The Candle Lady: "I Learned the Secrets and They've Been With Me Ever Since"

Her name is Naava, but she's called 'Naawash', though her true nickname is 'The Candle Lady'. She is 34, owns the brand 'Asasheet', and has been interested in candle making since she can remember, mainly because her father manages the renowned 'Tzfat Candles' factory, a symbol of old Tzfat. 

Since she was young, Naava was intrigued by the field. "I always followed the candles my father made and wanted to know what they were made of. I was always an 'artist at heart' and loved to create, but I never imagined these two would combine to become my life's profession."

Candles with Intent

Her father, a savvy marketer who advanced his businesses wisely over the years, approached Naava with a surprising offer six years ago: "Come learn the art of candle sculpting from a Tzfat artist."

Naava didn't initially understand what he was talking about, but her father, knowing his daughter was so much like him, realized it was the right move for her. The artist he sent her to was a fascinating person who spoke no Hebrew and lived under harsh conditions in one of Tzfat's alleys. Only when you sit in his home do you truly understand the depth of his artistry and hidden talents.

Naava had the opportunity to stay with the artist, attending several high-level lessons until the basic techniques became second nature to her. Afterwards, her father helped her establish a small studio at home, where she began crafting candles in various designs. Initially, these were miniature animal designs, which later expanded into symbols and figures. In recent years, she developed a modern concept of handcrafted souvenirs and gift packages for events. These allow her to create almost anything you can imagine, mainly out of candles, but not exclusively. 

Does your father help you with production?

"My father isn't involved in creating," she smiles. "He mainly guides and encourages me. But when it comes to materials and their quality, my father knows more than anyone. It's a type of knowledge with little online information, mostly years of experience he’s gathered. It's what distinguishes a quality candle from one that's not."

Why is it so important to have quality materials?

"If the materials aren't high quality, they can expand, and the creations won't be accurate. Later on, the candle won't be of good quality and won't burn well," she clarifies.

According to Naava, the production work is tedious, messy, and hot. "I work all day under challenging heat conditions with plates and wax. You need to create a unique mold for each candle, color, cast, and melt. But the result is usually stunning, and that's what keeps me going." 

From Tefillin to Peacock

Naava showcases her candles at the 'Tzfat Candles' gallery, attracting tourists from around the globe. The exhibit is indeed spectacular: tefillin, pineapples, pomegranates, liquor bottles, flower bouquets, all made of candles. "I design anything people ask for, but I particularly love creating meaningful items related to Judaica and Judaism," she explains, pointing to an impressive havdalah candle shaped like a peacock, 38 centimeters high. "You can find havdalah sets braided from six strands, like the six days of creation, from ten, like the Ten Commandments, from 18 (*chai*), from 26, which is the name of Hashem, and even from 36, representing the 36 righteous individuals."

How long do you work on each creation?

"I can create the smaller pieces within a few minutes. Of course, as the complexity of the creation increases, so does the preparation time. I was recently asked to make something for a particular event, which took weeks of preparation. Those weeks were spent solely on that piece." 

She also receives particularly interesting requests: "Someone asked me to make a shofar identical to the real one he owned, another wanted a Noah's Ark with all the tiny animals, some requested inscriptions made from candles in letter shapes, and there were other diverse ideas. But the truth is, most people don't know what they want at first—they come, get impressed, and choose from the available selection."

One of the patents that Naava invented and that is exclusively hers is a special braided havdalah candle known as the "YKNHZ Candle", standing 7 centimeters tall. Naava makes it with a small base material that causes it to extinguish itself, eliminating the need to put it out. It's an excellent solution for Shabbat directly followed by a holiday when a havdalah must be performed, but extinguishing the candle isn't allowed. This patent has gained traction, even reaching overseas.

What else do we have to look forward to?

"Whatever you ask for," she answers simply, "I'm ready to work, even hard work. For me, every request is a challenge, and I'm happy to fulfill it."