A visit to artisan jeweler David Baruch in his home in Biriya, a village overlooking Tzfas
This jewelry craft is more than a family inheritance — for David Baruch it’s about releasing the holy energy embedded in precious metals and sublime shapes. Photos: Menachem Kalish
Artisan jeweler David Baruch wrapped in his trademark ruby red tallis is sitting serenely beside the simple patio set in the sprawling garden of his three-story home in Biriya a village overlooking Tzfas. The garden reflects David’s life and personality — a profusion of flowers and trees grow freely everywhere you look all contained in a succah frame that acts as a trellis. In one corner a large trampoline stands ready to welcome David’s four children while an eclectic collection of bikes and trikes are leaning against the large acacia tree by the entrance.
Nearby David’s workshop is a small deceptively simple room secured with a heavy padlock to guard its valuable contents. Inside spread across every surface is a bewildering array of tools machines and partly finished pieces of jewelry. On the wall directly in front of the desk where David works are hung the Name of Hashem and various kabbalistic diagrams of the sefiros on which David concentrates while producing his jewelry. In one corner stands a beautiful antique-style filigree silver leichter set with ten menorahs at different heights which David explains are in the form of the ten sefiros.
It is the studio of an artist deeply engaged in serving his Creator who uses that spirit and passion to create beautiful work. But David Baruch didn’t start his life thinking he’d end up in a small workshop outside Tzfas wrapped in a red tallis creating jewelry with kabbalistic overtones. But Hashgachah brought him to his true calling.
David Baruch was born in the magical city of Shiraz in the mountains of Iran a city of flowers and parks and artists where many famous Persian artists blossomed. More than 60 years ago — and before the Ayatollah Khomeini wreaked havoc on this nation with such a rich history and culture — Shiraz was one of the most colorful exotic cities in the world. David’s wealthy family was part of that artistic culture. Both his father and grandfather were jewelers designing and making exclusive luxury pieces. His great-grandfather designed the silver coins used as currency by the Persian ruler the shah back in the early 20th century. “I have the artistry of jewelry running in my blood ” David admits.
Like many Persian Jewish families at the time the younger generation was more assimilated and distant from their Jewish roots but their grandparents still clung to their Judaism. “Everyone called my grandfather ‘Rav’ ” David relates. “I remember how every Lag B’omer he would bring ten talmidei chachamim and they would learn Tikkunei HaZohar all night.” From that period were sowed the seeds of David’s later return to his Jewish roots. “I was only eight but since then I remembered how my grandfather would tell me about this book Sefer HaZohar which contained within it all the secrets of the universe. I had a great curiosity about it from my childhood. Was there really such a book? I really wanted to see it.”
David made aliyah to Israel at the age of 13 together with his sister as part of the Youth Aliyah from Iran in 1962. He was placed in a boarding school where they learned both academic subjects and agriculture. “It was totally secular but we were alone so we had to accept it. It was very strange for a young newcomer from Iran.”
