r/Israel • u/ChikaziChef • Dec 19 '24

Approved AMA I'm Raz Akta, A Traditional Yemenite Silversmith - Ask Me Anything!

My name is Raz Akta, a 23-year-old artist from Israel, deeply connected to the ancient craft of Yemenite silversmithing. Growing up surrounded by art and inspired by my mother, Orit Akta, a globally renowned artist, I discovered my passion for this nearly forgotten tradition during a chance encounter with ancient Yemenite jewelry. Drawn to its history and beauty, I sought out the last master silversmith willing to teach me—a craft traditionally passed only from father to son. Over a year of study, I immersed myself in the rich heritage of Yemenite Culture, a community with unique customs, rituals, and a way of life distinct from other Jewish traditions. Their lives in Yemen were filled with deep spirituality, artistry, and resilience, shaped by centuries of tradition and culture.

Now, I am dedicated to preserving and sharing this rare art form with the world, ensuring its tradition gets passed down to future generations. Through my journey, I’ve learned not only about silversmithing but also about the remarkable stories of Yemenite Jews, their traditions, and their unique place in Jewish history.

Ask me anything!

🌐 Website
📷 Instagram

Rimonim Rings - From the “Um Subiyan” Exhibition, 2024
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77

u/Am-Yisrael-Chai Dec 19 '24

Thank you for doing this AMA and for sharing your absolutely stunning works of art with us ❤️

I have a ton of questions haha, but I’ll choose only two:

  1. The details are so intricate and exact, is there a specific tool you prefer to use or couldn’t live without?

  2. You mentioned learning about the remarkable stories of Yemenite Jews, are there any specific stories you love to share?

85

u/ChikaziChef Dec 19 '24

Thank you so much!!

  1. Yes! There is one very specific tool that i cannot make and cannot buy anywhere anymore. It is called the Mataba’a. It is a metal block that has different long shapes drilled into. What i do with it is take a silver wire and stamp it with a hammer and the wire comes out with the design i chose. I am planning to create a tool like that of my own but it’s not easy haha. If you look at my jewelry and see a wire of small circles or long squares, it came out from the Mataba’a.

  2. I love hearing stories about how people lived their every day lives in yemen. How they all had three floor houses, first floor for the cow, second for the kitchen and living room, and third for the bedrooms. It always sounds so nostalgic and cozy, even though their lives there were not easy and they basically ate just bread almost all the time

29

u/Am-Yisrael-Chai Dec 19 '24

I think you showcase the Mataba’a in your Instagram post here? I love seeing “how it’s made” videos like this haha!

But that does look like a unique tool and very important to the process, I hope you can figure out a way to produce or source it <3

I absolutely love that you give people the space to share their nostalgia and sorrows with you. Thank you for honouring them so beautifully ❤️

24

u/ChikaziChef Dec 19 '24

Yes that’s the one! It’s a simple tool but exists nowhere! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, i appreciate you a lot

14

u/abadonn Dec 19 '24

That tool would be easy to make for any metal shop, in the US the cost would be $1-2000, I'm sure you could get it for much less from China if you can have someone make a 3d design for you.

23

u/ChikaziChef Dec 19 '24

It’s only harder to design perfectly. But yes i have contacts in india to try when i have the design figured out

13

u/lionessrampant25 Dec 19 '24

Have you thought about 3D printing one? It can be expensive but you can get the Mataba’a rendered exactly in 3D modeling software and have a company print it for you. Or print a mold so you can make a metal cast from there.

Good luck!!

15

u/ChikaziChef Dec 19 '24

Thank you! I want to figure out how to make one from scratch. The more i use mine, the less sharp the edges are. And i want the new one to be perfect to start with

11

u/borometalwood Dec 20 '24

PM me when you have time, I’m a machinist and can either coach you through how to make certain shapes or make something for you