By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

AMBERLEY VILLAGE - News from Israel is solemn these days, but Sunday's Israel Fair was a reminder that there's more to this embattled country than bullets and bombs.

Hundreds of people visited Adath Israel Synagogue in Amberley Village to shop for jewelry, art and Judaic items. Some 33 artists, jewelers, weavers, calligraphers, sculptors, painters and shop owners from Israel sold their wares.

"It brings awareness, despite what we see on TV," said Mitch Padnos, who was shopping with his wife, Stacey, and sons, Ethan, 7, and Benjamin, 4.

"Israel is still alive and thriving. Israel has a lot to contribute, not only to the Israeli culture, but to cultures around the world through art and commerce," the Wyoming man said.

The Israel Fair concluded ArtBeat of Israel, the month-long festival of Israeli art and culture, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.The weekend events showcased Israeli art, dance, films, music and literature.

"It's to bring Israel in a different face to Cincinnati, so they can connect it, not just to violence and terrorism, but its artistic and creative side, as well," said Noga Maliniak, Israeli emissary to the Greater Cincinnati area.

The selection Sunday was an eclectic mix that appealed to Jews and non-Jews, ranging from silver menorahs and children's board games in Hebrew to handmade jewelry and fine tapestries.

Phyllis Jackson and her fiance shopped for a Havdalah set, used in a ceremony to mark the end of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.

"It's great to see Israeli artists," said Ms. Jackson, of Wyoming. "It's a great way to get reconnected to Israel. It's nice to hear the music and have the food. It's very holistic."

The arts fair is another way to support Israel by helping its economy, which depends on American tourists, Ms. Jackson said. "People are not going to Israel like they used to... This is what you buy when you go to Israel, so we brought Israel over here."

The art fair was a blessing for Israeli vendors like Esther Ziv, who sells wares for her brother, Yaakov Greenvurcel, a silversmith designer. "It's like a ghost town these days in Jerusalem," she said.

Ms. Ziv doesn't know how they'd survive without art fairs in the United States.

"For us, it's a salvation," she said. "I'm very moved by it. There's so much warmth and support. It's a very, very bad situation in Israel, but we're lucky to experience Jewish solidarity in the States."

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com