From the very first time Mark Rosenbaum saw a glass-blowing demonstration, the drama of it took hold of his senses and has not let go.  I’ll never forget his telling me about the experience of discovering his artistic passion: “It was hot. It was loud. It was magic. And it found my heart.”

Mark is the newest addition to the Traditions Jewish Gifts lineup of talented artists producing fabulous Judaica that’s perfect for special life events like weddings and Jewish holidays like Passover. Gifts that come from Mark’s studio are truly one of a kind because there is no mold – just the molten materials, a fiery hot room and a very talented artist with a concept at the end of a glass blower’s hollow rod. As a result, every piece is original.

Another thing that makes his art unique is a new technique he’s created for a line of products we’ll be featuring in the Traditions Jewish Gifts online catalog. Here’s how it works: In the Jewish culture, we love to preserve our memories of special occasions. This practice has made the traditional, decorative mezuzah for storing memorabilia one of the most popular Jewish gifts that people buy.

But Mark takes the idea of the traditional mezuzah and “kicks it up a notch” by actually incorporating the treasured items into the art. So instead of making empty mezuzahs for weddings, for example, he works with special glass “jelly beans” (glass that’s resistant to high temperatures so it doesn’t melt) that the groom has stomped on. Then, through the magic of glass blowing, he creates paperweights or vases in which the shards are suspended in the blown glass.

Another thing unique about Mark’s work is that the place he creates it is just as hot, loud and magical as the art itself. A native of Connecticut, Mark opened the first glass-blowing studio in New Orleans – actually the first in Louisiana – after earning a master of fine arts degree from Tulane University. He operates from an old, 6,000-square-foot movie theater, where the front half is a beautiful, air-conditioned gallery, and the back is where the action is in his studio.  You can take a virtual tour here.

I hope you’ll take a look at Mark’s new line and the work of all the outstanding artists who produce one-of-a-kind Jewish gifts for our store in Florida and online catalog.

For a bride and groom, there is no day bigger than the wedding day. Months — and sometimes years — of preparation go into planning a picture perfect ceremony and reception. While the actual wedding may only last hours, the memories last a lifetime. Many people focus on photos and videos, but some of the most sentimental keepsakes of a Jewish wedding come from the traditional glass breaking ceremony. Preserve those memories forever with a stunning wedding glass mezuzah. In addition to keeping the wedding memories alive, the wedding glass mezuzah is the perfect decoration for the doorway of any master bedroom.

The Ani Li Dodi Wedding Mezuza handcrafted by Gary Rosenthal is a true fan favorite!  Broken glass is stored inside the mezuzah to create a cherished keepsake. The top of the mezuza is elegantly embossed in gold and says: “I Am My Beloved’s And My Beloved Is Mine” in English and Hebrew. Made of brass and copper with clear glass on top, the mezuzah can be personalized with the bride and groom’s names, along with the wedding date.

The Floral Crushed Glass Wedding Mezuza by popular Judaica artist Sara Beames is another great option. This pewter-based mezuzah is topped with a handcrafted piece of fused glass with a colorful floral pattern of glass. Similar to the Rosenthal mezuzah, there is a clear glass tube, which adheres to the top of the mezuzah. It is used to encase the broken glass from the wedding ceremony.

Weddings create amazing memories for the bride and groom, as well as family and friends. A Wedding Glass Mezuzah from Traditions Jewish Gifts is the perfect gift to help loved ones remember that special day forever.

Special Promotions:

• 10% off all Gary Rosenthal Art. Use Coupon Code: GARY10.
• Save 10% on all Quest Collection items. Use Coupon Code: QUEST10P. Offer valid through 3/4/11.
• Purim Gift Promo: Free Shipping with a $50 min. order on select Purim Items. Use Coupon Code: BadHaman.  Offer valid through 3/5/12.
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A Crushed Wedding Glass Mezuzah makes a great gift for the new Jewish bride and groom! At TraditionsJewishGifts.com, we have many beautiful and unique Crushed Wedding Glass Mezuzahs to choose from! This Wedding Glass Mezuzuah with its deep, amethyst stones makes a perfect wedding gift that will be cherished for a lifetime!  Handcrafted, elegant and gorgeous, this custom Mezuzah can be personalized with the wedding couple’s crushed glass after their wedding ceremony! The Crushed Wedding Glass will be encased inside of the sterling silver and glass mezuzah. We will send you a gift card with a picture of this beautiful Jewish Wedding Gift for you to present to the wedding couple!

Or, create a cherished keepsake without sending the glass away, when you gift this Woven Wedding Glass Mezuzah from the Gary Rosenthal Collection.  (Featured photo on the right) This artful handcrafted brass and copper mezuzah, surrounds the glass tube that holds the crushed wedding glass and scroll. “Simple elegance” describes another delicate design from the Gary Rosenthal Collection. This  heart-shaped Wedding Glass Mezuzah is another perfect Jewish Wedding Gift idea!

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