Bethlehem Olive my Observations in Israel

[tgsean]

Hi All,

I have just returned from a 3 week visit to Israel, Jordan and Turkey. I had a fantastic time! I love Olive wood, and I had made some pens from BOW, and I just wanted to share what I found during my trip. I visited Bethlehem separate to the tour that I was on. Ghasan the owner of the Bethlehem Olive wood online (Bethlehem Olive wood - Bethlehem Olive Wood) and shop in Bethlehem Tree of Life organised the visit. He picked my group up from Tel Aviv and dropped us back after an amazing tour of his store, factory at home, and around Bethlehem. He even took us to the Church of Nativity where Jesus was born, and took us around Bethlehem and showed us the Olive trees. He also showed us a number of things, and on a particular road near the refugee camps, it was a bit scary but I won't go into the details. Needless to say there are constant problems! I was very fortunate to be able to visit Bethlehem. I would like to say that there are plenty of Olive trees all over Bethlehem and all over Israel. There is no shortage at all! I am attaching several pictures of them. Some are very old even upto over 2000 years old like in the Garden of Gethsemane, and others of varying ages. The fine for cutting down an Olive Tree in Israel is USD 5000. The branches have to be pruned regularly. I am convinced beyond doubt that Ghasan and his store provide genuine BOW. I am putting up the evidence that I collected. There are pictures of olive trees, of his store, his backyard where he stores the stock and dries the olive wood etc. There are heaps more, but I've just put in a few. I leave the conclusions to all of you, but I have no hesitation in saying I am convinced. I must also say that Ghasan has some really good wood carvers who work for him, and his prices are very reasonable in comparison to some of the other stores I visited in Jerusalem. The hospitality was excellent too. Another interesting thing I found was that there are also plenty of olive trees in Jordan as well.

Cheers,
Sean

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

My friend just got back from Israel as well.

Do you have a good reliable source that exports bow?

I'd really like to find some larger turning stock.

 

[tgsean]

Dan here is the website, just write to Ghasan with the contact email on the website. he is reliable: Bethlehem Olive wood - Bethlehem Olive Wood. Do mention my name Dr Sean and he should take care of you mate.

 

[Edgar]

Thanks for sharing, Sean.
I wish that I had known about Ghasan's shop when I visited Israel in 2012, but that was before I got into pen turning & I only had one day to spend in Bethlehem.
I'm sure that I will be ordering from Ghasan very soon.

Edgar

 

[CHARLES STOPCZYNSKI]

BOW tour etc.

Thank you Sean.

I'd often wondered about the material. Is it as represented. Obviously it is.

Love to work it, everyone loves it too.

Charlie

 

[darthintel]

I have also been to his shop ..very impressive. We had to change drivers at the border..it was good to visit 1 time ...but I probably wouldn't go back.
I have visited Israel 7 times now ....

 

[tgsean]

Fortunately the guy who was driving us arranged by Ghasan, was able to be both in Israel and the Palestenian Authority in Bethlehem, so we did not have to change drivers, but I know that it does happen.

 

[mtassie]

I've bought blanks from him, top notch

 

[ossaguy]

I'll bet that place smells wonderful!!!

I keep a raw blank of BOW just to take in a deep breath of the sweet aroma every now & then.

Thanks for posting his website.



Steve

 

[tgsean]

It sure does smell good Steve. I loved being in his shop. I had the opportunity to visit the factory too. They have a huge machine there called the master carver, and that helps to duplicate a master carving. This is how he does the simple carvings but the more sophisticated ones are all hand done. Its amazing. I also went to another store, they had exquisite stuff too but much more expensive. I'll try and attach a picture.

 

[tgsean]

Carvings from another store

This was an olive wood carving from another store. Can anyone take a guess on what this was worth in USD?

Sean

 

[ossaguy]

Wow,that's really a masterpiece!

My guess is $4000.00




Steve

 

[tgsean]

16500

 

[bruce119]

Sean, Great story, nice photos, thanks for sharing, what memories you must have, what an exsperance...

That table seen above Boy how can you put a price on it...
Is it carved from one piece of wood, can't quite tell from that angle...
It looks as the figures are attached still what craftsmanship....
THANKS..

 

[SDB777]

Very cool!!

So, with the extreme surplus of BOW wood available, it will come down to 'normal' costs now? My thinking is it has been in a 'bubble' for a long time....and for that reason, I don't buy it. Especially when I can get Olivewood from Texas and it looks the same...


Sounds like you had an excellent trip. Thanks for the photo's!







Scott (nice carvings too) B

 

[rblakemore]

Fantastic story

A great story and pictures!! I love BOW and now know where to really get some!

 

[tgsean]

I don't think that it is from one piece. I could be wrong. Its quiet large actually, and you would need a Palace to display that. I just photographed it as I too was so amazed at the craftsmanship.

 

[Quality Pen]

very neat thread! Thanks for sharing and the pictures!

 

[Waggoner]

Very nice. Looks as if you enjoyed yourself.

 

[TurnaPen]

Thanks for sharing the pictures,very beautiful and interesting. When I was in Sicily (my birth place) in 2011, I saw many similar large old Olive trees; the great interest of Bethlehem Olive wood, of course, is the association with the life of Christ. Amos

 

[tgsean]

New Pictures and Explanation of the Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

I have been told that there are awesome olive trees in Italy. I would be interested to know if they export the wood anywhere Amos?

You are right the Olive tree is often referred to as the tree of life, and closely related to the birth place of Jesus Christ. In fact the mount of Olives gets its name from the fact that on the slopes of the mount there are lots of olives, and of course more so during the time of Jesus. Interestingly the Olive trees don't grow well on the top of the mount of Olives as its 50 m too high and the olives get bitter. The Garden of Gethsemane which literally means Oil press is located at the foot of the mount of olives and has some of the oldest olive trees. The Olive tree in the Jewish tradition has several connotations to it. One of them is that, even if you cut the branches right down the olive tree grows back, and so nothing can wipe out the Jewish nation, and God knows lots of people have tried. However, in the land of the Bible, it was, and is, the most important of all the trees because it is a source of food, light, hygiene and healing. The trees were always plentiful around the countryside and are known for their tenacity. They grow in almost any condition: on terraced hills or in valleys, in rocky or fertile soil. They can thrive in great heat with a minimum of water, and are virtually indestructible. Some grow from root systems 2,000 years old, yet the olive producer has to wait fifteen years for his first good harvest. It was an olive leaf that a dove from Noah's ark brought to Noah, "Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth" (Gen. 8:11). Whatever else succumbed to the flood waters, the hearty olive tree was still alive. At least since the time of Julius Caesar, one of the universal emblems of peace has been that of the olive branch.

There are other reasons, but I can't remember them. I've attached a few pictures from the Garden on Gethsemane. Enjoy

Cheers,
Sean

 

[TurnaPen]

Sean, I cannot say about any export of Olive wood from Europe, I know I have some pictures of similarly large trees in Sicily, I remember remarking on their size to my wife. Just love the beautiful grain in some of the blanks, wood is a lot like us people, we may look and sound rough, but when Christ gets a hold of us and "turns us around" suddenly there is a beauty revealed that we did not know was there. How often does it happen, a piece of wood that didn't seem like much , suddenly reveals an exquisite beauty!!! Amos

 

[TurnaPen]

Found a Photo, Olive Tree at Milazzo, Sicily

Found a photo of one of the trees, this one wasn't as big as some, but it is the one we took the photo of.

 

[Quality Pen]

Those really are some nice looking trees!

 

[tgsean]

Thanks Amos for putting up the picture of the tree from Sicily, looks good