My Story

For 700 days, I guarded Israel's door. Now it guards yours.

I'm Tal Gispan, 29, from Jerusalem.

I studied Industrial Engineering and Management. During my semester breaks, I worked with wood and resin as a hobby. After graduating, I worked in project management at a defense company.

A year and a half later, October 7th came. I was called up right away for six months of reserve duty: first in the kibbutzim near Gaza, then inside Gaza. Since then, I've served more than 700 days of reserve duty, in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

When that first rotation ended, I knew I wanted to do something more meaningful. The war showed me how much the bond between Jews everywhere and Israel matters. So I founded Gispan Wood Art, to connect Jewish homes around the world to Israel.

Shai LaChaim
My friend, Maj. Shay Shemriz, of blessed memory, studied with me in yeshiva before the army. He didn't come home.

In his memory, I founded Shai LaChaim, a Beit Midrash for reservists in Jerusalem. 40 reservists commit to come and learn together every two weeks, to stay connected to their Judaism in the middle of everyday life. In Hebrew, "shai" means a gift. Shai LaChaim: a gift for life, in Shay's name.

Why the mezuzah?
The ש on every mezuzah stands for Shomer Daltot Yisrael - Guardian of the doors of Israel. For 700 days, that was my job. Now I want something to stand guard at your door.

Every mezuzah is my design, handmade from natural olive wood and hand-poured resin, and shaped, sanded and finished by hand. No two are alike.

Our people live all over the world, but we share one doorway. Thank you for letting me be part of yours.

With love from Jerusalem,
Tal Gispan, Founder