Hi all,

Every year I wonder how I want to honor Yom Hashoa.  The best I could come up with was simply calling my grandma, and sending a donation to the National Holocaust Museum.  Does anyone else have an annual ritual different from services etc….? 

Also have you seen this week’s J. Jewish News Weekly?  This week featured an article on grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors in the bay area. http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/35122/format/html/displaystory.html.  I was interviewed for it.

Keep in touch,
Aimee

Here is the exclusive new Chai pin/pendant that I created in sterling silver for Hadassah's Upper Midwest Region "Chai Society."   Become a charter member of Hadassah by pledging and annual donation and you will recieve this elegant gift.  The metal choices are pewter (for $180 annually), bronze ($360 annually) and silver (below - $540 annually.)  If you are interested in having your local chapter of Hadassah join in on this exclusive "Aimee Golant" Chai for your own Chai Society please contact Laurie Rosenwasser, the executive director of Hadassah's Upper Midwest Region.  Thanks!


Exclusive new "Aimee Golant" Chai Pin Pendant in Sterling Silver

You asked for it!!!  The popular Door to the Soul in a more affordable metal-- with the same high quality look, feel and design!  If you want to get more information and purchase online visit aimeegolant.etsy.com.  Here's a picture:

Hi everyone,
Here is a recent letter written to the Astronaut Mike Massimino from the president of the 1939 club which will accompany the mezuzah.  (I took out contact information for privacy.)

Read on.
Aimee

April 10, 2008

Re: Barbed Wire Mezuzah

Dear Mr. Massimino:

           Rona Ramon asked us to send you a barbed wire mezuzah to take on your next trip to space in honor of Ilan Ramon. This mezuzah is a duplicate of the one that Ilan took on his trip with him.  A mezuzah is placed on the door post of a Jewish home to remind one of G-d's presence. (Ilan joked that he would place it on the door entry of the shuttle.) It is surrounded by barbed wire symbolizing the Holocaust, because we are a Holocaust survivor's organization and Ilan's mother was a Holocaust survivor.  Thanks you for your wonderful tribute to Ilan.  It is very meaningful to all of us.

            The mezuzah was crafted by artist Aimee Golant, a wonderful metal art sculptor, whose grandmother is a Holocaust survivor and one of our members.  I have enclosed a copy of Aimee's brochure as well as her card for your reference.

            Also enclosed is the latest copy of our Yearbook which describes our organization and activities; I hope you find it of interest. Best of luck and kindly keep us posted.

Dear friends,

    You may remember a number of years ago one of my mezuzahs, which honored Holocaust Survivors went into space with the first ever Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon.  Sadly, that shuttle- "Columbia" did not make it safely back into earth's atmosphere and we were all devastated-- especially his family.  To learn more about that launch check out:  http://www.aimeegolant.com/news_mspace.html.

    In a surprising and exciting turn of events, an astronaut friend of Ilan's is going into space (details about the launch are still TBA) and wanted to honor Ilan.  So Ilan's wife Rona suggested he bring the "Barbed Wire Mezuzah" again. 

Happily, it was approved. I along with some helpers (thanks Victoria and Cecile) created a replica of the Barbed Wire Mezuzah and have already sent it off to the 1939 Club in Los Angeles, where it will eventually make it's way to the Astronaut-- Mike Massimino and up into Space.

Tune in for more details on this!

Aimee

PS:  Here is a picture of the mezuzah:

Dear Friends,

There has been lots going on as of late and I just wanted to share and connect with you.  As some of you know I stopped attending the big trade shows about 3 years ago.  The biggest drawback to this is that I miss seeing my retailers in person!  One wonderful thing is that I have become a metal arts teacher to adults and children, which brings vast amounts of joy to my daily life.  For more on private lessons please visit http://www.aimeegolant.com/services_lessons.html and for links to schools where you can take group lessons visit:  http://www.aimeegolant.com/bio.html.   For some upcoming class listing including upcoming summer youth programs, please visit: http://www.aimeegolant.com/news.html. 

Lately I have been using my art to help raise funds for some wonderful organizations including the Upper Midwest Region of Hadassah, American Jewish World Service,  Sharsheret and more.  When you buy work from me I donate money to these great causes.  Hadassah has an exclusive on the Chai for their Chai Society, so those are not for sale in this catalog.  I n case you are curious you can see the Chai pin pendant on their facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6423958375.  Some of you may also know of organizations that need art to help them raise funds.  If so, I would be grateful if you could please forward along this information.

Next, I have a new full color brochure, that I would be happy to send you or your colleagues who need art for selling/ fundraising.  Please do let me know if you want me to send you one. Some of you have been asking  if I could send updated catalogs.  Here is the latest (scroll down).  If you want to see more of my current work visit: http://www.aimeegolant.com.  I am always making new pieces but sometimes I will admit it takes a little while for these to get on my site, therefore at the bottom of this email I have included some work not yet posted online.  I have also been doing a fair amount of custom work.  You can have your old gold refined and we can use it to create the jewelry that you will really wear and cherish.  It is fun too, if we make the jewelry together as a private lesson. 

Some of you have been curious about the Women's Torah Project.  It has been way slow going, so much so that another woman already finished a Torah before us!  We are still glad to be involved in it in whatever capacity as it has openend doors for women to become Torah scribes.  I am still making a crown (although it probably will not be used for WTP)-- it is a one of a kind in copper, silver, 22K gold with a brown diamond.  When it is done, I will send you all pictures.  I am planning on lending them out to different temples.  If you know any temples that may be  interested, please let me know. 

Are you on myspace or facebook?  In the web based social networking world I am on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/mezuzah_lady and on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=736105391, if you are on these sites, I would love to link up with you.  Also, I have started a new little online store on this great site called etsy.  To check out my new online store there, please visit: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5560559.  If you are interested in seeing me in the bay area  at one of my upcoming shows, visit: www.aimeegolant.com/news.html.

Finally, in other (personal) news, many of you know that David and I got married in September of 2007.     We spent 3.5 weeks in New Zealand for our honeymoon-- which was awesome at the end of 2007- through mid January 2008.  What an amazing adventure!!!

I hope you all are doing well, and please do stay in touch with me.  Some of my pieces for sale (and otherwise) are below.

My Best,

Aimee Golant
415-682-7128
info@aimeegolant.com

Custom Silver and 18K gold cufflinks $295.00 (hi Elane)


Cool Copper Box


Eye Necklace silver amethyst tiger's eye $198.


Steel, Silver, Gold Plate Pod earrings $88.

 
Rollprinted Star Box, silver, gold, copper.  (You don't want to know how much this one was....)


Silver and gemstone enameled cell phone charms $52.