Meet the Maker: An Interview with Naomi, Founder and Artist Behind Judaica Studio
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Judaica Studio began as more than a design project - it started as a personal journey. Behind every mezuzah, every Shabbat match, and every kippah is Naomi: artist, founder, and the quiet force shaping our collections. We sat down with her to talk about inspiration, heritage, and why making ritual objects by hand still matters.
Q: Naomi, can you tell us a little about your journey and how it shaped Judaica Studio?
Naomi: For me, this isn’t just design work. It’s deeply personal journey. I grew up in Dnipro, Ukraine, in a close-knit Jewish community that gave me the foundation of my identity and traditions. Moving to Israel later in life gave me a deeper connection to ritual, I wasn’t just hearing about traditions, I was living them every day.
Now, based in Manchester, I carry those experiences into every piece I design. Each place left a mark, and Judaica Studio is really a blend of those memories, landscapes, and transitions.
Q: Why Judaica? Why was this the medium you chose to work in?
Naomi: Ritual objects are among the most intimate things we own. They carry memory, connect us to family and community, and live with us in the present.
Growing up surrounded by Jewish practice, I noticed most Judaica felt very traditional, beautiful but not reflective of how younger generations live or how modern homes look.
I wanted to show that tradition can also be expressed in a minimalist, contemporary way. A mezuzah doesn’t lose its sanctity on the doorframe of a modern apartment; it can become an even stronger bridge between old and new. My goal is to design pieces that feel just as at home in a contemporary space as they do in one steeped in tradition.
Q: Your collections use such different materials—resin, olive wood, stone. How do you choose them?
Naomi: I like to think each material I use brings its own personality into the piece.
Olive wood tells a story of roots and growth; when I carve it, I feel connected to Israel’s land and history. Stone and concrete speak to permanence, to Jerusalem itself, to that feeling of walking its old streets and knowing you’re part of something enduring. Resin is more playful and surprising. It starts as liquid, almost like water, and then transforms into something clear and strong that catches light beautifully.
Each material I choose has to hold both durability and meaning. I want the objects to last, but I also want them to feel alive with the places, textures, and memories they come from.
Q: Walk us through your creative process. How does a mezuzah begin?
Naomi: Usually, it begins with a fragment of memory - the texture of a stone wall in Jerusalem, the curve of a leaf, or even the shadow lines of modern architecture. I sketch first, but honestly, the process quickly becomes very tactile. Pouring resin, sanding wood, embedding crystals - it’s a conversation with the material, and sometimes the design shifts as I work. Nothing is mass-made; each piece takes its own touch.
Q: Judaica Studio calls itself “home of refined rituals.” What does that phrase mean to you?
Naomi: I think of it as giving rituals a space to breathe. They don’t have to feel heavy or stuck in the past. Refined means simple, thoughtful, and meaningful. Creating objects that make lighting candles, touching a mezuzah, or setting a table feel both natural and elevated.
Q: What do you hope people feel when they bring one of your pieces home?
Naomi: What I hope people feel most is belonging. That when they bring a piece into their home, it doesn’t feel foreign or forced, but natural - as if it was always meant to be there. I want them to see their own story reflected in it, whether that’s heritage, design, or simply the joy of making ritual beautiful.
Q: What’s next for Judaica Studio?
Naomi: I’d like to keep exploring materials and pushing how Judaica can look and feel. There’s so much room for creativity in ritual design - experimenting with textures, shapes, and forms that bring tradition into dialogue with modern life. At the same time, I want to keep things personal and hands-on; each piece will always be made one at a time, with care.
For me, Judaica Studio is about more than objects. I want it to grow into a community of like-minded people who care about ritual, design, and meaning in their homes. Whether through conversations, gatherings, or shared stories, my hope is that the studio becomes a place where people feel connected - to tradition, to creativity, and to each other.
Judaica Studio is more than a brand - it’s Naomi’s journey turned into form. Each mezuzah and other ritual object are handmade, using materials chosen for longevity and beauty, designed to bring meaning into modern Jewish homes.