In a stunning moment for history and collectors alike, the oldest inscribed tablet of the Ten Commandments has achieved an extraordinary $5 million price tag at Sothebyโs New York, far exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $1-2 million. The artifact, a singular treasure from the Late Roman-Byzantine era (ca. 300-800 CE), is believed to be the only complete stone inscription of the commandments surviving from antiquity.
The Jewish Museum in Vienna has disinvited the father-son artist duo, Elias and Gideon Mendel, from participating in the planned exhibition titled “I Am My Family: The Generations after the Holocaust” due to their criticism of the Israeli government. Despite the artists’ subsequent publication of an open letter on Instagram questioning the integrity of the museum’s leadership in determining the exhibition’s participants, the museum’s management has yet to issue a public statement on the matter. In an effort to address this regrettable turn of events, Elias Mendel, a London-born multidisciplinary Jewish artist, provided an exclusive interview to offer clarity on the situation.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of the worldโs most enduring disputes, has left deep scars on communities on both sides. Yet, amidst the political turbulence and historical grievances, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of art. Human creativity has the remarkable ability to transcend borders, cultures, and political ideologies, offering a unique path toward understanding and reconciliation. Despite the presence of war, hatred, and violence, artistic expression provides a lens through which individuals from diverse backgrounds can peer into the lives and narratives of the ‘other,’ fostering empathy and breaking down stereotypes. Art serves as a catalyst for dialogue, encouraging conversations that are often difficult within the rigid frameworks of modern political discourse. By engaging with art, people are encouraged to see beyond surface-level differences and recognize the shared humanity that unites them, potentially paving the way for mutual respect and coexistence.
Until now assessing rough diamonds was an inaccurate subjective process, at best. This, alongย with the difficulty in providing unique identification means, reduced their attractiveness as collateral.ย The DDFF and Sarine’s groundbreaking cooperation utilizes Sarineโs various proven industry leading technologies, including the Galaxyยฎ and DiaExpertยฎ platforms along with the Advisorยฎ andย related software processes, to accurately, objectively and rapidly evaluate rough diamonds, as wellย as uniquely tagging them, with the result being the ability to reliably ascertain the optimally producedย polished diamonds’ potential value, and hence confidently provide financing. The DDFF will applyย Sarineโs technologies to evaluate if the rough diamond is eligible for the requested financing, andย at what level.ย
Hod Hasharon (Israel), 11 January 2023 โ Singapore Exchange Mainboard listed Sarine Technologies Ltd (โSarineโ and along with its subsidiaries โthe Groupโ) (U77:SI; SARN.TA), a worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of precision technology ย products for the evaluation, planning, processing, measurement, grading and trading of diamonds ย and gems, is pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding MOU to purchase, subject to the ย usual due diligence reviews and to reaching and executing a definitive agreement, a majority share ย of GCAL against an all cash consideration.
The Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. GCAL is a highly respected gemological laboratory ย founded in 2001 by Mr. Don Palmieri, a veteran of over 50 years in the diamond industry, and his ย wife, Pamela. Today, it operates as a family-owned business in New York City, on the city’s famous ย Diamond Way, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 47th Street, with son Angelo in the role of Chief ย Operations Officer (COO). GCAL provides services for the grading and certification of natural and ย lab-grown diamonds, coloured diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls and precious metals.
