NearDesign

I was born and raised in Omer, Israel, a small town in the northern part of Negev desert. After three years in a mandatory military service, I spent two years traveling throughout South East Asia, Japan, and Australia. During that trip, I met my wife, Barbara. When I returned to Israel, I enrolled in a certificate course in Interior Design, and simultaneously designed and made metal furniture.

In 1990 I moved to the United States and made wood furniture with the help of my father-in-law. I spent one year in New York City during which time I took some courses at Parsons School of Design. Subsequently I moved to Kansas City, Missouri and worked with furniture designer and non-profit recycle company, which made furniture from commercial waste.

In May 1993, my wife and I moved to Japan. For two years I worked at a small Japanese furniture company. This company made solid wood custom and semi-production pieces using both power tools and Japanese hand tools. These Japanese tools have become my everyday hand tools since then.

From Japan I applied for the two-year certificate program at Worcester Center for Crafts in Worcester, Massachusetts. I graduated in May 1997. While at the Center for Crafts, I designed, developed, and made furniture incorporating western and eastern motifs and techniques.

I currently share a shop space with three other woodworkers in Worcester, where I live with Barbara and our two daughters, Miya, and Taeva.