Ori Faran, 44 years old, married to Zohar and father of four children, lives in the religious moshav of Suva, on the Gaza border, a few kilometers from Netivot. It is here that he opened his own weaving workshop where he creates a wide variety of prayer shawls (tallit), kippot, challah covers, talit and tefillin bags, and also Torah scroll "covers" that he personalizes. His original creations are sold in Israel and around the world. Ori is a passionate man who draws his inspiration from his personal history. It all started when he went to Safed (northern Israel) for a spiritual journey and made Techouva as a young adult.
"I grew up in the kibbutz Givat Haim Ihud near Hadera, in a non-religious family, but I always sought spiritual meaning in my life. When I was a child, I talked to someone in the sky and asked for things. Then, my older brother, who is three years my senior, became religious and opened the way to a Judaism different from the one we were raised in", Ori Faran recounts.
During his military service, Ori frequently visited Safed to see his brother and felt a particular connection with this city, which attracted him greatly. After spending a few months in India and Europe, Ori was convinced of the existence of God, "a power that guides the world."
"Upon returning to Israel, I stayed with various friends throughout the country, then I ended up in Rosh Pina and began my process of return to religion. In this city, everything calls for spirituality; the synagogue is really special, you feel at home. I became interested in the mitzvot and decided to continue this spiritual journey in Safed, which for me is the city par excellence of Judaism", explains Ori Faran.
In Safed, he was hired in a talit weaving workshop and quickly understood that he had found his vocation. "The talit has a direct connection with prayer, and creating an object that brings people closer to religion immediately appealed to me. It is a sacred work that combines creativity and meditation, and it brings me immense well-being", he says.
After spending 5 years in Safed and getting married, Ori Faran and his wife Zohar decided to settle in the south of the country in the kibbutz Suva. In this haven of peace, Ori opened his own weaving workshop, which he named "Tallis Man."
He weaves all kinds of handmade prayer shawls and other Jewish-related items for his clients, which he then delivers in Israel as well as to the United States, France, Germany, and England. In Israel, his clientele mainly consists of Dati Leumi (modern Orthodox) Jews and those who have returned to religion.
Ori has already sold thousands of creations. He draws inspiration from the wheat fields and orchards of the south, as well as from the desert and the prayers that accompany him throughout the weaving process. To make a talit, it generally takes him only a few days. Ori also adds embroidered names and motifs according to his clients' wishes. "Some want a custom-made talit and choose everything from A to Z, including colors, design, and inscriptions. For weddings, for example, I have many personalized orders; it is very touching", says Ori.
Ori, who considers himself as an artist, also organises occasional visits to his workshop for the more curious who wish to see him at work.
"The talit I create for a boy’s Bar Mitzvah is particularly special because it is his first in his life and marks the official entry into religious life", Ori asserts.
Since October 7, Ori says that his clients have been ordering talitot with a large Magen David in abundance, "this symbol is recurring because people want to strengthen their Jewish identity after the tragedy we have experienced", he explains.
Ori has felt the direct impact of the war; his kibbutz was evacuated, his family displaced for more than six months, and his co-worked ceased working. But he decided to stay alone in his workshop to maintain his activity.
"Several clients tell me that they have drawn closer to prayer thanks to their talit, and for me, this is the ultimate satisfaction. When I hear that, my mission is fulfilled. In my creations, I always try to bring my spiritual touch and my special connection with God, to make them unique", Ori Faran concluded.
Orders can be placed directly on Ori Faran’s website or on his Instagram page.
Caroline Haïat
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