds even better. I’m sure my children would love this served parfait style too!
Galit and Dany created this tasty and healthy mix in Ashdod, Israel. This husband and wife team strives to make food that’s not just healthy but flavorful and rich also. They certainly achieved that with this granola! It’s delicious, but you don’t have to worry about eating added chemicals or sugar.
Olive Wood Cross
This attractive hand-carved cross is perfectly smooth to the touch. As I mentioned above, the olive wood has meaningful symbolism of the land and the people of the nation of Israel. The beautiful wood grain is exposed, and its natural look complements any decor.
Connecting Hearts Game
This game is great for families! At their turn, each player chooses a card and reads the question. For example, “My favorite Bible character and why.” The other players attempt to answer the question about the player that chose the card, and that player gives the card to the person they think answered most accurately.
Connecting Hearts is made by Hooga Games in Israel. They focus on creating an atmosphere where people can bond and have meaningful and unforgettable experiences.
Postcards from the Negev
Postcards of the featured Holy Land area are included in each Artzabox. The postcards included in this box are high-resolution images of Park Timna and the Churches of Ancient Mamshit.
Park Timna is an ancient Egyptian copper mining area known for its rock formations that seem to defy gravity. Located along the main road from Judea to Petra, the ancient once-lost city of Mamshit was one of the main trade posts over 1,500 years ago. This postcard shows one of the churches found there, complete with an intact mosaic floor!
Negev Desert Crossword
This is the first time I’ve seen this included in an Artzabox. I’m excited to see it included because I love sitting down with a good crossword puzzle. The clues to the puzzle all have something to do with the items included in the box. What a fun idea!
This Artzabox was a fantastic box with many unique items! Aren’t you excited to see what’s in the next one?
If you’d like to see what was included in the previous Artzaboxes I’ve received, visit my Artzabox page.