Israel shopping
 

Hello. I will be visiting Israel. I want to buy jewerly, jewish gifts for friends, womens clothing and souviners. Any suggestions? I will be in Haifa, & Tel-Aviv. Thank You.

There are some nice (up-market) shops in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv - in December we dropped a few (dozen? hundred?) shekels at a jewelery shop carrying Ayala Bar designs that herself said would have cost significantly more in the US. The Neve Tzedek area (not far from the central market) is a very attractive historic district with lots to see.

You won't find any shortage of souvenir items throughout the country. Quality may be an issue, however - be careful.

If you are Tel Aviv on a Tuesday or Friday, check out the Nahalat Binyamin crafts fair, covering several blocks.
Many up and coming artists, very reasonable prices. Lots and lots and lots of jewelry, ceramics including some holiday/Judaica items depending on the time of the year. There are some items that would be souvenir like (magnets, shadow box pictures with the biblical seven species in them, that sort of thing)

There are lots of souvenirs, and some of them are made for different religions, looking almost exactly the same. If you want to buy Jewish souvenirs, specify it to the shopkeeper, or you may end up with the wrong variety if you don't know the difference.

Is Maskit, which I recall had beautiful jewelry and handcrafts, still around? Any other recommendations for particular stores?

For shopping Tel Aviv is the place... Yes, Nahalat Binyamin crafts fair in the center of TLV (Allenby near the Carmel Market) is great for artsy souvenirs, and some jewelry too. Again, Fridays and Tuesdays only, during the day.

For really fine and inexpensive jewelry check these two: Magnolia and Grass. The first is not a store but kind of a boutique in the middle of many malls in Israel. Grass is a store chain.

Check the Azrieli shopping center (the 2 huge white towers near the train station) and Dizengoff Center.