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Page 16 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE November 14, 1986
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Embroidery workshop unites Israeli women
A new embroidery workshop
and showroom in Jerusalem is
promoting harmony between the
ultra-Orthodox and secular pop
ulation, helping to preserve a
landmark building in the city’s
colorful Bukharan Quarter, and
transforming the lives of its
women employees. These accom
plishments, however, are not the
main goals of Kuzari. This pro
ject was established only a few
months ago to manufacture and
market the ethnic embroideries
of local women.
“It’s our own ingathering of
the Exiles,’ combined with respect
and appreciation for each other’s
culture,” explains Avraham Ben-
Zvi, the maverick kibbutznik who
initiated and directs the project.
“Most of the 30 women on the
staff of Kuzari came to us with
little or no knowledge of their
mothers’ and grandmothers’ nee
dle-work skills.
Once the women master these
skills at Kuzari, they begin creat-
Israeli needleworker reproducing an ethnic art.
ing work that has the same ele
gance and vibrancy as their fam-
e >'V
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ily heirlooms—and they’re very
proud of this.”
The women learned basic
stitches from Nili Swerdlow, a
talented Israeli needleworker who
also designs the items sold by
Kuzari. Some are exact replicas
of antique embroideries, or adap
tations of collectors’ pieces. Oth
ers are stylized, updated versions
of traditional patterns which had
originally taken months to make.
The name Kuzari derives from
the land of the ancient Khazars,
roughly equivalent to the region
of Buchara, Afghanistan, Kur
distan, Pakistan, Iran and Tur
key. “Since we are located in the
heart of Jerusalem’s culturally
mixed Bucharan Quarter,” says
Ben-Zvi, “we thought the name
Kuzari especially suits us. And if
it also brings to mind the mys
tery, exoticism and color of the
East—that’s exactly what our em
broidery is all about.”
Visitors to Kuzari are greeted
in a newly renovated workshop
showroom with a constantly
changing selection of handiwork.
The current line includes an ex
traordinary array of fashion ac
cessories—Persian cosmetic cases,
Yemenite leggings and vests,
shoulder bags and crocheted
necklaces; housewares, such as
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tablecloths, pillows and wall
hangings; and Jewish ceremonial
items for home and synagogue.
The staff also accepts commis
sions for wedding dresses and
other special requests.
The women who work in Kuzari
represent almost all of Israel’s
ethnic communities. They span
three generations and range from
ultra-Orthodox to totally secu
lar. “By giving these women a
meaningful and constructive craft,
and creating a comfortable social
context in which to pursue it, we
encourage them to work together
in rare harmony,” says Ben-Zvi.
He adds that most of the employ
ees had never before worked out
side their homes. Kuzari’s train
ing program, flexible hours and
child-care facilities on the pre
mises helped overcome these
women’s initial hesitations about
going out to work. “Even more
important than their new—and
crucial—income, is the new sense
of accomplishment and self-es
teem they take home with them
each day,” Ben-Zvi concludes.
Kuzari is located at 10 Ha-
Bucharim Street in Jerusalem. It
is housed in one of the Bucharan
Quarter’s most spendid buildings,
constructed as a private mansion
at the turn of the century. Ku/a-
ri’s presence is giving new life to
this grand old building, turning it
into a focal point of the neigh
borhood and enabling another
generation of Israelis and tour
ists to visit and enjoy its architec
tural attractions.
Kuzari was founded in 1985
with the support of the South
African Jewish community, which
is twinned with the Bucharan
Quarter through Project Renew
al. While it is gradually becom
ing self-supporting, Kuzari still
receives some backing from Pro
ject Renewal.
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