Taj Mahal a poem by Yehuda Kassif Dedicated to Rashmi Durlabhji |
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Yehuda Kassif was born in 1947 in Jerusalem, to Jewish pioneers who had arrived to Palestine from Bialystok, Poland in 1936. He graduated from Tel Aviv University in 1969 and for 17 years had a career in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Since 1985 he is holding the position of as the General Manager of the Israel Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange (IPSDE) . Yehuda Kassif has become the tireless delegate of this associate ICA member organization as well as an active member of WFDB. From 1999 to 2002, during the course of two and half years, Kassif organized, monitored and controlled, together with the other members of the Gate 2000 Committee, the exhibition of the Gate at major international jewelry trade shows around the world. For this purpose, he designed and produced scores of promotional posters or the “Gate 2000.” Using his exceptional organizational skills and constant persistence, Kassif has been the driving force of a number of prestigious ICA activities and events?preferring most often to remain invisible, acting behind-the-scenes. Among his most recent ICA projects were the International Colored Gemstone Poster Competition, held during the ICA congress in Sydney in 2001, Jaipur, India, in 2003 and in Bangkok Thailand in 2005. Kassif is a jewelery desiner, graphic designer, artist and a poet. Kassif is married to Hava and lives in Tel Aviv. The Kassifs have three children and three grandchildren. |
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In India I saw a sublime palace - A raja has built for his love. Set with rubies, sapphires, amethyst and such Like veins in a marble whiter than a dove. Circled by gardens with fountains so cold, Pools stretch like mirrors around, And in their faces I could easily see A white turret and the gate to the ground; And all the fine marble lattices In the windows high above, Cut like lace by skilled craftsmen Who knitted these stones with love. I took off my shows. The floor felt cold. My eyes were soothed by the dusky inside-tone. I looked for the heart of this great raja But instead I found a plain white tomb-stone. |
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© Created by ICA Gem Bureau Idar-Oberstein |
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