As a new mom, I knew that I wanted to be intentional about making the Bible and scripture a part of our everyday activities. I knew that I wanted my kids to understand the times and the culture of the Bible – and I also knew that the odds of us being able to go and visit for ourselves were nil.
Over the years, we’ve tried hard to learn about the Holy Land in many different ways, but then a few weeks ago we learned about Artza – and it’s much better than anything I could possibly have put together on my own.
Artza is a quarterly subscription service from the Holy Land. Each box is designed around items from a specific city, and the items are crafted from local artisans and small business owners. The boxes contain something to taste, something to learn, something to inspire – and several other items, as well as recipe cards, postcards, a large photograph with information about that city, and more.
There are loads of great things about Artza! Here are some of my favorites:
First of all, the box itself and the packing is beautiful! That may not seem like a big deal, but if you’re paying for items from another country, you want to be sure that they arrive intact – and these will. Not only was each item packed according to it’s specific needs, but it was done beautifully with folded paper, a sticker, and then the crinkly packing paper inside. The shipping box itself has beautiful Hebrew words written on it, making it feel exotic and extra special when it arrives. This all contributes to the feeling that you’re traveling somewhere special.
I love that each box contains educational materials specific to the city from which it was curated. My box was from Nazareth, and it contained the items you see above. The card on the left was like a postcard, featuring a photo of a special site in the city and information on the back. The card on the far right is a recipe card for shakshuka, a popular Israeli breakfast dish. The middle two cards shared information about some of the artisans whose items were in this particular box. We all enjoyed learning about the people who were living and working in this region, and it was fun to see what we might have in common with people from another country.
The Nazareth box contained several things to taste, which we all enjoyed! The jar on the left is a tasty fruit spread. With the Christmas season upon us, we’re enjoying this with crackers and breads as we play games together.
The canister in the middle is full of two different types of tea. I love that this is something both aromatic and delicious! Again, it brings home that exotic feeling, and it helps us to learn about the modern Holy Land culture with all of our senses.
I was super excited to try shakshuka. Reading through the recipe, we eat all of these ingredients regularly – but not in this combination. It smelled so good, and although we ate it for our evening meal instead of in the morning, it made a filling and yummy dinner. Isn’t it pretty? It was easy to make and only took a few minutes, too – total bonus in my book during this busy season.
The teacher in me loves these cards! They’re super flexible, and you can play three different games with them. My Little Man and I found one of them to be a bit confusing, since there’s a variety of cards and purposes in the pack, but they’re great for learning about the geography and special sites in the Holy Land. With real photographs, fun facts, and trivia, these are educational and fun. People of (most) all ages can play, too. Each box contains something that’s specifically educational game-wise, so you’re guaranteed a fun way to learn with every one that you receive.
These items were packed so well in the shipping box that I missed them on my first dig through! The cross on the left fits perfectly in my hand. It’s smooth and beautiful, and I love the somewhat whimsical shape.
The bar of soap smells amazing. I love how clean the ingredient list is, and with those simple, wholesome ingredients, this is perfect for body or hair use. Good, real soap is hard to find – but this is the real deal.
For me, though, this wall hanging was the best piece of everything in the box. It’s silky and embroidered and beaded and exotic and meaningful, all at the same time. It’s now hanging inside our door, where it’s one of the first things you see upon entering our home. It’s not the kind of thing you see in American stores, but somehow it feels perfectly connected to the land where Jesus walked. Unrolling it from where it came nestled amidst the paper and products felt like a sacred thing, handling items made by hand from far away. I will likely never get to walk there myself, but this felt like being able to reach out and touch a bit of it through the tassels on this piece.
Getting this box in the mail felt like an Event – it was momentous enough to need capital letters. We loved inspecting each item, reading all the information, and passing them around to share, and we’ve done so many times. We’ve talked about the scents and tastes and the artisans as a family, and I feel as if we understand just a little bit more about the Holy Land now – and, in turn, that helps us to understand scripture more, too.
Artza boxes are perfect for Christian families wanting to help their children have real connections with the places where Jesus lived and walked and taught. I can see that over time, as the boxes continue, you would build a collection of household decor and tasting experiences, as well as games to play and learn from, that would make a cultural exchange a natural experience.
The same would be true for families who simply love to travel or who place a high emphasis on geography. Artza naturally provides ways to learn about the Holy Land on many levels – and it’s fun, too!
I can see Artza being a big hit with Sunday school classes or youth groups for all of these same reasons. The class I taught last year actually ordered items from Israel in an attempt to learn more about the culture, and we researched and tried our hand at other crafts. How much easier would this have been, to have a box full of items to taste and play with arrive regularly at our door?
As wonderful as Artza boxes are for the recipients, they’re also helpful for the artisans. Not only do they sell items for the box in which they’re featured, but the related advertising (hopefully) helps them to spread the word and grow their businesses, as well. I think it’s a wonderful thing to work with your hands and to build your own business, and I love being able to support people who do so. I’m not sure how many might have websites where you could order additional items, but the items I received in my box would also make great gifts, whether you wanted to pass on your original pieces or order more.
All in all, I loved my Nazareth Artza box so much that my family purchased the winter Bethlehem box for me for my birthday! It was just as exciting as the first box, and it even came with chocolate! The glimpse into Bethlehem was perfect as we begin our Advent journey.
If this sounds like something you’d like to try, I have great news! Artza has generously offered you a 20% discount when you use this link. My boxes both arrived quickly, so if you order soon, you could have a Bethlehem box full of authentic Holy Land goodies in your hands to bless your Christmas celebration.
Are you going to place an order? I’d love to know what you think! Let me know in the comments – which is your favorite item?
I received a free box from Artza. All opinions are my own.
PS – Artza posts fantastic pictures and descriptions of beautiful places throughout the Holy Land on their Facebook page. Check it out here!
