Sharing the Aesthetic Sense of Our Community
The Aesthetic Sense Partners with Israeli Social Justice Venture Buy for Good, and it is all Good for the Soul
What better way to support some of the most vulnerable populations in Israel than by shopping? Buy for Good, an Israeli social justice venture, is a marketplace that helps you support Israelis of all religions, all ethnicities and all backgrounds in a new way. All of Buy for Good’s products are hand crafted by adults... READ MORE >
The Aesthetic Sense: Adventures in Shopping for Good
Empowered artisans. A shared sense of community and purpose. One compelling concept.Two years ago we founded our business in the belief that our clients wanted to shop for good, using their dollars to make a positive difference in the world, and would therefore embrace goods produced by fairly compensated artisans working under safe and ethical conditions. We called our collection “Goods for the Soul” – goods... READ MORE >
Do you “Shop Kosher?”
Applying the same basic ethical and moral tenets that shape Kashrut to the purchase of tangible goodsYou may know how to buy a kosher steak. But do you know how to buy kosher things? Kashrut, at least in its purest form, should be more than just following rules; it should also reflect a higher ethos – as they say in the Hebrew National commercials, kosher answers to a “higher authority.” So,... READ MORE >
Celebrate International Women’s Day by Supporting Women Artisans All Over the Globe
With the right tools a woman's potential is limitless: ensuring a woman's independence through income generating projects.Celebrate International Women’s Day by supporting women artisans all over the world: your purchases help women help themselves and their families, giving them independence and control over their own lives. Aside from the many women artists we showcase from all over the US, we feature goods for your soul hand crafted by women artisans all... READ MORE >
Shopping for Good: Together We Make a Difference
Making a Difference in the Lives of Artisans Throughout the WorldThank you for joining with us to grow the Aesthetic Sense community and make a difference in the lives of artisans all over the world. We’re grateful for your support in our mission to provide cool, handmade artisanal crafts, gifts, whimsy and Judaica that is all fairly traded with a social conscience. Rather than plastic... READ MORE >
Aimee Golant: Art for Prayer and Peace
A Bridge to OnenessIt’s not every day that a gallery such as ours finds an artist that is such a terrific fit with the goals and mission of our enterprise: to celebrate the oneness of us all even as we celebrate an individual’s uniqueness, and to do as much good in this world as we can, even as... READ MORE >
Fair Trade, Ethical Sourcing & February 14th….Celebrating Love while Helping the World Around You
The “Kosher” Way of Buying GoodsWhy do we focus on ethical sourcing and knowing the origin and stories behind our Judaica and other goods? For two different yet complementary reasons. First, our passion for social justice: “Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof – Thou shall surely seek justice” is a core Jewish value. When we decided to open the Aesthetic Sense: Goods for... READ MORE >
The Most Meaningful Bar and Bat Mitzvah Gifts EVER: Ethical Sourcing and Becoming a Child of the Commandments
That Perfect, Most Meaningful Gift - Whatever Your BudgetThe Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremony, or, more accurately, the occasion when a child is called to the Torah as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, is the Jewish coming of age ritual, marking when a child becomes an adult in the eyes of the Jewish community, responsible for fulfilling the commandments and taking full moral... READ MORE >
A Conversation With Diane Cherr: Art as Humorous & Whimsical Narrative
The Who, What & Why of the Artistic ProcessWe sat down a few days ago with Diane Cherr, an accomplished artist, renowned for her use of color, design, whimsy and narrative in her painting, collages, mixed media, drawings and printmaking. Our questions and Diane’s answers follow: Q. Why do you do what you do, or create what you create? A. I love color and... READ MORE >
Social Justice & Judaica: Fair Trade and Jewish Values
Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof: You Shall Pursue JusticeAs some of you might know, Jay and I try very hard to know our artisans personally, and to take great interest not just in their work, but in their lives as well. So when we went shopping at the NY Gift Show last week, we went to say hello to old friends, and make... READ MORE >
A Conversation with Renée Chase: Loving the Earth, Breaking the Rules
The Who, What & Why of the Artistic ProcessWe sat down a few days ago with Renée Chase, an accomplished sculptor, renowned for her expertise in fashion and her sculptures of women’s dresses, including bridal gowns. Our questions and Renée’s answers follow: Q. Why do you do what you do, or create what you create? A. I have no choice. It is part... READ MORE >
Women & Tallit: Taking the Plunge
My Personal Journey to Donning, and Loving, My Prayer ShawlAs a woman of a certain generation, the journey to wearing a tallit was an emotionally turbulent one. So much of the decision was fraught with emotional baggage, and it took years to shed the misplaced emotions, to marry the intellect with the heart. Growing up, we were a traditional Jewish family with a varied... READ MORE >