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November
2011 Newsletter
Rebels
Ring & Pendant
Identifying
with the World Protest
Hello,
The winds of protest and revolution that are blowing around in the
world these days have not passed me over as well. A couple of weeks
ago, a friend of the family who is also an antique collector came for a
visit to my workshop. He came with a few ancient Jewish coins
and asked me if I have an idea for a jewel based on them. I took a few
coins from him and told him that I would think about it. After we
parted, I looked at one of the coins. On the coin there was blurred,
rubbed out writing from two thousand years ago. On one side of the coin
there was a motif of a vine leaf with an ancient Hebrew writing, and on
the other side there was a sort of jug/amphora also with ancient Hebrew
writing.
Out of curiosity, I took a paper and started to decipher what was
written. After a few minutes, there appeared on the page two words-
“Year two”. On the other side was written
“Freedom for Zion”.
In seconds I understood…
It was an original coin from the Jewish revolt against the Roman
Empire. Year two was the second year of the revolt against
the Romans-
Year 67 of the Common Era (A.D.). The Jug in the center of the coin is
one of the holy objects of the temple in Jerusalem, the jar of manna
that was kept as a reminder of the people of Israel’s
wanderings in the
desert.
16%
discount on Rebels and
Freedom Jewelry
Valid
Until 13th of November
The revolt against the empire broke out because of the cruel oppression
and the corruption of the Roman regime, and also due to the division
amongst the different sects in the kingdom of Judah. When I looked at
the coin I couldn’t help thinking about what was happening in
different
parts of the world; The middle class that in different parts
of the
world have despaired from the cynical exploitation of the economic
bodies and governments. The uprising of the middle class against this
continued cynical exploitation around the world will at the end of the
day lead to change.
My identification with all those who are fighting
against those corporations stems from a clear understanding that has
sharpened within me over the years; behind the feeling of freedom that
we are given in western countries stands a sort of enslavement of will.
The high standard of living relative to previous centuries created a
comfortable situation where we have paid our taxes and lived in
relative welfare and comfort. The problem started in the last few
decades when the masses discovered that they can’t afford to
purchase a
house and have a satisfying lifestyle with their current level of
income.
My first understanding started in childhood when I was a student in the
“Education System”. I didn’t understand
why the learning material was
the same for everybody and consisted mainly of repeating information
and suppression of creativity. The constant Mantra of the teachers
was: “What will you do without matriculation
papers?” That was what
was important for the system. Not personal development, original
thinking, or creativity, rather a stamp that says you memorized
material that for the most part is completely useless for the student.
Only after years did I understand that the object of this system is to
lead the student at the end of the day to become yet another worker in
the organized economic system, another tax payer giving his hard earned
money to the government.
This is the reason I decided to design the Rebel pendant and ring. The
pendant and ring symbolize the personal yearning of each and every one
of us for freedom, justice, and self actualization.
Thank you
Have a wonderful fall
With Love
David Weitzman and the Ka gold jewelry team.
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