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 >
A new chapter begins for Aesthetic Sense
Karen and Jay Schecter at their recently reopened Mount Kisco store, Aesthetic Sense, which promises “goods for the soul.”“Behind every one of the items in our store is a story,” says Karen Schecter, co-owner with her husband, Jay, of the recently reopened and repurposed Aesthetic Sense. The store’s tagline, “Goods for the soul,” speaks to the couple’s commitment to, and belief in, merchandise that is either ethically sourced or hews to fair trade... 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 >
Building a Global Community: How We Adhere to Fair Trade and Ethical Sourcing Standards
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing: Good for Your SoulHere at the Aesthetic Sense: Goods for the Soul, we believe in knowing the origins of the creations that we showcase. For the artists who we know personally, we know their stories, and we know that they share our values. In our mind, they do not need any certification: we know they are ethical in all that... READ MORE >
Shokeling When I Pray: Is it Good for My Soul?
Musing about the Shokel Shuffle - an Esoteric Piece of Jewish TriviaWalk into virtually any synagogue service at any time of the year and you are bound to see one, if not many, worshipers shokeling. What, you might ask, is shokeling? Or is it shokling? Either way, it derives from the Yiddish word “to shake” and means just that: the swaying back and forth and/or side... READ MORE >
Ethical Sourcing: The Roots of Charity
The Who, What, and Why of the Fair Trade and Ethical Sourcing MovementsGive a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This ancient proverb has variously been attributed to Maimonides, ancient Chinese philosophers, and to a mid 19th Century British author. Tzedek tzedek tirdof: Thou shall pursue justice. This phrase is a... READ MORE >
Judaica: How, What & Why
The Concept of Hiddur MitzvahWhy Judaica as an art form? Judaism, like many of the world’s religions, is intrinsically beautiful, and we want our relationship with the Almighty to be just as beautiful. Judaica – Jewish ceremonial art used for ritual purposes – embodies the concept of Hiddur Mitzvah: to beautify the Almighty’s commandments or mitzvot by performing them... READ MORE >
Building Community: The Architect Talks About Creating a Gallery Good for the Soul
There is one thing a designer likes more than completing a project, and that is to write about completing a project. Not only do I get to describe the architectural process, but I get to formally thank Karen and Jay for making the process an enjoyable and successful one as well. We began with a... READ MORE >
Past, Present & Future . . .
Jay: Our Responsibility to be Truthful, Transparent, and Giving, Grateful to Family and FriendsWhether it is in my personal life or my business life, I’ve always believed in the maxim: To know where you are going, you need to know where you come from. Never has this been more true than now, as we launch The AESTHETIC SENSE: goods for the soul. Karen’s and my personal journeys over... READ MORE >
The Trials and Tribulations of New Space!
Building the Flagship Gallery for Goods for the SoulBuilding a new and beautiful flagship gallery, one worthy of the art work and functional creations it will host, was sometimes fun and exciting, other times daunting and overwhelming, equal parts amazing and frustrating, usually all at the same time! So, while we were still refining the concept for the new venture, Jay found us... READ MORE >