Michal Negrin

At first glance, some may overlook this ornate rococo style as perhaps too flowery and decidedly not Jewish, however these earrings and ring are created by one of my favorite Israeli designers, Michal Negrin. Entering her store in Israel is like walking into the most colorful candy store in the world. She has revolutionized Israeli style with her technique and design; known for feminine and ornate embellishments that appear on rings and bracelets to journals and dresses. Whenever I wear these earring in Jewish circles, I usually hear the question, "Are those Michal Negrin?" Male and female alike who have been to Israel can recognize her flowers, whose designs are only sold in Israel, including at Ben Gurion Airport. If you are wearing her jewlery, you have a direct connection to Israel. You have either been there yourself or know someone who brought them back for you. Although they do not overtly signify my religion, they indicate a link to the country of Israel and thus a support of the nation. I am approving of her style and indirectly supporting Israel's economy. When I see someone wearing Michal Negrin, I assume they are Jewish because of the ISrael connection I link to the jewelry, and they could assume the same of me by seeing my own floral arrangements. Thus this symbol acts as an "eruv" between us. Because we choose to don these flowers, we are accepting an unspoken link to a location of Jewish heritage, thus allowing it to be part of our identity. We understand this tacit symbol linking us, which we approve of by simply wearing it. According to Charlotte Fonrobert in her work The Political Symbolism of the Eruv, "The eruv emerges as a theory of community, of collectivity, of neighborhood as a unified community with collective intent" (Fonrobert 16). If we understnad an eruv to present a physical community with mutual mindset, the jewelry functions as such, allowing strangers to see religious connections between them due to the tangible wearing of symbols. On a side note, I have a keener affection for Michal Negrin, because she designs for my needs. I do not have pierced ears and those who do not have pierced ears know how hard it is to find earrings. Michal designs a whole slew of earrings made for girls like me. I'm not sure why she does it, but it could have something to do with her clientele.

In fact, at an orthodox wedding in Israel several summers ago, I began to speak with a close family friend who hails from an Orthodox community in Jerusalem. I remarked how gorgeous her white flowery earrings were and she of course admired my own. In a moment of awkward shyness with nothing else to say, I began to tell her of my plight with earrings. She grew wide eyed and expressed the same issue as she smoothly slid one earring off. I asked why she could not have pierced ears and her response had something to do with Kabbalah. She could not pierce her ears for risk of ruining the fields of energy that run through her body- or that was what her father said. I simply form keyloids, but it is not unheard of that those who follow talmudic or kabbalistic texts also must refrain from piercing on principle. If that is true, Michal would be wise to advertise with this consort.