The new Israel-based company Holy Gems has launched its luxury jewelry brand, and its CEO, Tali Shalem-Taub, credits the book of Isaiah as part of the company’s inspiration. The Taub family’s history in Israel began with Shalem-Taub’s grandfather, Chanan Taub, who escaped from Europe during the rise of the Nazi regime, setting up one of the first diamond polishing factories in Israel at the time. Shalem-Taub’s father, Avraham “Avi” Taub, redirected the company to focus on manufacturing and selling jewelry. Avi then heard a rabbi speak in 1988 on the precious stones that could be found in the northern Israeli city of Haifa. The claim reflects a passage in Isaiah 54:11-12, where God promises to Israel, “I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.” Reflecting on the meaning of the passage, Shalem-Taub told Fox News, “It is a promise of God to Israel. Why nobody ever tried to find [gems] before, I don’t know, but it’s true.”

Despite many people doubting the existence of jewels in the area, Taub continued to look and in 2020, just months after his death, the Israeli government officially recognized the company’s findings as precious stones. “We received the certificate of discovery, meaning the state of Israel acknowledges the fact that we found an economic deposit of precious gems in Israel. This was an amazing step for us and the country in general,” said Shalem-Taub. The recognition allowed the company to finally sell the gems it found, having relied on other investments to keep the company going in years prior. The company has uncovered numerous gems and minerals, such as ruby, sapphire, and ilmenite, amongst others. The most important discovery was of a jewel known as Carmel Sapphire or Carmelite. The mineral is so unique that scientists believe there is no other place on Earth that contains it. “The scientists actually said that it was like a scientific proof of the uniqueness of the land itself,” said Shalem-Taub. Shalem-Taub will be one of the distinguished speakers presenting at the Jerusalem Post Conference on September 12th. 

Of course, such rare gems come with a high price tag. Reports show that certain Carmel Sapphire jewelry is being sold by the company anywhere from $20,000 to $1 million. Shalem-Taub stated that she owes it all to her father. “There’s a lot of times I wish he were here to see what we’re doing, but I’m fortunate enough to take his dreams and make them a reality. For me, it connects me to him.”