Subhead: How Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings Began
Writen by: Roz Fruchtman, The Greeting Card Maven
Welcome… Thank you for sharing my passion and a very intimate part of my life.
It’s a miracle you are reading this. It’s a bigger miracle that I am writing it…
It all started more than 10 years ago when I needed a “web version” of my resume. Who knew from HTML, the language or code, used to display webpages in browsers. Like many — in those days — I started to learn HTML by creating Holiday Pages.
My first two web pages were for Christmas and Valentine’s Day – G-d forgive me. Brought up in the tradition of “Jewish Guilt” I felt I should do something for my own, so I started with “Passover in CyberSpace.” This simple action shaped my career.
Not coming from a graphics background, I began to search the web for a Judaic image to use for my Passover page’s left border background. After two weeks I came to the realization there was little, if anything available. There were images for most religions, perhaps half-a-dozen Judaic. It was the first time I felt in the minority as a Jew.
Finding the perfect image for my project, I had no idea what to do with it, not having a graphics background. The only graphics I had ever used came from a box. Another thing, I was now learning about was “copyright and copyright infringement,” thus presenting another challenge. I needed permission to use the image. An Internet friend created my background for me and when I asked her how she did it, she invited me to attend online-weekly meetings with the Paint Shop Pro User’s Group. Paint Shop Pro was the program of choice on the web in those days.
Here I met people who graciously took me under their wings and taught me enough about graphics to become dangerous. As time passed I began to enjoy what I was doing and actually created usable images, AND… I “did not” have to ask permission to use them!
Like most starting out, I began to create images that I offered free on the web. I was amazed that people actually liked and asked to use them. A Synagogue even used my images in their monthly newsletter. For sure, I was flattered. Coming from a background of little, if any encouragement or praise, I was inspired to go on – I was actually having fun!
As with the lack of Judaic images, I discovered there was a lack of Judaic Themed eCards. It felt like the ultimate insult, and it became my mission in life to change things. I dreamed of opening a Judaic eCards website to provide the Jewish Community and those having a need for Judaic Themed eCards a place to go. Graphics Schmaphics Exclusive was to make its debut Rosh Hashanah 2001.
However, one week before Rosh Hashanah, on September 11, 2001 my dream went down with the Towers of the World Trade Center. As a New Yorker and being trapped in Manhattan that fateful day, I was completely shattered and bewildered. Who could think of eCards or promotion when our entire world was literally falling apart!
911 was a turning point for me as I discovered I design by emotion, a gift I cherish daily. I was deeply touched by those searching for loved ones, I wanted to reach out and make it all better. Of course I could not do that. I could not go to what is now known as Ground Zero, I could not dig in the rubble, but what I was sure of was, “people would want to communicate and reach out across the country and the world.” What I could do was design eCards as their vehicle of communication. I was told this was “trivial” by a fiend, which made me feel like two cents. However, in the following days, I was to learn from a TV Psychologist: “Creative people demonstrate their deep emotions via their artistic ability.” My fate was sealed… My mission in life is to make people feel cared for, remembered, supported and loved — in good times and bad – via my art. What started out as a makeshift eCard site is now Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings, offering more than 4,000 Judaic Themed eCards.
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As an aside: It has always been my goal and mission to share life’s lessons and events, how we see or may not see things and how we can stay connected and make a difference while supporting each other as “people helping people.” The Internet has caused some of us — me included — to lose sight of the people behind the products, software and services we enjoy on the web.
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Another one of my passions and a public service is to help spread the word about health awareness issues using my eCards. With this said:
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS — FEBRUARY is “Everything Heart Month”
National Heart Month / American Heart Month
February is known as both National Heart Month and American Heart Month. This month is set aside to bring attention to the deadliness of heart disease and its preventions. While it is stressed more in women at this time, let’s not forget the men in our lives as they are important too!
February 6, 2009 is “National Wear Red Day!
“This day originated in 2002 by “The Heart Truth,” national awareness campaign for women. It started out with the Red Dress as its symbol. Today, anything red goes – thus, opening the door to men, women and children helping to bring awareness to Heart Disease as the #1 Killer of women.
February 14, 2009 is Valentine’s Day…
or what I like to call “Love in February” or “Valentines Day Judaic Style” to make it a little more Yiddish. While Valentines Day is still the day for lovers, it is also a day to reach out to friends, family and those we care about to show appreciation and gratitude for having them in our lives.
Tu B’Shvat is February 9, 2009
Last, but not least, Tu B’Shvat is February 9, 2009 – This holiday is known as Rosh Hashanah of the Trees, New Year of the Trees or Birthday of the Trees. Coming in late January or February, Tu B’Shvat is the time when the trees “start to awaken” from their winter rest and begin budding.
And now I would like to invite you to visit http://www.SayItWithEcards.com to gain instant access to some of our complimentary Health Awareness eCards for National Wear Red Day and National Heart Month. Click the appropriate link under Upcoming Holidays and Events in the “right column.”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you may contact me at: mailto:Roz@SayItWithEcards.com
You may visit me at:
Say It With eCards Judaic Greetings aka Say It With eCards
http://www.SayItWithEcards.com
Shabbat Shalom & Warm Regards,
Roz Fruchtman